Page 36 of Edward’s Bunny

Nana Surprise

Brian

Ipulled up to the familiar drive of my parents, and unlike the previous time I was here, there were only a few cars parked. It wasn’t surprising to see so few cars; it was. I looked at the clock eight in the morning. Most of my siblings were probably still fast asleep. I yawned. It was too early for this, but I’d promised my mother I’d help her with the meal.

Gah, I shouldn’t have stayed up so late,I thought to myself. I sighed and leaned back in my seat after turning off my car. I needed to regroup my thoughts. Last night had been amazing, the kiss had been amazing, and never in my life had I felt such an attraction or instant chemistry with anyone.

I opened my eyes and stared out the window. Amazing as last night was, I still had to face the family—I dreaded it. I knew they’d ask me about Randy, and that would lead to questions. Then I’d have to tell them about Edward. I wasn’t sure if I was ready too.

I sighed and opened my door. I couldn’t hide in here forever. I got out and made my way to the front door. With each step, I felt the impending doom. I felt like I was marching to my execution.

“Uncle Brian,” Eva’s tiny voice echoed in the morning quiet as the door swung open. Instantly I was enveloped in her tiny hug.

“Hey, Thumper,” I said with a laugh, giving the little girl a quick hug.

Eva pushed back and crossed her arm. “Uncle Brian,” she said definitely. “I’m not Thumper.”

I laughed, and my bad mood dissolved. My little niece had a way of making my heart light. “You’ll always be my Thumper. I told you that.” I looked up and didn’t see my sister. “Where’s your mom?”

Eva’s face brightened with a gigantic smile. “Come with me!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me quickly inside. I didn’t know where she was taking me, but I could feel her excitement, and it made me excited.

“Tada!” Eva said, and my eyes widened.

“Nana?” I said in shock. I raced toward my grandmother and flung my arms around her tiny body. I hadn’t seen my Nana in nearly nine years. She rarely traveled from her small hometown in Belgium. The last time I saw her was at my older brother Noah’s wedding.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, pulling back from the embrace.

“I came to see you… well, not just you, my schatje,” she replied with a grin. Nana Hilde called all her kids “schatje”. It meant ‘little treasure’ in Dutch. I leaned back, still in awe. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact she was here. She looked good for her age of eighty-three. She was short, wore her gray hair wrapped tightly in a bun, and had thin-wired glasses. She looked like Granny from the Looney Tunes cartoons.

“Hello, son,” my mother said with a smile.

I grinned and gave her a quick peck and hug. “Hi, Ma. Did you know Nana was coming?”

“No, she didn’t. I surprised all of you,” Nana said.

“Where’s Randy?” my sister Olivia asked.

I groaned internally. Everything was going so well. Figures she’d have to be the one to burst my bubble, I thought. I turned to her. “Morning, Liv.”

“Morning. Where is he? He is coming, right?”

“He better be coming. I swear if that boy’s working, he’s going to see my wooden spoon,” my mother added.

I sighed. “He’s not coming—”

“He’s not! How can he not come?”

“Ma. Relax. It’s okay... we broke up,” I admitted.

My mother's eyes widened, and the room went still. "Oh, Brian," she said softly, concern etched on her face. "I'm so sorry. When did this happen?"

"It's okay, Mom. It happened a couple of days ago."

“What happened?” My sister asked.

I shrugged. I didn’t want to get into the details of the breakup because those details could lead to Edward. “It just happened.”

“Bullshit!”