Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Ainsley eyed me as we walked up the steps to the front door. “Are you going to tell me why you’re acting shifty?”
“Shifty? When the fuck have I ever been shifty?” I asked this just as Mum opened the door.
Mum was blond and blue-eyed. Unfortunately, both me and Ainsley got our coloring from our dad. Both dark-haired and brown-eyed. Thankfully, I’d gotten my height from my mum’s side of the family who were Scandinavian. Ainsley got her height from Granddad’s side. It annoyed her to no end that she was a foot shorter than me while Mum and Gran were five foot nine.
“Less of the swearing,” Mum said, pulling me into a hug. I gave her a tight squeeze. I’d missed the hell out of her.
“How are you, Mum?” I asked as I released her.
“Wondering why your sister is calling you shifty.” She hugged Ainsley and murmured in her hair, “What’s he up to now?”
“Nothing.” I grunted and walked inside, kicking off my trainers because Gran had never allowed us into the house without taking off our shoes first.
It was an end-of-terrace 1930s home. A small central hallway branched off into the downstairs loo, kitchen, and living room. The stairs were next to the front door and led up to three bedrooms. Upstairs had been tight living quarters and as I got older, Mum ended up sharing with Ainsley. There was no doubt in my mind Ainsley took off for Edinburgh Uni to study art history just so she could get some space.
Now I studied those stairs, worrying about Gran having to climb up and down them.
Mum caught my expression. “I know.” She squeezed my shoulder. “I’ve tried talking to them about making a move.”
“I could source a nice bungalow somewhere nearby if it’s the location that’s an issue.”
Ainsley kicked off her shoes. “Maybe we can talk to them today.”
“We’re not deaf, you know,” Granddad called from the living room. “We can hear you plotting our lives out there.”
I grinned, a feeling of home hitting me right in the chest at the sound of his voice. Striding into the living room, I found Gran in her armchair at the large bay window and Granddad in his by the fire. He got up to greet me, and I tried not to notice how much stiffer and slower he was. I couldn’t imagine life without these two, and I didn’t like to think of them as elderly. But they were.
“Granddad.” I hugged him, patting him gently on the back.
“Nice to see you, son.” He gave me a solid pat and a crooked grin. “You finally cut that bloody hair. Looks good. Though you could still take it a bit shorter.”
I chuckled because he’d been good-naturedly taking the piss out of my hair for years. Ainsley had greeted Gran first, so we swapped. I leaned down to kiss Gran’s cheek, noting how soft but thin it felt against my lips.
As I pulled back, I studied how deeply lined her face had grown in the last year. How puffy and dark the circles under her eyes were. She’d aged since the fall. “Beautiful as ever, Granny.”
“Och, away with you.” She gestured impatiently to the couch. “Sit down, sit down. Catch me up on your news. Tell me about the haircut.”
And as I settled onto the couch, I realized Ainsley was right. Being back in Falkirk with my grandparents felt like reliving memories of a past life. It made me sad. And I decided I might try to talk them into moving to Edinburgh to be closer to us.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” Mum asked, closing the kitchen door behind her.
Ainsley and I were doing the dishes after dinner because they didn’t have a dishwasher.
“You noticed the shiftiness too, did you?” Ainsley teased.
“Aye, I did.” Mum took a seat at the small breakfast nook. “Mum and Dad are watching their soap, so we have some privacy. Talk to me, Baird. I know when something is bothering you.”
The thought of explaining my plan filled me with nerves. “Aye, I do have something to tell you.” I turned from the sink, crossing my arms over my chest. “Ains, can you sit for a minute too?”
“Now I’m worried. You sound very serious.” She dropped the dish towel and sat on the chair opposite Mum, bringing her knees up to her chest.
“It’s nothing bad.” I tried to alleviate the worry wrinkling my sister’s brow. “At least I don’t think so.”
Mum pinched her lips together but gestured for me to continue.
I quickly but quietly relayed my and Maia’s plan.
Ainsley and Mum exchanged incredulous looks throughout and stared at each other once I’d finished talking, as if silently communicating.
Finally, Ainsley turned to me. “I think it’s a bad idea to fake-marry a woman you have feelings for.”