Grandpa Stuff

Moving swiftly due to the fading light Winona and I make our way back down the trail. What a time this had been. We were merely happy arriving but leaving this magical place found us truly contented in body, mind and soul. The hike worked up a nice sweat and the sex we’d had had our flesh humming in afterglow, the sights and exploration had satisfied two curious minds, and the moment of spiritual connection with this place and the universe itself fed our spirits. But most of all it was in each other and experiencing this time with each other that made the joy shine so bright. I had never seen my partner so at peace as she was right now and in my own heart I could feel things settling into their rightful places.

By the time we were rowing up to the Bella we into the gloaming. Thankfully Grandpa had the big deck lights on to guide our way. The man himself appears hazy behind the smoke of the smoke in his mouth and the smoking hibachi in front of him.

“There they are.” He says as soon as we were within earshot. “Thought ya might be sleepin under the stars tonight.”

When I climb aboard Grandpa is there to greet me with a hug. I hoped I didn’t smell like sex but I knew he’d understand if I did and would be discreet about it. The three of us haul the canoe up out of the water and stow it away before he hurries back to the grill to check on the food.

“Mmm! Smells good.” Winona says, stepping up beside him.

“Nothin but the best on my cruise ship.” He says proudly. “Grilled peppers, asparagus, some primo tenderloins for you and me and a nice piece of halibut for my Buttercup. I also got some garlic and herb taters done up down in the galley.”

“MMM! You’ll be getting five star review.” Winona quips. “This is too much, Mike. You’re spoiling us!”

“As Mrs. Jackson would put it, that’s grandpa’s prerogative.”

“Yes, Sir.” She chuckles.

Seeing them get along made me so happy. I clear my throat and says softly. “I’m gonna ch-change into my d-dress.”

I wait a moment to watch their reactions. Grandpa only smiles and Winona says. “Okay, baby girl.”

As I slip away I realized how unnecessary that announcement and the pause afterward had been. Without realizing it at the time I’d been waiting for their approval or possibly even permission. But I saw now that I didn’t need to. Whether I was wearing scuffed old denim and ripping around on my dirt bike or I was rocking an elegant gown to go to a fancy ball these two loved me and accepted me as I was. I already had their approval. And as for permission…I was under nobody’s authority but my own.

In my room I freshen up, femme up then slip into my sundress with a warm shawl around my shoulders. After a long day of adventure it felt really, REALLY nice to slip back into my femininity. Others might relax in slippers and a robe but I was finding that for me it was hard to beat snug panties and a pretty dress. I double check to make sure I was prettiest thing I could be then slip into my moccasins and hurry back up on deck.

“There’s mah girl.” Grandpa lovingly pats my cheek then kisses the other one. “Wanna go grab the wine darlin?”

“Yes, Captain.” I say with a beaming grin.

On deck chairs and fold out tables the three of us share our scrumptious feast in a semi circle looking out over the dark water to the starry skies far to the East. The food is yummy, the company perfection, and the view spectacular. Stories and laughter and even a few secrets are shared between bites and sips. The only off note to the melody was Grandpa’s persistent cough, not the noise itself but because of what it reminded me of. In short we enjoy an absolutely wonderful meal before kicking back to just soak in the moment.

“So what do ya think, Winnie.” Grandpa says as he swirls the wine in his glass. “Not so bad out here now that you got your sea legs?”

“Mmm.” She nods. “Being out here on the water is…” She takes a long, deep breath, every bit of tension leaving her body as she breathed out. “It’s nice and…familiar.”

“F-Familiar?” I ask.

“It’s weird but…it reminds me of home.” She takes another long breath. “There’s something about that distant horizon that just…makes you realize how big it all is and how small you are inside it. Makes ya feel like…I dunno, like anything is possible. You can go any direction you want, follow any dream and just chase it forever.” Her eyes twinkle like the stars above as they scan the horizon. “I had someone tell me the other day that the Dakota’s are ‘fly over country’, that there wasn’t anything to see. But…I don’t see it that way. On the plains, like out here, I don’t feel like there’s nothing to see. I feel like…I can see everything!”

Grandpa slowly nods then looks over at me. “She gets it.”

“Yeah.” I say.

A long quiet moment follows.

“Mike?” Winona asks, her voice as tranquil as the still night.

“Yeah?”

“What’s it gonna be like? When it’s time to see Anna?”

I let out quiet gasp at the audacity of her question but I quickly settle when I see the faraway smile on Grandpa’s face. He wasn’t upset in the slightest by Winona’s question. If anything he seemed relieved that somebody finally asked it.

“I don’t know, Winona. Nobody really does.” He says, his gaze now searching distant heavens just like Winona’s. “But…I imagine it’s gonna be like comin home again. Like comin back to dock after a long tour workin.” His smile grows. “Anna’ll be there watchin and waitin for the ship to come cruisin into port.” His voice quavers as a tear rolls down his cheek, the smile however never wavered. “She’ll be there as pretty as she ever was. Probably in that blue dress she liked so much. The wind tossin her hair.” He lets out a laugh. “She’ll be wavin like crazy like she always did, not carin who saw her. And I’ll be wavin back again. Hahhhh.” He looks up, his eyes settling on a single star. “I been gone too long this time. It’s been too long. It’s time to go home.”

Winona takes his hand. “I think that’s just how it’s going to be. She’s waiting for you, Mike. She loves you.”

“I know.” He says. “There’s precious few things I know down here.” He pats his chest. “And that’s the one I know best of all.”

Winona turns to me with a soulful look. “I’d wait for you until the stars stopped turning.”

“Me t-too.”

Silence descends again as each of us contemplates our own thoughts on life and love. Once more it is Winona to break the quiet. She looks up and all around then lets out a long breath as she slowly nods.

“You’ll excuse me.”

She slips away and leaves Grandpa and I alone. Reaching over I lay a hand on his shoulder. “Grandpa. W-When I first learned about…the c-cancer I, um, I said some things.”

“It’s okay, Buttercup.” He pats my hand.

“I just…wanted to say…” I sigh. “…I understand now. And, when it’s…t-t-time…” I swallow hard and blink away the tears. “…it’s okay by me. I’ll b-be okay now, Grandpa. I still need you, as much as I ever d-did but…you’ll always b-be in here.” I rub my chest. “When it’s t-time I want you to g-go see Grandma and don’t look back. You c-can go with my blessing.”

“Aw. Come here, darlin.” Grandpa pulls me into a big grandpa hug. “That means a lot to hear you say that. Thank you.”

“Oh Grandpa!” I hug him with all I had because I knew that someday he wouldn’t be here to hug.

“Did I miss something?” Winona asks when she returns a few minutes later.

“Grandpa stuff.” Grandpa says. “You got us all in our feelings tonight, girlie.”

“Well…good.” She nods. “Today is the day for such things.” Instead of sitting down Winona approaches Grandpa with the same air of respect and reverence I’d seen up at the holy site but with a tinge of nervousness too. Grandpa looks up, as puzzled as I was at her behavior. She opens her left hand to reveal a small bundle wrapped in red cotton cloth. “I hope you don’t consider this inappropriate.”

“What is this?” Grandpa asks as he squints at the bundle.

“Tobacco.” Winona says, her normally subtle accent stronger than usual.

“T-Tobacco?” I ask. She was offering him something to smoke!?

“It is one of the sacred medicines. Where I come from it is a custom to offer an elder or knowledge keeper tobacco when you come to ask for their wisdom or guidance.” She explains.

“Well…I’m certainly old but I’m not sure I qualify as an elder.”

“You do.” She answers directly. “And you are. If…I offered this to you, Mike, would you accept it in the spirit it is intended?”

“Uh, yeah.” He says, both flattered and taken aback at Winona’s earnestness. “If there’s something you need, of course I’m happy to help.”

“Hah!” Winona blows out a breath and her shoulders rise as if a weight had been lifted. “Do not take it yet. Not until you’ve heard my request.” She turns to look at me. “I’m sorry, baby girl. Could you give us some privacy?”

“Huh? Oh! Oh, yes. Y-Yes.” I get up and gather up our dishes. “I-I’ll be in the galley.”

“Thank you, baby.” Winona smiles at me. “I’ll be down when we’re done here.”