Fearless

| XVIII | - Friendly Gathering

"Oh, Susie!" squealed Susie's grandmother on her dad's side, jumping with so much happiness and joy at the sight of Susie. She engulfed Susie in a back-breaking hugging, pulling back, looking as if she was on the brink of tears. "God, you grew up so much. Look how beautiful you are! You look more and more like your mother everyday."

Susie smiled happily, the sight of her grandmother immediately lifting her mood. "I missed you so much grandma," she admitted.

"Oh, gosh, I know dear. I missed you so much more," she said, removing her big floppy hat and setting it down, along with her lemon-slice-shaped purse. "Your father hardly invites me over anymore, now, I was finally like 'no more, I've got to see my sweet Susie' and here I am, I'm here for the holidays."

"Grandma, you missed Thanksgiving already," Susie giggled.

"Of course I did, but I am here for Black Friday, aren't I? And I'm staying until Christmas and New Years, beats spending it with the rest of the family back in Michigan, all my grandkids up there are already so much older, they hardly come around for Christmas," she explained, her old eyes shining with nothing but happiness. "Plus, it's been so long since I've seen you, since I've been able to spend time with my sweet little Susie. Well, knowing my son he'll probably solve his depression by working leaving you home alone for Christmas."

Susie smiled sadly. "He missed Thanksgiving, grandma," she admitted, watching the old-woman's eyes shine with rage.

"He did not!" she shrieked, standing to her feet so fast, causing Susie to giggle to herself.

Her grandmother was a short old woman, her hips wide from giving birth to five kids and spending an awful lot of time in the kitchen, cooking family dinners, parties, barbecues and other family gatherings. Susie recalled when she used to come over all the time when she was a child, with the help of her and her mom, she became the great cook she is today. Also, she received her deep love for food from her. However, for a woman deep in her seventies, she moved around as if she was still twenty-one.

"Come on girl, these Black Friday deals won't shop themselves," she said grabbing Susie's hand and her purse, dragging her out of the house and into her little mini van. "Love the new style, by the way. Totally suits you, releases those beautiful curves," she said happily, the radio on the eighties station. Susie smiled, loving the happiness that radiated off of her grandmother.

"I'm glad you made the trip down, grandma," Susie said.

"If I had known you were going to be alone on Thanksgiving I would've come down yesterday, dear," she admitted, shaking her head at the thought of her eldest and most foolish son that happened to be Susie's father.

"Oh, I wasn't entirely alone, Charlie came and spent most of the day with me. He assured me he didn't feel welcome with his own family and ran to my house once he heard I was alone," Susie said, recalling the memory fondly, yesterday was a good day. Charlie and her had spent the rest of the day finishing off the Macaroni and camped out in her room, playing Toy Story 3 on the only game console she owned, a PlayStation 3. They played for hours, laughing together until their stomachs hurt and making more and more macaroni until they were sick of it.

"Oh-ho-ho, I know that look Susie!" she shrieked happily, stopping at a red light and looking at her. "You like Charlie, don't you?"

Susie's face heated immensely, her eyes widening. "Grandma!"

"Don't try and deny it, Susie. I mean, the fact that you didn't marry the boy when he ditched his own family to spend Thanksgiving day with you is what's really shocking about this whole situation, Susie," she said, driving along with the biggest grin on her face. "Gosh, I haven't seen that boy since he was--what?--ten, right? That was the last time I saw you, wasn't it?" Susie nodded slowly. "Damn, almost ten whole years. I bet the boy looks much different now, I always knew he was going to be a handsome young devil. So, tell me, is he?"