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“Hello?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Hi, is this Birdie?”
“It is,” I said. “Is everything okay?” If it was bad news, I wanted to hear it already instead of fearing the worst.
“Hi, um, it’s me, um, Walter?”
Walter. His voice registered in my mind, and I almost hung up. Almost. “Yes?” I said, my voice cool.
“I, um, this is awkward, but I was wondering if you might go out with me again?”
“What?” I was shocked that he would even ask.
“I know I messed up last time, but you did give me a lot to think about. That’s what I want in a woman, someone who will challenge me, even if they are misguided.”
“Are you serious?” I asked, baffled.
“I know I might not be your dream guy, but I would be able to take care of you.”
“Take care of me?”
“I’m blowing this, aren’t I?”
The bit of vulnerability in his voice softened my heart, if only a bit. “Kind of.”
He chuckled. “Do you think there’s a possibility I could get a second chance? Do dinner the right way? I’ll take you anywhere you want.”
I glanced in the direction of the kitchen, which held all of my sandwich supplies. Until I found a job, I was on a barebones budget, which meant no coffee shops, no driving unless necessary, and definitely no eating out. Would it be bad to get a meal with him?
After all, he was right. He would take care of me, financially at least. A life with someone like Walter would be easy. No passion, but also no heartbreak. No head-clouding lust that would keep me from making the right decisions.
“I’ll go to lunch with you,” I said. “Let’s go to Waldo’s Diner. Say noon?”
I wanted to see my grandpa anyway. Also, if Walter could refrain from insulting the diner while he was there, he might stand a fighting chance at redemption.
“I’ll be there,” he promised.
As I got ready, I called Grandpa Chester. He answered on the third ring, and I could hear wind in the background. He always stepped outside to answer a call, saying it was rude to talk on the phone in a restaurant.
“Hi, Birdie,” he said. “How’s my favorite granddaughter?”
“I’ve been better,” I said honestly. “But I wanted to let you know I’m coming by the restaurant today. And I’m bringing, a, um, friend.”
“Cohen?” he asked, full of happiness. “I was hoping you’d bring him back around.”
My chest ached, because I’d been hoping the same thing. “That didn’t work out, Grandpa. It’s someone else. Nothing serious. But I thought maybe I could get a coffee with you after?”
“Of course. When will you be here?” he asked.
“We’re eating at noon.”
“That works great. I need to take Grandma to the doctor at eleven, so we’ll be by at one.”
“Everything okay?” I asked.
“You know your grandma. Healthy as a horse.”
I smiled. Just talking to him was like a balm to my soul. “Good. I’ll see you then.”