Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Mrs. Johnson chuckles. “I suppose if you’re one of those sad people who doesn’t appreciate the wonder and deliciousness of a good piece of liver prepared just right, then yes, it might appear to be quite unpalatable.”
“That’s one way of saying it.”
She finishes her California roll and starts on a spicy tuna roll right after. The sushi here is excellent, but all food is just unappealing to me ever since Echo called me to say that she wouldn’t be able to come back to San Diego with me. Or do anything else with me because she was on a different path. She did say she was sorry, and she made me understand that she couldn’t choose between me and her mom. Because she couldn’t bring her mom with her, and she couldn’t just leave and lie to her about where she really was. She told me she’d mail the divorce papers back to San Diego shortly, so I’d have them when I got back. I appreciated her honesty and told her as much. I didn’t tell her that I didn’t trust her mom, that my heart felt like it had been put through a garburator, and that I was empty, empty, empty, but I did make sure she knew that we’d always be family too.
Do I respect Echo’s decision? Yes. Can I understand it? Yes. Am I still worried and scared and dubious? Yes, with a capital YES.
“I should probably stay here and keep an eye on Echo and make sure she’s alright, but if she has your number, and you think she’ll use it, maybe she doesn’t need watching over.”
The sushi piece that I have in my chopsticks slips through them and lands on the table with a wet-sounding splat. I gape at Mrs. Johnson. “What do you mean? Where are you going?”
“Well…” She twirls one of the downy-looking curls on her head, turning it over and around her finger. “I thought maybe you could use another granny figure in your life.”
“What?”
“You made the offer to Echo to follow you to San Diego and be a part of your family. I think there’s more. I think you have the kind of family that likes adventures, and you haven’t told me everything. I think you might be the type of family who collects strays and does good things for other people. You’re that kind of young man, so you must have been raised that way by your granny. Does she have room for one more?”
I lean in and lower my voice. I have no other option but to tell her the truth. She leans in, too, this lady who I basically just met. She’s the kindest, wisest, youngest soul trapped in an old body that I’ve ever met, which is saying a lot because I know Granny.
“Um, we do bad things. Bad things for good. We keep that pretty much a secret because there could be some rather crazy repercussions if people found out, especially the wrong people. We’re against crime, and we use a pretty specialized skill set to reduce crime in the world.”
“Sweet,” she hisses back in a whisper. “Where can I sign up?”
“You want to just…just leave here, leave your home, and travel from one place to the next, never really knowing if you’re truly safe or who might be watching and always hopping from one place to another, never having one place to call home?”
“But always knowing who your family is and what your purpose is?” She grins. “Absolutely. I’ve never traveled. That’s the one thing I always wanted to do. I’m alone now, except for Echo. If you tell her where I am, I know she won’t worry. She’ll be happy for me. I want adventure, and I want to make this world a better place before I leave it. And seeing as you don’t like liver tart, someone should do something about that to change your mind. Call it my contribution.” She winks. “Of course, if you’re still not a believer after trying it, I can bake a mean batch of cookies.”
How can I say no? I can’t just tell this sweet, nice, wonderful old woman who was kind enough to talk to me like a friend when I needed her the most and kind enough to listen when I needed that more than anything, too, that she can’t come with me.
“I would have to talk to Granny,” I tell her honestly. “And my brothers. But I’m sure they’ll agree. If you want in, you can come back with me. We’ll take care of everything else, and I’ll let Echo know.”
“Wowee!” Mrs. Johnson immediately starts rolling another wasabi ball on her plate. “I think this calls for another shot. The biggest one yet.”
“Are you trying to burn my nose clean off my body?”
She just cackles in response. We both shoot back another shot of the stuff, and while I’m gasping for air and gargling water to try and beat the burn back down and stop my eyes from leaking moisture all down my face, Mrs. Johnson just grins.