EFFA
The car pulls down E. Main Street after driving around the town square that Mercs has told me about. I see the bandstand in the middle, and the sights of this quaint small little town is lifting my spirits.
I glance over my shoulder to look to Mercs, his body brimming with home filled relaxation, and small smile creeping up on his face.
The car turns, pulling into a driveway and parks abruptly. I look out the window to the medium sized home. It’s two-story, white cladded wood paneling and kind of looks like a little French cottage. It’s super cute.
As the driver gets out and opens my door, I slide out of the car and Mercs hops out and grabs our bags from the trunk and walks with me toward the door. We start heading up onto the porch, past the rocking chair and step up to the door. My skin is riddled with goosebumps, from the fear of meeting his family, and the excitement of finally meeting Kiera and Gran.
Suddenly, the door bursts open and I spin my head toward it as Mercs plasters on the brightest smile. Gran stands in the doorway, her hair down in long smooth waves of gray, wearing a red flowing dress and a white lace cardi.
She looks from me to Mercs and lets out a stifled laugh. “Oh gosh, I don’t know who to hug first,” she exclaims.
I smile, tilting my head toward Mercs and she winks at me and nods, racing forward taking him into a giant hug. He embraces her back as she smothers kisses all over his cheeks making me chuckle.
“Gran, stop. It hasn’t been that long,” he chides and pulls back looking into her eyes.
“Sweetheart, one day is a day too long away from you.” She turns looking at me. “Well, aren’t you a vision.” She opens her arms to embrace me, and I smile wide stepping forward, taking her into a warm hug. She smells of cookies and chocolate, and I instantly have the feeling of home. Something I haven’t felt for a lot of years.
“Thank you for having me, Gran. I’ve been looking forward to visiting.”
She waves her hand through the air and scoffs. “Oh shush. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Now come inside and see Kiera, she’s literally passing out to meet you.”
I furrow my brows and look to Mercs who grimaces, picking up the bags and walking through the front door.
“Did Kiera have a turn, Gran?” Mercs asks.
My heart beats fast wondering what that means. I’m not entirely sure I’m prepared for this, but I’m going to put on my bravest face.
“Yes sweetheart, I think the excitement was a little too much for her. She’s in the living room resting.”
Mercs glances at me and swallows hard, his eyes catch mine and half-smiles. We walk through the door and Gran closes it behind us, and then leads us through the quaint little house. It’s decorated in all wooden cabinetry, and it looks charming. I love the décor instantly. We walk through the hall, and Mercs places the bags by the bottom of the stairs, then turns toward the open doorway to his left, which I’m guessing is the living room.
I’m not sure if I should be going in there too, but Gran follows him, so I walk with them. The room is decorated in an off-white color, the furnishings all white and wood. A big screen television hangs on the wall showing reruns of the Big Bang Theory, and I smile as we enter the room. The sofa is a long, plush baby blue with a white throw rug over it, and I smile again as I look down to see Kiera lying on the sofa, all cuddled up, wearing her customary beanie like in her Facebook photos. She looks cute as Gran steps up to her and sits on the edge of the sofa and gently shakes Kiera to wake her.
Her eyes flutter open, and she yawns, opening and closing her eyes a few times as she looks up to Gran. “Are they here yet?” her delicate soft voice asks.
“Hey booger-butt,” Mercs murmurs.
I try to hold in my chuckle as her eyes flick up to where we’re standing, and she sits up suddenly and throws off her rug as she jumps from the sofa and into Mercs’ arms. He grabs her, holding her so tightly, lifting her off the ground and swinging her from side to side. He’s the one doing the kissing as he plants kisses on her cheek repeatedly. The love pouring off him is endless, and my heart beats a little faster at this display of affection he’s showing in front of me.
“I missed you so much, doofus,” she announces as he places her on the floor, but she wobbles slightly, and he grabs hold of her.
I tense up, watching Kiera’s fragile body sway from side to side and not knowing if I should say something or do anything.
“I missed you, too, but you should sit down,” Mercs says.
She looks at me and smiles wide. “I have to hug Effa first,” she replies while looking to me. I smile leaning in for an embrace. She feels weak, skin and bones through the layers of clothing. And her embrace, though she’s putting in a lot of effort, there isn’t much energy there. She pulls back, and I look into her eyes with a genuine smile.
“Kiera, it’s so good to finally meet you in person. Kaden talks about you so much. He adores you.”
Kiera snorts and waves her hand through the air. “He has to adore me, we’re blood. You, on the other hand, he really adores, I can tell. He’s never brought a girl home from his adventures before. So you Miss Effervescent are truly special.” she divulges and winks at me.
I grin and shake my head. “Well, I think your Kaden is quite special too.”
Mercs chuckles and bumps into my side. “Shucks. But that’s enough of the sappy shit. Kiera sit down.”
Kiera rolls her eyes and lets out a huff. “God, I don’t know how you can stand him, Effa. Is he this bossy with you?”
I chuckle, glancing to Mercs as he peers at me and grins. “Yes, most of the time. But I hold my own with him, too. I think I have him wrapped around my finger.”
Mercs scoffs as Gran chuckles and Kiera grins wide finally sitting down on the sofa. “Excellent. Kaden needs to know his place, and having a feisty chick to handle his balls is a good start I say.”
“Kiera,” Gran chides as I chuckle and Mercs furrows his brows.
“You and me, Kiera, we’re going to get along just fine,” I tell her and she smiles bright.
“Oh, I know. Anyone who’s eager to harass Kaden like I am is a winner in my books.”
Mercs groans cracking his neck to the side as he wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Why the hell did I come home again?” he teases and Gran moves in giving his cheek a little pinch.
“Because you couldn’t possibly live without us,” Gran beams and I smile wide.
He nods. “True, but a little less teasing would be nice from you ladies, please.”
I place my hand on my hip and tilt it slightly. “Now, where’s the fun in that? Mercs, you don’t know women at all.”
He leans in kissing my temple making Kiera’s eyes light up as she grins so wide watching us.
“Well, I guess you two should probably get settled in your room while Kiera has a rest before dinner?” Gran suggests.
Mercs nods and Kiera pouts. “I’m fine, Gran, really.”
Mercs lets out a bemused laugh. “Kiera, you nearly fell over when I got here. You can rest. We’re here for two days. You have plenty of time with us…” His face softens and he looks at her lovingly. “Please, Kiera, just have a rest and relax, while we settle in.”
She slumps into the sofa and nods. “Okay, I’m just excited.”
He exhales. “I know, booger-butt, but I don’t want you wearing yourself out.”
She winces and nods. Making me gnaw on my bottom lip wondering if I should say something. But I choose not to. They know her condition better than I do. And if Gran and Mercs think Kiera should rest, then Kiera needs to rest. I have two days with her. Plus, I can hang out with her more tonight. For now though, I’ll go upstairs and get settled in.
“C’mon kids, let’s get you settled,” Gran reaffirms and she heads out of the room and Mercs leads me away from Kiera, I turn my head and smile at her as she gets herself comfy on the sofa.
We head for the stairs and Mercs lets me go as he leans down picking up our bags and we all head up the stairs in a comfortable silence. We make our way to a bedroom that looks an awful lot like it might have been Mercs’ when he was living here, and Gran makes her way in and closes the door behind us. I look to her and she smiles at me and lets out a small exhale.
“It’s so good to have you home, Kaden. And Effa, I’m so happy you’re here, too. But Kiera is over excited and we need to be careful she doesn’t overdo it while you’re here.”
I stiffen my stance as Mercs nods. “I thought she might get a bit over the top.”
“I promise I won’t do anything to make Kiera exert herself while I’m here,” I say honestly and Gran nods with a genuine smile.
“Oh, no, I know sweetheart, we just have to watch her. She thinks she can do more than she can.”
I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I hate that she’s so sick. I wish there were something I could do to help. “I’ll spend most of my time just hanging out with her here at home, that way she doesn’t have to expel her energy.”
Gran leans in taking my hand in hers. “I love that you’re so caring, Effa. We have a day planned tomorrow and I know Kiera won’t want to miss it, but we just need to take it easy and go slow around her. That’s all. I hate to put a dampener on everything—”
“Oh no, I completely understand. I will look after her. I promise.”
Mercs wraps his arm around my shoulders pulling me to him, and I feel a comfort from him that I’m needing right now. I detest that his family is going through this, but I’m so glad that I’m here to help make Kiera’s day a little brighter.
“We’ll watch her, Gran. Don’t worry,” Mercs affirms.
“I know you will, sweetheart. But enough of that. You two get settled in and dinner will be ready soon… I’m so glad you’re both here. I know we’re going to have a wonderful time.”
I smile wide, breaking free from Mercs and take Gran into an embrace. “I’m so happy to be here.”
She pulls back from me with a smile and turns leaving his room, and closes the door behind her leaving us alone. I turn back to look at Mercs and sigh. “So, do you think us being here will be okay for Kiera?”
He grins. “I think you being here will be exactly what she needs.”
My chest fills with excitement and I move in wrapping my arms around his neck and lean in pressing my lips to his briefly before pulling back. “I have a good feeling about being here.”
“Me too, Effa, me too.”