Chapter Chpater 416
I brought up Alanna's number and put the phone to my ear. Luckily, she answered on the second ring. "Hey". She answered.
"Hi". Even through the phone it felt awkward. I didn't want it to be awkward between us. She stormed out without an explanation, and I had no idea what was going on with her. Therefore, I had no idea what to say.
"Are you coming for dinner tonight?". She asked.
"Yeah, we'll be there".
"Good, that's good".
"Are you okay?". I asked.
"Yeah, just had a few crappy days but I'm okay".
"Do you want to talk about it?". I didn't want to push her into telling me. If she didn't want to talk about it, then that was okay.
"We could grab coffee tomorrow?". She suggested.
"I'd like that". I smiled.
"Then that's what we'll do. I'll see you tonight. Bye Leah".
"Bye". I ended the call putting my phone on the bedside table.
...
I was putting the finishing touches to my make up when Jake appeared at the bedroom door.
"God, you're beautiful".
I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. I switched out my earrings before taking the bracelet Jake bought me and slipped it onto my wrist.
"Do you know who's going to be there tonight?". I asked.
"No idea". He shrugged. "But we can skip out early if we need to".
"Okay". I nodded. "I talked to Alanna".
"Is she okay?".
"We're going for coffee tomorrow. She says she's okay".
"Well, if she says she's okay then she's okay". His hands found my waist as he pulled me towards him.
"I'm a lucky guy". His hands slipped from my waist resting against my bum. "Seriously babe you're fucking beautiful".
"Stop". I grinned. "And can you get my purse from the shelf in the closet. I have no idea how it even got up there".
"Me". He kissed my cheek, squeezed my ass and then went to do as I asked. "Between bags and shoes, they're taking over".
I rolled my eyes. He was exaggerating.
Slipping my feet into my black heels boots I grabbed my suit jacket from the closet. A family dinner at Charlottes was always an excuse to dress up and dress nice.
Let's face it I hadn't gotten the chance to wear makeup in months. Tonight was a chance to let my hair down a little, have some great food and be surrounded by great company.
"Should we head out?". I glanced at my watch. "It's almost 8".
"Here". He handed me my purse. "Do you want me to take the truck?".
"Yeah". His parents only lived on the other side of the street, but I didn't want to get sore feet before the night had even started.
I waited on our porch as Jake locked up. My eyes landed on my old house. It was in complete darkness. I hadn't heard from her today, but I hadn't exactly reached out. I left her last message on read.
He slipped his hand in mine and led me to his truck.
"Do you think Jack and Lacey will be here tonight?". I asked clipping my seatbelt into place.
"I don't know Leah, why?". He started the engine and reversed out of the driveway.
"So, I can apologise for them being kicked out of their house".
"It's not their house though babe and they were fine with it. I spoke with Jack today they're staying with his parents and because Lacey isn't having the best time with the pregnancy they're going to stay there until the baby is born". "They are?". I frowned.
He nodded. "Jack doesn't like having to leave her on her own".
The was understandable.
As he pulled into his parents' driveway and came to a stop that horrible feeling appeared in the pit of my stomach. The feeling of dread and discomfort. My gut instinct was rarely wrong and when we walked inside, I knew instantly why I had that feeling. My gran and George had been invited to dinner.
So, me being me I slapped a smile on my face as Charlotte greeted us.
"Beautiful as always sweetheart". She embraced me in a hug and placed a kiss on my cheek. "I hope you're both hungry".
"Do you want to leave?". Jake whispered his hand resting on the lower of my back.
I didn't want to leave I had no reason to. We were all family here for the same thing. To eat some tasty food and enjoy each other's company.
"No". I smiled. "It's okay".
I should have known she'd be here. It should have clicked when I noticed her house was in darkness. I mean where else would they be at 8 o'clock at night. His hand never left the lower of my back as he guided us into the kitchen. Dinner smelt amazing.
"I'm having a beer do you want one?". He asked.
I nodded.
Should I approach her? Do I make the first move since I was the one that made up an excuse, so they'd leave our home. I chewed the inside of my cheek. Nothing would get spoken about tonight. It wasn't the place for it. But I wasn't raised not to be polite, and I didn't want to cause an atmosphere.
It still blew my mind that this was how we ended up. I shouldn't be thinking about ways on how to approach and speak to my gran. She was my gran for petes sake.
If it was easy enough to brush it all under the carpet I would but I couldn't just go back to how things were before. No matter how much I tried or wanted to try it wouldn't work.
We were both on different scales, both led completely different lives now and sometimes it feels as though she was never in it to begin with.
"Babe?".
"Sorry what?". My eyes landed on his.
Filled with concern, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Are you sure you're, okay?". He asked.
"I'm fine stop worrying". I took the beer from him and walked my way into the living room.
I had yet to see Alanna.
"Hey sweetheart". My gran spoke. "Are you feeling better?".
She was sat on one of the couches with George next to her. It was hard to believe that he was my grandfather. Well, maybe not hard to believe but still. I always liked him, and he was always nice to me. "I'm doing okay". I smiled.
"Your aunt Claires coming for a visit".
"I know". I nodded.
"I was thinking we could all get together for lunch or maybe dinner? I think a sit down is exactly what needs to happen".
She wasn't wrong. Everything needed to be squared away once and for all. Conversations needed to be had and once everything was out in the open, and the air was cleared we could all finally move on. "Okay". I spoke. "I can make dinner sometime this week".