Grandma’s Ghost
62. Grandma’s Ghost
🤍🖤🤍 Natalie 🤍🖤🤍
I stand outside Jacob’s old place, wondering if it was a mistake to come here. June looked visibly distraught and whispered to me there was some argument at home and he left agitated.
Why would she tell me about her family argument? At that moment, it seemed she wanted me to look for him. I also got worried if he was fine. But now I am second-guessing myself. His car is parked here.
Thank goodness my guess about his whereabouts was correct. What would have I done if he had gone to see some friend or somewhere else? But the real question is: Does he want to see anyone?
I glance at the sky.
Sundown happened half an hour ago. When I took the bus to this neighborhood, I wasn’t thinking properly. Only Jacob was on my mind. Now it’s too dark. I don’t want to go back and wait at the bus stop all alone.
I don’t even know if there will be a return bus at this hour. It would be selfish to ask Jacob to drop me back home.
Fuck, I am stupid. Always acting on impulse.
He probably needs some alone time and here I am standing in front of his old place with no ride back home.
All panicky.
This place looks sketchy as hell in the dark. How did his grandma live here her whole life? She must have been some badass woman.
My phone pings and see a message from Amy.
Amy: ‘You there yet? Dad was calling you for dinner. I told him you are asleep.’
Me: ‘Yes, thanks for covering for me.’
I can’t even ask Dad to come and pick me. He would be amazed at my ability to fuck up twice within 12 hours. I take a deep breath to swallow my pride and knock on the door.
Sorry, Jacob. I am here to ruin your alone time.
What worse could happen? He will say he isn’t in mood for company.
Too bad for him. I will join him anyway.
I knock a few times. When he doesn’t open the door, I realize, the worst thing would be if he doesn’t answer the door at all.
I patiently wait. With each minute passing, my hopes of seeing him diminish and my panic rises.
Ok, I am sincerely screwed.
I check my phone for cabs to book my ride back home. My nerves are wrecked. I totally avoid cab rides in the evening. I guess there is a first time for everything.
As I am lost on my phone trying to desperately book the nearest cab, a voice startles me.
“Natalie??”
I raise my head to see Jacob walking toward me. He has some takeaway in his hand.
Oops, looks like he was out to get some food.
“Wh... What are you doing here?”
“I.. I was just passing by.”
He raises his eyebrow. “And you thought it would be nice to see my Grandma’s ghost?”
Lame excuse. I know.
What can I do?
Lies don’t flow out of my mouth easily.
“I... am sorry. I just wanted to see you... but then realized you probably wouldn’t want to see anyone.”
He looks at me, then unlocks the door without even looking at the keyhole.
Smooth.
“Don’t ever do that again, Ok? Don’t come here alone this late.”
“Come on in...” He says, opening the door.
I... “ I almost say ‘I don’t want to intrude’. But shut my mouth quickly.
No need to be polite. I don’t want to take a cab or bus at this hour. He can drop me off later. He has to.
“Be careful...” He says.
It’s dark inside. Jacob turns on his phone’s flashlight and I see the furniture is gone. The carpet has been completely pulled out. It looks like the renovation started a few days ago. The kitchen counter and cabinets are gone too.
He tiptoes through the stuff lying around and walks towards his room. I follow him. The carpet in his room is intact, but most of the furniture is gone. Only his bed and a table are there.
He sets the table near the bed, then takes out a few candles from a bag and lights them up.
“Something is wrong with the circuit. I couldn’t figure it out in the dark.”
He points me towards the bed and says, “Suit yourself.”
Then he pulls some clothes out of his backpack and goes to the washroom to change. I look at his bag.
Is he planning to stay here for a while?
“Did June you tell you I was here?” He asks me when he comes out. His voice is quieter than usual.
I hesitate but say, “I made a guess. She told me there was some argument.”
“Hmm,” He says as if he had a guess already.
“I am starving. Let’s eat something first.”
“I am fine. You go ahead.” I am sure he didn’t buy food for two.
He waves me off and I eventually sit next to him on bed. We have dinner quietly.
Correction.
Candlelight dinner.
If his mood wasn’t somber, I would have called it romantic. I am not used to being quiet around him, so I quip a remark here or there to break the silence, but I can feel he is not in the mood for much talk.
We finish our dinner and I try to stay quiet most of the time and randomly ask a question here and there while he clears the table.
“How long ago did the renovation start?”
“Two weeks ago. But it halted last week for some reason... Lucky for me, they didn’t tear my room apart.” He says, then mumbles after a pause, “Don’t know where I would have gone in that case.”
How long is he planning to stay here? Was the argument really bad?
“Will you go to school from here tomorrow?” I ask, trying to figure out if he will go back home tonight.
He narrows his eyebrows in question.
“I mean, this place is too far from our school. Isn’t it?” I add it to make it seem an innocent question.
He looks at me. I can see glee in his eyes in the faint candlelight. He asks in an amused tone, “What day is it today, Natalie?”
I frown, and he grins.
“What do you mean?” I ask and check my phone.
What the....
“Fuck It’s Friday!” I exclaim, and he chuckles.
“I will drop you home if that’s what you are worried about..”
I redden with embarrassment, “Thanks... I... I wasn’t thinking when I came here... You probably needed some time alone... I am sorry...”
“Don’t be... It means a lot that you came to see me.” He says sincerely.
