A Simple Life: Chapter 179

I was still feeling both jittery and flattered by the unexpected encounter with Shaun, and it continued to amuse me at how besotted he was for me. He must have had a thing for small breasted blonds or something. Unless I had completely misread him I don’t think he’d had a clue as to what was hiding beneath my dress and I wondered how he might have reacted had he known. Potentially quite poorly, but I chose to believe that Shaun was cooler than that. Over this past week I’d learned that it was so much nicer to hold a bit of faith in people’s goodness than assume the worst. Either way the encounter had boosted and bolstered what had been a very fragile confidence just moments before.

The air was fresh, the sun warm, and the sandwiches delicious, like they always were, as Grandpa and I sit and enjoy our lunch together. It was times like this that this lovely green sun dress was made and it made me happy that it suited the occasion so perfectly. Some of the best moments of my life had been spent right here on the deck of the Bella and this one slotted in neatly among all of those warm, wonderful memories. What made it super special though wasn’t the extraordinary nature of it, my first reveal of my girl side to Grandpa and the outside world, but the ordinariness of it. With the initial novelty of the new me behind us we settled comfortably into our well worn patterns. He let me dwell in this new identity and grow into it without anymore questions or opinions. Except for the odd ‘darlin’ here and there, which I adored, Grandpa treated me just like he did any other day and, today of all days, that meant everything to me. As always, he was my rock.

After some chat about the game tonight, which I was excited about, and our trip tomorrow, which I was even more excited about, and some speculated about the original purpose of the gift I’d brought him, which we eventually decided was simply a piece of art, we eventually turn to more serious matters.

“What are you up to for the rest of the day?” He asks me as he sparks up his regular after meal ciggy.

“Heading back home.” I say with a grin, still tickled about my new living arrangement. “I might have some finishing touches to do on that pamphlet I was telling you about. I should p-probably find out what’s happening with my job too, but I think that can wait until Monday. I d-don’t want them calling me in and ruining our weekend.”

“Good thinkin, Buttercup.”

“Honestly…I’m n-not sure if I even want to go back.” I say. “I like what I’m doing for Sandra so much m-more. And, um, I think W-Winona’s willing to support me for a bit. Although…I f-feel bad about it.”

“Na, na, na.” He shakes his head. “Don’t be thinkin like that.”

“Hm?”

“If you two are anything like Anna and I…”

“We are!”

“Then you’re both supporting each other. Good times and bad, through all the ups and downs.” He says. “When I was workin the money was our money. Period. Anna’s just as much as mine. I seen too many good couples fall apart over nickles and dimes and me and you and what have done for me lately. No, darlin. Don’t be a me and a you, be an us. Ya understand?”

“I think so.”

“You intend on takin advantage of Winona? Just living easy off her toil?”

“No!”

“There ya go.” He nods. “Just keep talking with her, makin sure you’re on the same page, and everything’ll be fine. Don’t you feel bad about nothin, Buttercup. Things’ll go round and round but they always balance out in the end, if your love is true.”

“It is true, Grandpa.” I smile. “The truest.”

I might have gone in for a hug had a coughing fit not seized him at that moment. Wheezing for air as he coughs and coughs and coughs all I can do it watch him with agonizing helplessness and sit ready to help him in whatever way he needed me. At last he is able to take a proper breath and take a drink to clear his throat. His cigarette only half burned he butts it out.

“It’s getting worse, G-Grandpa.”

He gives me a weak smile and takes my hand. “It’s not gonna get better.”

“B-But you’ve still g-got three years. Yeah?”

“Mm. That was a best case scenario. I may have been a bit optimistic when I told ya that, Buttercup.” He says. “Been a minute since I saw the doc for an update. I should probably should look into that next week.”

“Yes! Do it n-now! Or this weekend!”

“And spoil a lovely trip with my granddaughter and her girl? Not on your life, darlin.”

“Oh, Grandpa.”

This time we do hug, each of us supporting the other. Oh how I despised that cancer. How I HATED it!

When we part he says. “I’m going to talk with Joni this afternoon.”

“Oh. About the B-Bella?”

“I’ve said my piece about our pretty lady here.” He grins and lovingly strokes the side railing. “No, about your father. Your birth father. Did you want to come along? We could make it quick.”

“No.” I say honestly, the thought of my mother causing my insides to ball up. “B-But I p-p-probably should, huh?”

“Honestly, she’ll probably talk more freely if you aren’t there.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “You don’t mind going alone?”

“Course not.” He says. “Just wanted to give you the chance. Want me to pass anything along to your mom?”

“No.” I say. “Just…um…no. Nothing I c-can think of.”

“Okay. Should I call you after?”

“Um…t-tomorrow?” I plead. “I’d like to enjoy the g-game tonight without…that on m-my mind.”

“Tomorrow.” He smiles and nods. “Speaking of, when can I expect you two love birds to fly in?”

“M-Morning I think. Not too early. We’re p-probably going to have a long night.”

His bushy eyebrows shoot up. “Oh my!”

“Grandpa!” I giggle. “I meant the game!”

“Of course ya did.” He winks.

Taking up the dishes we head back downstairs and chat a bit more as we wash up. Afterward I excuse myself and transform back into Avery for the trip home. I was a bit wistful as I put my guy clothes back on though not upset at the change. It felt like the right time. Coming out to Grandpa had exceeded my every expectation and I wanted to end this experience while still on a high. The clothes weren’t as pretty, as cute, nor as comfy as my dress but neither did they feel wrong as I slid them back on. More and more I was coming to grips with the fact that I was neither boy nor girl through and through. Winona once told me that her elders called her a winkte, a two-spirit, and I wondered if I had two spirits too. I liked the idea that we might have that in common.

I wash my face and return my hair to as it was and the next thing I knew a pretty blond man stared back at me from the mirror where that pretty blond woman had been before. But in those wide azure eyes she was still there.

Trotting back up on deck, my backpack slung over my shoulder, I find Grandpa and give him a big hug. “This meant a lot t-to me, Grandpa.”

“You and me both.” He says with a smile.

“Thank you for the b-best lunch ever.”

He kisses cheek. “It’s always good to see ya, my boy.”

“I’ll call you when we’re on our way tomorrow.”

“I’ll be waitin.”

I step back, pause, then step in for another big hug. “I LOVE YOU!”

He chuckles and hugs me back. “Love you too, Buttercup.”

I am feeling as light and free as a hummingbird as I head back to shore, a feeling instantly weighed down the moment I spot the big box in the back of the SUV. I’d completely forgotten about Jack’s stupid grill. I sigh, shake my head, and try not to let it get to me. I soon find my smile again however as on the way home a Rebel 1100 pulls up beside me at a red light. On the seat is a man in a familiar set of leathers wearing a familiar dark helmet. I sit there blushing like crazy and trying so hard not to laugh as Shaun waits for the light to change, even glancing over at me a couple of times, oblivious that his dream girl was less than ten feet away.

Chapter 180