Vision of Shadows
Page 30
“More or less,” Grandma said. “I understand your grandfather warned you about your relationship with that young man of yours. It’s got you worried, even if you don’t want to admit it.”
I sighed. “I don’t know what to do with Payne. He loves me. Look what he did. But really? Someone like him with me? Why? What could Payne possibly see in me? I mean, have you seen him?”
Grandma nodded. “I have. He’s stunning.”
“I know,” I said. “And while he can be sweet, and funny, and heroic, he can also be pig-headed as heck. But I can deal with that. I can be more pig-headed. But Grandma, how can he ever be happy with me? I’m plain. I’m boring. Okay, so maybe the fact that I can talk to ghosts isn’t that freaky to him, but that’s just because he can be set on fire and be just dandy. Isn’t he going to get tired of me having conversations with people he can’t see? Or hearing about dreams that may come true?”
“Why would he?” Grandma asked. “Sounds like it would just keep things from getting boring.”
I rolled my eyes. “Look, it’s not just that. It’s everything else. Grandpa was right. Look at what we have against us. Sure, the two families came together for a bit, but that was because Jay was trying to kill me and had already killed people on both sides.”
“Yes,” Grandma said. “I’m well aware of what he did.”
“Oops,” I murmured. “Sorry.”
“Seems to me,” she said in that no nonsense tone that I imagined she used on Grandpa, “your real problem is you think no one can or should love you. You’re shocked by the fact that my son loves you as if you were his own. He’s already dreading the fact that the time will come when he’ll have to give you away. You’re amazed that my grandchildren love you so much. Zack is already telling his friends that you’re not just a cousin but a sister. Simon spends time worrying about the family curse because he knows you were in danger from it, and he wants to figure it out and protect you. With everything you grew up with, it’s only natural that you’re not able to understand why Payne loves you, but he does. Just let that be enough.”
I thought about what she said. I wanted it to be that simple, but it couldn’t, could it?
“My parents didn’t love me,” I said. “I don’t think they ever did.”
Grandma moved closer to me. She clearly wanted to take me in her arms. I wished she could. “I think they loved you far more than you think. Someday, I hope you know how much. For now, you need to forgive them for not being able to show you. So you can move on.”
“How do I do that?”
“Time,” she answered. “It takes time. Which I’m afraid we are both out of for now. I have to go, but I hope to be back. And your young man is here.”
I turned and saw Payne approaching. Dressed in jeans and a black shirt, he looked like a hero come to my rescue and just a bit dangerous at the same time. My heart melted when I saw him. When our eyes met, I felt a flutter in my belly. I couldn’t understand why, but he loved me.
“He does take your breath away,” Grandma said. “Or, in my case, he would if I still had any breath.”
“Grandma.”
She laughed. “Go to him. That boy is in love with you. Enjoy it.”
With a nod, I ran to Payne. He gave me a slow, tender kiss. When we pulled back, he reached up and played with my hair like he liked to do.
“Hunter and Maggie are inside,” Payne said. “I get the impression I may have interrupted something.”
“Not really,” I answered. “She had to go anyway.”
“Anyone I know?” he asked.
How strange of a conversation was this? Payne knew I was just talking to someone who fit into the dearly departed department, but what was even more amazing was that it was normal to him. He didn’t look at me like I was a freak, and I didn’t feel like one talking about it.
“No,” I said. “Actually, it was my grandmother. I just got to meet her for the first time. She was… amazing.”
He smiled as he put his arm around me. “We have an hour before we have to leave for the movie. Tell me about her.”
I realized Payne really was in love with me. I still didn’t get it. But maybe I was starting to believe it.
The most important thing was that it took me one step closer to the point where I accepted being loved. I hadn’t gotten there yet, but I could almost believe that someday soon I’d get the courage to look at Payne and say, “I love you, too.”
About the Author
Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Vincent Morrone now resides in Upstate NY with his wife. (Although he can still speak fluent Brooklynese.) His twin daughters remain not only his biggest fans, but usually are the first to read all of his work. Their home is run and operated for the comfort and convenience of their dogs.
Vincent has been writing fiction, poetry and song lyrics for as long as he can remember, most of which involve magical misfits, paranormal prodigies and even on occasion superheroes and their sidekicks.
As they say in Brooklyn: Yo, you got something to say? Vincent would love to hear from you at Vincent@vincentmorrone.com
You can check his website http://vincentmorrone.com/ or connect with him on Twitter https://twitter.com/Vince524 and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Morrrone.