Loss and Longing

The rest of the evening went well and Stevie noticed that Nina went out of her way to make Grant feel at home and by the time they were ready to go, Stevie had forgiven her mother for the shaky start. As she hugged her goodbye, her mother reassured her further as she whispered “I’m an idiot, forgive me. He’s lovely.”

Stevie smiled at her as she moved back, “thank you.”

“See you tomorrow” Nina said and picking up her bag Stevie walked out with Grant.

As they walked down the stairs from the front door Grant said “Come with me. I can drop you back whenever you’re ready.”

Uncertain, Stevie stopped and bit the side of her mouth, “what if someone needs me?” she asked.

“Then I’ll bring you back” Grant said, turning back to look at her with a smile.

 She smiled back at him, “okay” she said and taking the hand he was holding out, she walked to his car.

At his place Grant took her bag and after putting it in his bedroom joined her in the living room. As he lowered himself down beside her he said “do you want to tell me what was going on with you and your mother?”

Stevie winced. “It was nothing really.”

“So no reason not to tell me then” he said with a grin.

She laughed, feeling a little nervous. She didn’t want there to be a problem between him and her family. “She was just a little surprised at your age” Stevie said.

“Right” he said. “Is it an issue for you?”

“No” Stevie said “not at all, seven years isn’t that much and even Mum had changed her tune by the end of the night.”

“I hadn’t actually thought about it” he said looking away.

“There is no reason to think about it” Stevie said worried that she’d upset him, “because it is not an issue, for her or me.”

Grant just looked at her, his expression serious.

Determined to get him to accept that it wasn’t a problem, Stevie moved to sit on his lap, her knees on the couch on either side of his hips. She looked down at him and as she did she saw the corner of his mouth lift and she realised he’d been teasing her. Her eyes narrowed but as his hands settled on her hips, she smiled.  Then lowering her head, she kissed him.

Grant smiled against her mouth and getting to his feet with her wrapped around him, he walked into the bedroom.