Chapter 12
Jeff washed up in the sink, glancing at the phone
willing it to ring, "Why hasn't she called? It's
getting late."
"She'll call." Gilbert reassured him.
"What if he won't let her?"
"She'll find a way to contact you." Gilbert peeked out
the window as the BMW pulled into the drive, "See I
told ya so."
Jeff smiled from ear to ear tossing the towel onto the
counter, running to the screen door. He slowed down
his pace when he saw the elder man get out of the car
with her. Dressed similar to her father except he had
shed the coat. His hair was a salt and pepper color
somewhat like his own fathers. He stepped onto the
porch relieved to see her and with a smile on her face
unlike when she left him earlier.
The man nodded to Jeff as he approached the porch with
Kendall, "You must be Jeff." He extended his hand, "A
firm handshake. I like it."
"Hello sir. You must be Kendall's grandfather. It's
nice to meet you." His eyes settled on her face, "I
was worried when you didn't call."
"Granddaddy wanted to meet you. So we decided against
the call. We needed to get out of the house. I'm ok."
She reached for his hand, wrapping a single finger
around one of his.
He felt the gauze brush his palm, "What happened?"
"Kendall took her anger out on an innocent bottle of
her daddys' scotch."
"Gramps." She blushed burying her head on his arm;
"It's ok. It doesn't hurt. I can't move it but it
doesn't hurt."
"Would you like to come inside and meet my dad? Matt
took off with Shane or I'd have him meet you." He
reopened the screen door, stepping aside to let them
in.
"Immature snippets first." Her grandfather winked at
Jeff.
"Gramps." She pulled at his arm, waiting inside the
door for Jeff; "It's something I called myself
earlier."
"Ah. My dad is in the kitchen. Right through here." He
led Kendall by the hand down the hall, "Dad I want you
to meet Kendall and her grandfather."
"Well, well the young lady who's turned my sons world
upside down. It's a pleasure to meet you Kendall." He
raised her hand to his mouth, kissing it lightly then
holding it between his.
"Michael Morgan."
"Gilbert Hardy. Have a seat. Can we get you anything?
Coffee, tea, water?"
"It's rather scorching how about some tea. Cupcake?"
Michael made himself comfortable at the table.
Kendall stood beside Jeff, her arm wrapped tightly
around his waist, "No I'm ok thank you."
Michael cleared his throat, "I have to apologize to
you and your boy for my own sons behavior as of late.
I'm afraid when it comes to my grandbaby; he loses all
ability to rationalize. Making a total ass of
himself."
Kendall and Jeff laughed.
"You shouldn't have to apologize. I'm a father; I know
a thing or two about that. Right Jeff?"
"Yeah right." He pulled her even closer, kissing her
head, "You should've heard him when Matt and I first
told him we wanted to be professional wrestlers."
Gilbert looked at Michael with a grin, "I calmed down
after about a month. Then I helped them out. To some
extent. They did the rest. I'm glad I did. I'm very
proud of them."
"Wrestling? Wow that's very impressive." Michael was
truly impressed with this boy, "Kendall didn't tell me
about that."
"Yes I did. That was the passionate job I told you
about on the phone."
Michael scowled, "Oh? My mind is slipping. I'd like to
see you wrestle young man."
Jeffs eyes widened in shock, "You do?"
Michael laughed at him, "Of course I do."
Well we have a match Friday night about two hours from
here if you'd like to go. My dad is going and so is
Kendall. I'd really appreciate it if you'd come too."
"Absolutely. It's a date. Well you know what I mean."
Michael winked at Kendall.
"I was just getting ready to start the grill for
dinner. Would you two like to stay for a bar b que?"
Kendall nodded to her grandfather excitedly at
Gilberts invite.
"Sure. I know these two want to spend time together.
Let me help you. When my brat son was younger we used
to grill all the time." Michael rolled up his sleeves.
Gilbert nodded, "Ok. Grill's on the back porch. You
kids run along. We'll call when dinner is ready."
Kendall kissed her grandfathers cheek, whispering,
"Thank you."
He just patted her arm.
"Let's sit on the porch." Jeff led her back outside,
settling onto the slate steps, pulling her down beside
him, "How odd was that?"
She draped her arm over his leg, caressing his thigh,
holding his hand over her shoulder, "I told you my
granddaddy was cool didn't I? He's nothing like my
narrow minded father."
"So you want to tell me what got you so upset that you
shattered a bottle in your hand?" he caressed her arm
that rested on his leg, nuzzling his head into her
neck.
She sat there for a minute, trying to choose her words
carefully. Just because he told her he loved her
didn't mean he was ready to hear that she'd give up
her family to be with him. "My father told me as long
as I lived under his roof that I had to stop seeing
you."
"What did you say?"
Here came the tricky part. This would either send him
screaming for cover or prove to her once again that he
was in this for her.
"That I wouldn't live there anymore. That's when
granddaddy wanted to meet you. He said he's never seen
me fight so passionately for anything."
Jeff felt a twinge of guilt in his stomach but also a
bit of happiness. He wasn't getting to her like Jeff
thought he would, "You weren't serious were you?"
"As serious as a heart attack Jeff. My father is not
the same man anymore. Years ago this would've been
just an overprotective father stunt but it's beyond
that. Way beyond. Hey," she looked up at him, "Don't
worry. Everything will be fine. Granddaddy is here.
He'll take care of everything."
Jeff kissed her nose, "You have a lot of faith in
him."
"It goes both ways. He's the closest thing I have to
god on earth. If I didn't have him growing up, I
would've ended up like my father. Granddaddy raised
me. He taught me that we're all equal no matter how
much money we make or where we stand on the ladder of
life. I was taught to be open minded and respect
everyone."
"Your father?"
"Oh he was taught that but it all went out the window
once those dollar signs starting ringing continuously.
My mom just flits along in life. She tries to do right
by me when my father gets overbearing and annoying but
nothing more than that. She means well and I love her
but she is definitely my fathers wife first and
foremost."
He listened to her every word, very content with her,
"You're a very beautiful person Kendall Morgan. Inside
as well as outside. I'm glad you didn't turn out like
your father."
She blushed turning her face away, "You actually
embarrassed me."
He pulled her by the chin to face him, kissing her
lips softly.
"Tell me more about you. I'm rambling on and on about
me. I want to know about you." She saw a certain look
in his eyes as he watched her mouth move.
"I will later." He leaned in kissing her again,
slipping his tongue into her mouth. She opened her
mouth wider, pressing his mouth against hers harder.
She felt his fingers glide up and down her neck then
gripping the back of her neck. Her body weakened with
each passing moment. Her body screamed for air but she
couldn't pull away from him; not yet; not now.
Matt and Shane watched the pair from the driveway,
smirks on their faces.
"Is he kissing her or eating her face?" Shane shook
his head.
Matt giggled, "We better stop them before they get it
on right on the porch. My dad is inside."
"Oh god couldn't you see the look on your fathers face
if he caught his baby boy banging his girlfriend on
the porch."
Both of them chuckled at the image.
"Hey you two come up for air would ya?"
Kendall yanked away from Jeffs mouth, both looking
over at the other two. Kendalls' face turned bright
red as she buried it into Jeffs' shoulder.
Jeff smiled, "Hey guys."
"Kendall I presume?" Matt pointed to the young girl
hiding in his brothers' shirt.
"It's ok. It's just my brother and Shane."
"Hi." She waved nervously to them, casting her eyes to
their feet instead of their faces.
Matt grinned from ear to ear at how embarrassed she
was, "I'm Matt. It's nice to meet you. This is Shane."
"It's nice to meet you too." She wiped her mouth
looking away again, "Embarrassed again. Four times in
one day. That's a record for me."
"Don't be embarrassed. It's alright."
She finally looked Matt in the eye, "If you say so."
"Come on guys dinner. Matt, Shane you have impeccable
timing." Gilbert opened the door as they filed in;
"This is Kendalls grandfather, Michael. This is my
oldest boy Matthew and his friend Shane."
"Pleasure to meet you. Cupcake why is your face red?"
She touched her cheeks, "Uh. er. um."
"It's really hot out there." Jeff came in for the
save, winking at her as she sighed, "I'm starved."
"I'll bet." Matt mumbled dodging a punch from Jeff.
"Boys behave. Let's eat."
back to Chapter 11
