Shooting me a glance, Kiran reluctantly shakes his hand, and David pumps it heartily.
“You really do have some killer abs, man. Sorry about when I, uh...” He motions to Kiran’s stomach. “Well, you know.”
Oh, good Lord. Turning toward Kiran, I bite down on my lips to keep from smiling. He’s such a doofus, and I’m surprised to see the corners of Kiran’s mouth quirk up a tad.
“Forget it,” Kiran says.
As David reaches for the door, Kiran stops him. “David.”
He turns around.
Kiran clears his throat. “Tell Christine thank you for me.”
David nods, gives me one last look, and walks out the door.
Once he’s gone, Kiran tugs at my hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “He said he joined AA. Christine was the one who convinced him.”
He raises his eyebrows. “That’s great news.”
When he pulls me into his arms, I let my body go limp of all the tension I’d been holding since David arrived. “I think I can finally breathe now.”
He exhales, long and heavy. “Breathing is good.”
Thirty-Nine
“So what do you think this is going to be about?” Luke’s referring to Carly’s request to meet with the two of us in a few minutes.
“What else could it be?” I walk to the kitchen to grab him a beer. “She is so smitten right now; I am fully expecting her to tell us they’re getting married. Despite the fact they’ve only been dating a few months.” I point a finger at him. “We’re united on this, right? This is a bad idea.”
He twists the lid off his bottle. “Absolutely. But if she wants to do this, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Carly is a reasonable person.” I gesture anxiously. “We reason with her.”
“If they were planning to get married, wouldn’t they both be meeting with us? She didn’t say anything about Jason coming, did she?”
Both mine and Luke’s eyes bulge simultaneously, and my stomach wrenches. “She’s pregnant. Oh my God, she’s pregnant.”
Luke rubs his face and starts pacing. “That was my first thought, too, but we don’t know that. Maybe she wants to study abroad or something.”
I shake my head. “No, no, no. She wouldn’t make a big deal out of something like that.” Doubling over, I grab Luke’s arm. “I think I’m gonna pass out.”
Right then, Carly can be heard coming through the front door and I jolt upright. “Hey, sweetie!”
As she approaches us, something in my face, or Luke’s, tips her off, and she immediately grows pale, her eyes growing misty. She slows to a halt, and the three of us remain silent. Carly’s chest heaves, and she places a palm on her heart before releasing a shaky breath.
Luke rushes to her while I remain frozen. “Baby, it’s okay. What is it?”
“You guys already know, don’t you? I’ve disappointed you both!”
I find the will to move toward her and pull her into a hug. “Stop it! You could never disappoint us.” I’m not disappointed; more like terrified for her. Please, please don’t tell us you’re dropping out!
“I want you guys to know I have every intention of getting my degree.”
Thank God!
“It’s just going to be so hard!” she continues.
“Baby, you’re almost done,” Luke says. “And you know your mom and I will help in any way we can. Does Jason know?”
She nods and smiles weakly. “He wants to marry me... We’re gonna get married.”
Luke and I look at each other. “Is that what you want?” I ask.
She frowns at me. Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. “Of course that’s what I want! I love him.”
Oh, oh, oh. This is the last thing I imagined for her. A marriage brought about by a baby, in the middle of the infatuation stage with her boyfriend. What happens a year from now? Two? She was supposed to finish school, date someone for at least two years, get married, then wait another two years before having babies.
But I don’t say any of this and wipe the sweat from my upper lip. “Alright then. Then that’s what we want, too.”
“Really?” Carly looks from me to Luke.
Luke appears a little peaked himself, but forces a smile. “Well, looks like we’re gonna be grandparents.”
Forty
It’s been a crazy nine months. There’s been a wedding shower, a ceremony, a baby shower, and Carly’s graduation. Carly and Jason opted for a small, intimate wedding at Mt. Charleston, and Jason has taken a position as an orchestra teacher with the school district. Thank goodness, a stable job!
Since Luke’s house is much larger than mine, he and Richard offered their two extra rooms for the kids and their new arrival, so Carly can move forward with a graduate degree in counseling.
Sadly, Dadi passed away two months after we returned to the States. I cried when Kiran told me. My reaction surprised me, since I barely knew her and we spent very little time together. Maybe it’s because my memories of her are closely associated with one of the best times in my life, and she was so very sweet. She was cremated on the banks of the Ganges, and I hope that someday Kiran and I can go back to the place she was laid to rest.
There’s been no more “excitement” from David. I get a little note from him on Facebook from time to time, and it seems he’s on the mend. Not only is his career as an author taking off, with an up and coming sequel to his debut, he and Christine are still a thing, and he’s been sober since he joined AA.
The house is kind of empty now. Hayden got an apartment with one of his buddies, and his dad hooked him up with a position in web design through a friend. Kiran and I have discussed merging our households at some point, but we’re in no hurry. We spend most nights at his house. Why wouldn’t we? It’s on a lake, for crying out loud! But I’m not quite ready to sell my place.
Okay, I admit it. I might still be holding my breath a smidge. A part of me has this stupid belief that if I hold onto my house, my relationship with Kiran will remain intact. I have never said this to him, of course, and I realize it’s ridiculous and irrational. But, oh well. It is what it is. What harm is there in a little superstition?
And about our new, beautiful bundle of joy. I was not ready to be a grandma. Actually, let me qualify. I’ve been looking forward to grandbabies for quite some time; I just wasn’t thrilled about the circumstances in which my first one came about. But not surprisingly, when I’m holding my precious Claire in my arms, none of that matters. And Kiran? In some ways I think he’s more thrilled with his role of grandpa than any us.
I look into Claire’s bright, blue eyes, just like her mother’s, and bring her head to my face, breathing in that most amazing smell.
“Alright,” Kiran says, sitting next to me. “Stop hoarding her. It’s my turn.”
“I just got her! Luke was hogging her before.”
At that moment, Claire’s face scrunches into the most intense, concentrated grimace that is followed by a thunderous bowel movement. One I’m sure that can be heard from across the street.
“Okay! It’s Papa’s turn.” I promptly hand her over to him.
He takes her in his arms and scowls at me, but can’t contain his smile a moment later. “Come on, Claire. Papa will change your diaper since Nana passed the buck.” Everyone decided I should go by Nana instead of Grandma, so Claire can call me Nana Anna. Or as Luke likes to call me, Nana Anna Banana.
We’re gathered at Luke’s for a barbecue, and Carly emerges from the kitchen as Kiran heads for the nursery. “Are you sure you don’t want me to do it?”
“I’ve got this.” He holds Claire to his chest with mock hurt. “Have some faith.”
“Okay,” she says warily. “But I warn you, she’ll trick you into thinking she’s done when she isn’t.”
Everyone else is in the backyard while I join Carly in the kitchen and pour myself some iced tea. That’s when we hear it.
“Uh, Anna!
” Kiran’s voice is frantic. “Some help, please!”
We hurry upstairs to the nursery to find him holding a clean diaper between Claire’s legs on the changing table, after she sprayed a murky brown present onto the nearby crib. “I guess I didn’t have this after all.”
Carly and I bust up. “I tried to tell you!” she says.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll clean it up.” I’m pretty sure he tries to conceal a dry heave.
I pull several wipes from a package and take his place at the changing table, making sure to keep the diaper strategically placed. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. You’re looking a little urpy. And you call yourself a doctor.”
He puts his hands in his pockets and hangs his head. “I know.”
Carly begins wiping up the mess on the crib while I clean Claire and fasten her diaper. “Carly, all I gotta say is, like mother like daughter. You did this same exact thing to me when you were a baby.”
“I know, I know.” She rolls her eyes at Kiran. “You didn’t know you were supposed to water down the juice.”
Hayden pops his head through the door. “Hey, the burgers are— Whoa! What happened in here?” He shoves a hand under his nose. “Claire! What did you do?”
I snap Claire’s onesie closed and hand her back to Kiran.
“See, Claire?” he coos, holding her up in the air. “Nana tried to pawn you off and ended up with the mess anyway. Well played.”
I smack him in the arm. “I’m not sure I like how this family’s sarcasm is rubbing off on you.” He smiles and gives me a kiss.
“What’s goin’ on up there?” Luke hollers. “The burgers are getting cold!”
As my troop heads downstairs, I wipe the last tiny bit of poop from the changing table and think to myself, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Dear Reader,
I appreciate the time you have spent reading Vegas to Varanasi and hope you enjoyed it. My original inspiration for writing this story stemmed from the observation that today’s entertainment, especially comedy, tends to pair ordinary-looking men with very attractive women. Not always, but quite often—at least in my own favorite sitcoms. To name just a few: Jim and Cheryl (According to Jim); Raymond and Debra (Everybody Loves Raymond); Eric and Donna (That 70s Show); Chandler and Monica (Friends); Ross and Rachel (Friends); Jay and Gloria (Modern Family); Leonard and Penny (The Big Bang Theory). Although I must admit, I find Leonard adorable! For this reason, I thought it would be fun to explore a relationship where the tables are turned. If the ordinary guy can have the hot girl, why can’t the ordinary girl get the hot guy? Right? Not that it should only be about looks anyway. After all, the reason Kiran is so attracted to Anna is because of her kind heart, as it should be! :)
I love to hear from readers, so if you would like to shoot me an email just to say hi, please do! And if you’re one who is comfortable writing reviews, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts about the book on Amazon. Last but not least, if you’re interested in subscribing to my blog, in which I usually share musings about life in general, you can do so here. Thank you again for spending this time with me.
—Shelly
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About the Author
Living in Las Vegas since she was two, Shelly Hickman has witnessed many changes in the city over the years. She graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Art in 1990, and in her early twenties worked as an illustrator for a contractor for the Nevada Test Site. In the mid-90s, she returned to school to earn her Masters degree in Elementary Education. She now teaches computer literacy and media technology at a middle school in Las Vegas. She loves to write about people, examining their flaws, their humor, spirituality, and personal growth. Shelly lives with her husband, two children, and their dogs, Frankie and Junebug.
Other books by Shelly Hickman
MENOPAUSE TO MATRIMONY (Fortytude, Book 2)
The sequel to Vegas to Varanasi catches up with Anna and Kiran a couple of years after the event that brought the once “ugly duckling” high school acquaintances together. But will their romance continue to flourish in the face of a whole new set of insecurities brought on by middle age?
First, there’s Kiran, who has an unexpected health scare. While his doctors assure no permanent damage has been done, there seems to have been some damage to his personality, as the normally respectful and reserved Kiran begins behaving erratically and overtly. Anna wants to hope that this is temporary, sparked by the visit of Kiran’s womanizing, free-spirited cousin, Seth. But is this just the midlife Kiran surfacing?
Anna has midlife issues of her own. Now forty-eight, she’s navigating the onset of perimenopause and all the delights that come with it, from facial hair to mood swings to body temperature issues. On top of that, her two-year-old granddaughter is starting to show signs of a behavior disorder, bringing with it a whole other level of stress and worry.
Will Anna and Kiran finally find their happily ever after? Or end up stuck in a midlife mess in this romantic comedy of accepting change, and “the change.”
Excerpt:
“You look like you didn’t have such a good day. I got something for you that may cheer you up.” He rises and picks up a gift bag I hadn’t noticed from the dresser and sits on the edge of the bed.
“That’s so sweet!”
Pulling out a clear plastic package that has some bulky looking slippers inside, I purse my lips. “What kind of slippers are these?” And why would he get me slippers in the middle of summer, when my feet have already been burning up?
“They’re cold therapy booties.” He unzips the package and takes them out. Then he removes a gel pack from one of them. “You put the gel in the freezer, and when your feet are hot, just put the packs into the booties and wear them to cool your feet. I thought you could sleep in them and you wouldn’t have to keep kicking the covers off your feet.”
What a great idea! However, they’re far from attractive, almost resembling some kind of orthopedic wraps, and without warning, I burst into tears. “Thank you! It was so thoughtful of you to find something like this for me.”
Kiran ducks his head to look into my face and smiles awkwardly. “You’re welcome. I wasn’t expecting such a dramatic reaction to a pair of slippers.” He lightly places his hand on my arm. “Did your appointment not go the way you wanted today?”
“I don’t know,” I say, throwing up my hands. “I have to get a couple more tests to make sure it’s safe for me to have ablation. I’m just going to be so disappointed if I have to keep dealing with these awful periods. I mean, what if I can’t have this done and I get my period on our honeymoon? It’ll ruin everything… I’m sorry for being so pathetic.”
He goes back to his side of the bed and leans against the headboard. Then he holds out his arm for me sit beside him. Sniffling to keep my nose from dripping, I accept his invitation. “What else? I can tell there’s more,” he says.
“Like you said…” I sigh. “It just wasn’t a good day. When I asked her about my hot hands and feet, she said it’s probably from the B vitamins I’ve been taking for my hair loss. So I need to stop taking them and see. She asked me if I’ve considered Rogaine. Rogaine!” My voice squeaks. “I’m not balding. My hair just comes out in clumps. You’ve seen it all over the bathroom. I told her how my friend tried it, but it dripped onto her face while she slept, giving her facial hair!”
Kiran silently reaches across me for my cider and hands it to me.
“Thank you.” I take a swig. “And then I came across this God awful magazine ad in the waiting room about this ABL affecting one in five women over forty.”
“ABL?”
“Accidental… bowel… leakage!” I say, emphasizing each word.
“Oh no�
�” He tries to keep from smiling.
“I wouldn’t be so quick to find it funny. It said just as many men your age are affected. It actually made me angry!”
He simply draws in his lips and closes his eyes, making every effort to remain neutral.
“I’m worried about Claire, your parents are leaving and I’m gonna miss them,” I croak. “And now I have to wear those damn ugly slippers just so I can sleep!”
Kiran pulls me into him as I start bawling all over again.
“No offense. It really was a sweet gift and I’m sure I’ll love them.”
“None taken,” he says gently.
Straightening, I wipe my face with the sleeves of my robe. “I am so, so sorry for wacking out on you like this. You must be scared shitless right now, thinking, Here we go. On the road to crazy town.” Honestly, I’m thinking the same thing.
***
Harmony to Heartburn, Book 3 in the Fortytude Series coming soon!
BELIEVE
“There is hope in this book, there is a positive message of remembering those who have crossed on and those who are still living, finding a reason to draw breath each day and welcoming the sun. And when you need a good reminder of that message, this book will give it to you.”
—Jesse Coffey, Lexington Literature Examiner
Believe. A message that still taunts her years after the passing of her daughter. In the days of her daughter's illness, she considered herself a seeker, open to the possibilities of prayer and faith. Now cynical and guarded, she is forced to reexamine her beliefs and relive her past when an old love resurfaces, with a sick child of his own. Believe is a story that examines fractures to our foundations in the face of tragedy. It is a story that asks if prayers are always answered, but often in ways we do not see.
Despite the spiritual tone of this work, please be aware it contains strong language.
Vegas to Varanasi (Fortytude Series Book 1) Page 21
