“Just keep applying. Maybe there will be more businesses opening with the flood of people, and you can find a bookkeeping position. No matter how hopeless it might feel, you can only be in it to win it. Isn’t that right?”

I nodded but it wasn’t that easy either. I knew I was getting too comfortable at the diner and was taking my time looking for something else, but there were bills that needed to be paid and I was always just barely breaking even. I had to start knuckling down at finding something else.

“Of course you can always marry rich,” she added, chuckling at me.

“With all of the hundreds of young rich bachelors out there?” I gasped sarcastically. “God, why didn’t I think of that? I’ll just go and pick one out. I’m sure one of them will be interested in some poor waitress like me.”

“Well, the clock is ticking, dear. You’re going to run out of time.”

“I’m twenty-three, Gran! People get married in their forties all the time now! We’re in the 21st century, don’t you know? We don’t all have to marry at fifteen anymore.”

It’s true. Gran did marry at fifteen. She was married to my Grandfather for thirty-five years when he had a sudden heart attack and was taken from her. Sadly, I never knew him. She never did remarry, nor did she look for another partner since.

“Well, speaking of such things,” she started, avoiding my eye, “you’re not really seeing anyone, are you?”

“No, Granny,” I answered her, returning to my carb-infested dessert and finishing up the last few bites. “I’d tell you.”

She raised a sceptical brow. “Would you, now?”

“I haven’t kept anything from you. If I was seeing some guy, I’d let you know all about it.”

She brightened up a bit before casually replying, “I just think it’s important you know that I may be old and withered, but I’m also still a woman too.”

“I know, Granny, I know.”

“So, I’m not trying to pry, but I’m unsure if you’ve been seeing a doctor yourself and are taking care of your womanly bits. Birth pills and all that, I mean. Not that I’m forcing you to admit to any of these things if you’re uncomfortable.”

I stifled a laugh. “I’m not uncomfortable, but yeah, I’m on birth control, don’t worry.”

Her shoulders relaxed a bit. “Good, because it’s important, right?”

“Right.”

“What kind of birth control, may I ask? I know how forgetful you can be with your pills.”

I stifled a sigh. “I got the implant in my arm.”

“The implant, right.” She nodded, her thoughts still blazing red. “But that doesn’t stop diseases, does it?”

“No.”

“Are you making sure your partners are sheathed or clean?”

I cringed, and suppressed another sigh. “Don’t worry, I haven’t… you know, I haven’t been with someone in a very long time, Granny. So, relax, okay? I’m on top of it.”

“Good, good. And know I’m there for you, no matter what.” Then she shot me her sweet smile that went straight to my heart.

“I know,” I nearly whispered, staring at her as I gulped away the lump in my throat. This woman loved me with everything inside of her, and I wondered how I could possibly deserve it.

“Anyway, I’m glad because I’ve got my sights on a man for you.”

Despite the shitty couple of days I had, I laughed for the first time. Leave it to Granny to try the matchmaker game. Again.

“Oh, God,” I mumbled. “Who is it this time?”

“He’s a doctor,” she answered, clearly proud of herself. “Ever since Doctor Brahim relocated, I’ve been going to him.”

I laughed even harder. “Oh, so he’s your doctor? Is he old enough to be my dad?”

“He’s very young actually. I wish you’d take this more seriously.” She gave me that wise up, child look I was more than familiar with.

“So what makes you think a doctor will be interested in a poor little waitress like me? Is it that damsel in distress appeal? Is that what gets his engines revving? I hope not because he’ll be in for a surprise with me.”

Now she was entering the serious side. She pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows, letting the wise up, child look ten times more prominent now.

“He doesn’t care about that,” she retorted. “I’ve showed him some of your photos –”

“You what?” My jaw fell. She always tried this matchmaking thing but never had she gone to that extent before. “What do you mean you showed him my photos?”

“I carry pictures of you in my wallet, you know that.”

“You mean the ones I’m wearing braces, Granny? With my huge curly afro hair? I was like sixteen in those pictures. Now we’ve got a doctor into jailbait all thanks to you.”

“Oh, shut up, Emma. These are recent ones from last Christmas. You are so aggravating sometimes, you know that? Really now, he’s a good man and I’m a wise discerner of people. I’ve already set you up with him next weekend. He said he’d love to take you out to dinner, but I need to confirm it before he books the reservations.”

This was an ambush, I realized. No wonder she was so impatient to see me. I knew she meant well, though. She didn’t have one bad bone in her body. I would only agree to this because it would make her happy, and I felt like I wasn’t doing that enough in her life since being on my own.

“I don’t want to know how long you pestered him to agree, but fine.”

She glowed instantly. I could tell she was surprised by my answer. She must have thought this was going to take a while of convincing. “I’ll let you know the details once I let him know.”

“Can I know what he looks like at least? Do you have a photo of him? You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if you did. You probably took one right there in front of him, you stalker.”

She sighed in exasperation. “No, I don’t. But out of curiosity I looked him up on the computer. He has his own profile on the practice’s website. Doctor Joel Hedland off Amberway Drive, about forty minutes from where you live in Maple Street.”

I simply nodded. “Alright, Granny. I’ll look him up.”