A Relationship...Or Something Like It

by Greene, Caroline

  She smiles back.

  “Anything for Fanny! She’s my best friend and Mah Jong companion!”

  We walk down to the baggage claim area. We wait, and wait, and wait.

  “Oh, no. They misplaced my luggage. If I don’t have my bag by Wednesday, I need to go shopping for a suit.”

  This is the second time my luggage was delayed at this airport. Last year, I was wearing grandma’s clothes for three days until they dropped off my suitcase. We go to the office and fill out a report. The customer service representative looks at me.

  “Once we locate it, we will deliver it to your front door. I am very sorry for the inconvenience.”

  Bertha drops me and grandma off at the condominium door. I love Florida with its warm air and salty smell. I think I could live here year round. I turn to grandma.

  “Can I make a few phone calls?”

  She smiles, glad that I am here.

  “Of course, dear.”

  I dial my parents first and let them know I arrived safely. Then I call Jennifer’s number, but there is no answer. Finally, I call Kyle.

  “Hello?” He definitely sounds in a better mood than the last time I talked to him.

  “Hi, Kyle. I just wanted you to know that I am at my grandma’s safe and sound.”

  “That’s nice, Abigail. Right now my neighbors are over. We are cheering Willa up because she lost her job.”

  I don’t know Willa, but I answer politely,

  “I am very sorry to hear that.”

  Kyle continues,

  “Yeah, she goes into work and since she was the last hired, her job got cut first. Anyway, I have to go now, but I will see you Wednesday evening around 6:00 to take you and your grandma to dinner. Tell her to pick her favorite place.”

  The conversation seems rushed and the uneasiness I have been feeling grows. I try to push it aside and join grandma in the kitchen. Of my grandparents, I have always been closest to her. My grandpa Nathan passed away seven years ago and as my grandma is not a big fan of cold weather, she bought the condo they were renting in Boca. My dad likes me to fly out there at least once a year to make sure she is doing alright. Grandma gets out a bowl of pretzels and pours me a cup of ice water.

  “So, tell me about this man of yours that you have been seeing.”

  At last, someone who will listen and not judge.

  “Well, he is almost 13 years older than me but when I am with him, I feel more comfortable than I have with anybody my own age. It is true as you said in your letter, I am attracted to him but it feels like more.”

  Grandma thinks for a moment and then replies,

  “I know all about your bad dates and when you came up last year, you were so upset about your friend winning your crush. I am happy that you found someone that makes you smile as long as you take it slow and go in this with your eyes open.”

  “I am,” I assure her. “And he wants to take us out to dinner before we go to his place. Do you have any suggestions?”

  She takes a deep breath and answers,

  “Since Nathan died, I have been out there in the dating world. I swear there are senior citizens out there worse than college students. I know that you plan to sleep in the same bed just don’t get talked into anything you will regret. In any case, I won’t make any judgment on the man until I meet him.”

  The phone rings, interrupting us. It is the airport calling to let us know that my luggage was located, and it will be delivered this evening. I feel lucky to have her for a grandma. She is so much more open-minded than my grandmother in New Jersey. Nana Sybil is always telling me I need to lose weight, is wondering why I am not engaged yet, and has something critical to say about one thing or another. She is in poor health as she has had several strokes and lives in a nursing home near my Uncle. But with Nana, I have never felt good enough. I have always enjoyed these bonding opportunities with Grandma Fanny, and I am glad she is at least trying to understand these feelings. I just hope my visit with Kyle in two days goes well.

  Chapter 24: Wrong Time of Month

  Tuesday is spent lying out on a beach chair at the condominium pool. I want a tanned, healthy look for my job interview. This is my time to relax and prepare for the two potentially big moments in the day ahead. It seems scary to move away from home but with grandma nearby and things possibly growing and getting to know Kyle better this weekend could make it exciting as well.

  Grandma comes down to my chair and asks if I want to go out for lunch and shopping. I get dressed, and we take the bus to the local strip mall. The clothes at her favorite shop are brightly colored and old lady-like, but it is fun anyway. As my father told me to do, I watch her carefully and make sure she isn’t overdoing things. Last year, she was diagnosed with emphysema, and she tends to get winded easily. She was a smoker in her early 20s when it was fashionable and although she quit after my father was born, my grandfather still smoked for several more years and that was enough to do the damage. She had always been prone to lung problems as a child and suffered from a severe bout of whooping cough that had her sick for months. It makes me sad to see her growing older.

  At the first sign of her being breathless, I suggest lunch. It’s early, 11:00, but this allows us to get the Senior Special. The restaurant is a cute sandwich place, and I order a roast beef and cheddar sandwich and chicken dumpling soup that claims to be homemade. Grandma turns to me.

  “So, are you excited about tomorrow? You are going to be experiencing so many big changes. If you get this job, I will be happy to see more of you.”

  I smile.

  “Yes, it is an exciting opportunity, and I can’t wait for you to get to know Kyle tomorrow. I hope he will become an important person in my life.”

  Grandma coughs a little bit.

  “We talked about this yesterday but please be careful. I know these feelings, but we married younger in my day. If you do decide to move ahead, please make sure you are properly protected. I don’t want to see you hurt and dealing with things that you shouldn’t at this time in your life.”

  I look at grandma. There is a cramping pit in my stomach.

  “I promise I will be careful. Dad already told me not to hesitate to call you if I need anything. Remember, I am an adult. I will be a college graduate in two months, and I will be 22 in five days!”

  We eat in silence. The cramping continues. ’Nerves,’ I think. We finish our meals and the nagging pain seems all too familiar. I use the bathroom before we go. I look down and think, ‘Oh no, not now!’ It’s my period which comes about every 4-6 weeks. I knew it was close to that time, but I was hoping it would wait until after break for obvious reasons. Ugh! I wanted to have new experiences but not with this bloody mess. I sigh. Kyle and I can still enjoy each other with more of the cuddling and kissing that we did Christmas week. There will always be another time for new experiences, especially if I get this job.

  Grandma is waiting out front.

  “Well, you and the family won’t have to worry about me this weekend! Mother Nature took care of things.”

  Grandma understands.

  “Your period?”

  I say with disappointment showing,

  “I have pads in my suitcase, so I guess we’d better go back to your place.”

  The ominous feeling I have about this week grows. I want to see Kyle tomorrow evening so that I am reassured. I call him to confirm tomorrow’s plans, but all I get is his answering machine.

  Chapter 25: Interview and A Talk With Grandma

  On Wednesday I wake up early, take a shower, put on my makeup, and put on the suit I got for Chanukah to go on interviews. I interviewed for a few jobs with on campus recruiters this and last semester so I know the drill. So far, I have interviewed with a few small, local Michigan papers and a Technical Writing job but the Sun Sentinel is the most established paper that has shown any interest so far. I try not to think how getting this job could possibly change things between Kyle and I as we would no longer be long distance.
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  After walking to Bertha’s to pick up her car, I make sure I have enough time to stop at the post office for stamps and the pharmacy for envelopes and a map to make sure I know where I am headed. I also thumb through a tour guide book and determine there is a local college near the condominium where I can go to the computer lab to type out my post-interview thank you letter. I feel a squeezing pain in my belly, and I am not sure if it is from my period or my nerves about the interview and the evening ahead. I also buy some ibuprofen. I go to the drinking fountain and swallow two.

  I love driving and viewing the palm trees and the ocean. ‘No matter what happens,’ I think. ‘I would enjoy living here.’ I reach the business office and Jack, the Managing Editor, is waiting up front to greet me. We shake hands, and he leads me to his office. He asks me questions about my classes, my writing, and what sort of computer software I am familiar with.

  “Now that we are in the ‘90s we do most of our layouts on computer. This is an entry level job in which you will be working on the layout and proofreading articles. If you prove yourself, you may get an article of your own.”

  I proceed to take out my portfolio of writing samples from my articles in the college paper, to the advertising blurbs and layouts I worked on this summer.

  “I was also responsible for computerizing the filing system from a large cabinet of paper files.”

  Jack seems impressed.

  “I think I have heard enough about your experience. Why don’t I give you a tour?”

  He opens the door and leads me out to the press area. He introduces me to some of the other Junior Proofreaders, who are only a few years older than me. This seems like it would be an interesting job for next year; one where I could learn and grow as a writer. After the tour, I shake his hand.

  “It was very nice meeting you today. Thank you for your time.”

  I walk out to my car smiling. At least this part of the day went well. Now, I wait for tonight. I stop at the college computer lab on my way back to the condominium and compose a thank you letter which recaps my experience and interest in the position. Then I drop my letter in an on campus mailbox. I walk around a little bit. ‘If I do live here next year,’ I think, ‘Maybe I can take a few graduate level classes. The future and my life after college are filled with exciting possibilities. Now I need to get ready for tonight and hope for someone else to be a part of that future.’

  I drop off the car at Bertha’s and thank her. Grandma is over at her place visiting and drinking a cup of tea. Bertha offers me a cup, and I accept. I have a couple of hours before Kyle is due to come over, and I can relax a while before starting to get ready.

  “How was the interview, dear?”

  I turn to grandma and Bertha.

  “Well, it is an entry level job. I mainly will be working with the layout and proofreading other articles but if I work hard, I can get my own articles printed.”

  Bertha smiles at me.

  “It sounds like a good opportunity. Your grandmother tells me that you already have a young man down here?”

  I must have a dreamy expression on my face because Bertha says next,

  “Oh, I can tell this one means a lot to you! I have an idea,” she continues. “How about you, me, and grandma go to the mall? We can stop at the hairdresser’s, and you can get your makeup done!”

  “A makeover,” Grandma chimes in. “Let’s go!”

  We head over to the mall. Miraculously, Rosa, the Cuban hairdresser with the spiral curls, seems to know exactly what to do with my curly, kinky hair that never holds a style.

  “Curls are thirsty”, she explains. “They need lots of moisture and conditioner.”

  She trims and shapes up the edges and then just lightly dries it with a diffuser rather than the pulling and the high heat that most hairdressers use to unsuccessfully smooth it out. I love the reflection of myself with soft ringlets falling to my shoulders. My confidence grows. We head over to a department store that offers free makeovers if you buy their products. I need a new lipstick anyway, and I want makeup to match my fabulous new hairdo.

  Afterwards, the three of us sit on a bench in the center court and people watch so that grandma can catch her breath. She looks at me with pride.

  “You look beautiful, and Kyle is a fool if he is not absolutely smitten with you tonight. I am glad though that you got your period. You don’t want to do too much too fast.”

  “Yes,” Bertha adds. “You are a young pretty girl, plenty of time for you to find a husband.”

  Grandma continues, “I have talked to a few young people, and they say that once you have sex you want more and with all the diseases nowadays you want to be careful. It is so different from when I was young. I was a virgin when I married Nathan.”

  I am not sure I want to hear about my grandparents’ sex life. Am I really having this conversation?

  “Grandma,” I try to interrupt, but she is lost in the past.

  “It hurt so bad that we couldn’t do it on our honeymoon. Then I went to the doctor for a diaphragm, and I was scolded for still being a virgin. Eventually, we got it right, and we had your father and uncle. But it is better to be sure you are committed, and he is going to be there for you if things aren’t easy.”

  I look at my watch. I have had enough knowing more about grandma and grandpa’s relationship than I want to.

  “I think it’s time we head back. Kyle will be at your place soon.”

  Chapter 26: Finally KyleI pace back and forth nervously back at the condo until the doorman calls saying a Kyle Buchman is waiting to be buzzed in. Grandma opens the door and introduces herself. I can hear him charming her.

  “It is so nice to meet you. You are as wonderful as your granddaughter said you would be.”

  He turns to me.

  “Abigail! You look beautiful!”

  I can tell he is dazzled by my new look as he gives me a hug and pecks me on the lips. He turns back to grandma and asks her if she has decided on a restaurant. She decides on the Chinese place down the road.

  “You and I always seem to do Chinese,” I remark.

  “Well,” Kyle replies, “I know of a good seafood restaurant. My neighbor Willa just got hired there. I will take you on Saturday for your birthday.”

  Conversation is lively at dinner.

  “You are so skinny,“ Grandma admonishes Kyle. “You need to eat more. Finish up this cashew chicken!”

  She asks him about his students and his hobbies. He brings up how my father has inspired him to start taking guitar lessons.

  “Oh yes,” Grandma brags. “My Harry is wonderful. He started out with the piano as a child and was even good enough to get paying jobs. Then he taught himself the guitar. He is a very smart man!”

  Grandma asks us,

  “So any special plans for these next few days?”

  Kyle tells her that tomorrow he has to work but got a substitute for Friday.

  “Friday and Saturday, Abigail and I are going to have some fun!”

  He squeezes my hand under the table.

  “I was thinking I might see what Jennifer is up to while you are busy,” I say.

  Grandma chimes in,

  “She did try to call her, but there was no answer. I know you two were always such good friends.”

  Kyle looks up.

  “I actually saw her at a cousin’s Bar Mitzvah last week. She actually said to me that she heard you were coming to town to see me.”

  I nod and ask, "So what did you say?”

  Kyle responds thoughtfully, “I told her that you wanted to see both of us. But then she mentioned that you were not that close anymore and if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be here at all.”

  It’s sad to know that in wanting to keep things to myself until I knew what would happen, I shut Jennifer out, much as I had Leigh. I realize that these new feelings have caused things to change my relationship with others that I don’t know if it will ever be the same again. I know that when friends met people th
ey cared about, they got so caught up in the new relationship and tended to neglect friends and family. I guess it is just an inevitable process as sad as it may be.

  We drive to the condo and walk grandma back to her door. I pull out the camera in my purse.

  “Can you please take a picture of us?”

  Grandma obliges and then Kyle insists of one of me and her. As she is kissing me goodbye, she whispers,

  “I like him a lot! Have a great time!”

  As we are driving away, I turn to Kyle with regret.

  “I am sorry to tell you, but I got my period yesterday and am not feeling the best.”

  I can tell he looks a little disappointed but reassures me.

  “That’s okay. I like cuddling with you.”

  He pulls up to a small but nice townhouse, opens the door for me, and grabs my hand.

  “This is the place!”

  There is a dark haired man sitting inside watching television.

  “Abigail, this is Tim, my roommate.”

  I shake hands with him politely.

  “Tim is trying to make it as an Olympic swimmer. He is training here.”

  I am impressed.

  “How very interesting.”

  Kyle finds some wine and offers Tim and me a glass. He gestures over to a cage, opens the door, and says,

  “This is Ronnie.”

  “Argh,” the bird speaks. “How do you do?”

  I laugh as the myna bird perches on his shoulder. He gives Ronnie a pat and a kiss on the head and puts him back in the cage. We are sipping the wine and chatting when there is a knock on the door.

  “Hey Slick,” I hear. “What’s up?”

  “Keith, my man, come in.”

  Kyle turns to me.

  “Abigail, meet my neighbor Keith. His wife Willa is working tonight. I’m sure you’ll meet her too.”

  Keith looks at Kyle with a grin.

  “Well, with the woman working nights now, maybe I can do a little body checking,” he winks. “Willa always thinks I am cheating, but I never leave a trail behind!”

  I think the guy is an absolute scum bucket if he is doing what he says he is but he is Kyle’s friend, so I have to be polite. We sip our wine and make small talk while I cuddle on the couch in his arms.