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I faced her, waiting for her to explain. She knew it was true—some people thought being overweight was a moral failing. They judged people like me to no end.
She lifted her hands, her elbows resting on the walker, and said, “You need to be asking, ‘What if they are warm, kind, loving people? What if I love Texas? What if this brings Tyler and me that much closer together?’” She smiled. “And if you must be negative, you can ask, ‘What if I can’t stand them?’ Because you are incredible, my dear. If they don’t like you, there’s clearly something wrong with them. Enough with the stinkin’ thinkin’.”
I set down the shirt I was folding and went to give her a hug. “Thanks, Grandma.” But there was still something holding me back… “I feel like I have to address the elephant in the room.”
“And what is that?” she asked.
“I’m a Black woman from California, and Tyler’s a white man from outside of Dallas, Texas, one of the most conservative places in the country. What if we don’t fit in together there? What if the community doesn’t welcome me?”
She twisted her lips to the side deepening her wrinkles. “You know the world’s changed so much since I was younger. I lived through the Loving case, and some people still think the courts got it wrong…”
My chest got tight in the way it always did thinking about racist people, the bias some people had against me and people like me. Most of the time I tried to ignore it, but now? It was all I could think about.
“You know, it’s hard to believe you two have only been together for a few months. It feels like he’s been a part of our family from day one.” She shrugged. “Seems to me a man like that wouldn’t take you anywhere that could cause you harm. And if for some reason, and issue did arise, a man like that would nip it in the bud faster than you could blink.”
I nodded, feeling light enough to get back to folding some blouses to put in my suitcase. Tyler would keep me safe, just like he’d protected me that night from Houston. “He’s so easy to be around. I wonder if his family is the same way.”
“There you go,” Grandma said with a wink.
“What are you going to do without me here to boss around?” I asked in a teasing tone, but part of me was worried about her. I wanted her to be safe when I was gone, and I had been filling in the gaps here lately, especially since it was hard to get on the senior ride with her walker. I’d been taking her to appointments and the store when Mom and Dad couldn’t.
“It’s only a week,” Grandma said. “And besides, you know they have special buses forold, feeblepeople like me. I just need to get signed up.”
“I didn’t call you feeble.”
“You didn’t deny the old part,” she retorted.
“Didn’t need to.” I winked.
She rolled her eyes.
I scanned my suitcase, deciding I had everything I needed and probably a lot more. “I think that’s it.”
From the doorway, I heard Tyler’s voice say, “Good timing.”
He looked so handsome, changed out of his work clothes into a pair of jeans that fit him so well it should be a crime. And with his arm propped up against the doorframe, I could see a sliver of his fit stomach. If he stood like that much longer, I’d need a mop to wipe up all this drool.
Grandma looked between me and him. “I hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your family, Tyler. Although, we call the next one.”
I loved the way she assumed we’d be together, because I was hoping the same thing. Even though I had no idea how it would work with him at his next job site, wherever it would be, and me in California. In fact, I tried not to think about it at all.
I’d wanted to move out from my parents’ house, but now that Grandma needed so much extra help... I just didn’t know how that would work. Would my family be able to pick up the slack if I moved all the way to Texas? Would I be able to forgive myself if they did?
Tyler said, “Can I carry your bags for you, Hen?”
I nodded, passing him my suitcase and picking up my purse filled to the brim with the essentials.
Grandma extended her arms for another hug, which I gladly took.
“Give my brothers hell for me,” I said.
“You know I will,” she replied, squeezing me just a little tighter before letting me go.
Mom and Dad said goodbye to us in the living room, wishing us well, and soon we were on the road to Tyler’s apartment. It was easier for me to stay with him so we could get up early for our drive to LA.
Instead of eating out, we grabbed some takeout on the way and walked up the steps to his apartment. As soon as we walked through the door, the smell of his leather and linen candles enveloped me, making me smile. “I need to ask your sister to make me some of these candles so I can light them in the office.”
“I’m sure she’d love that,” Tyler said, squeezing my hand.