Mountain Storm

Chapter 3

"I'm sorry Lisa."

The words echoed in my ears as tears started to stream down my cheeks.

"She went peacefully in her sleep. I haven't been able to get hold of Logan. Do you want me to keep trying?"

"No, I will contact him thanks."

I had just spoken to her 2 days ago. How could my grandmother be gone? We were talking about the norm, her neighbor's activities, the new book her book club was reading and her walks in the park with her Yorkie, Eloise.

I had not been home for 10 years, and I regretted it, but my grandmother knew how busy my life had become after I graduated from college and opened my own restaurant. I built 'Hush' from the ground up, and it became one of the best places in Savanah to dine.

"I will be heading out here as soon as I get things taken care of. Thank you, Peggy, I know that this has to be hard on you too."

Peggy was my grandmother's friend and neighbor.

I opened the contact list on my phone and called Rebecca. She is my assistant manager and very capable of handling things. She has a very strong head for business and is my head chef.

"I will be back on Friday to prepare for the VIP dinner with Mr. Roberts on Saturday."

"Are you sure? I think he would understand if you postponed the dinner."

"No, the services should be over by Thursday. He is a very busy man and I do not want to miss this opportunity with him. This dinner could make us a 5-star Michelin restaurant, if we keep our fingers crossed."

"OK, text me the finalized menu, I will make sure we have the items in stock and get the fresh ingredients on Friday."

I hired Rebecca right out of college. She is very creative in her cooking and plating skills. She has helped me make 'Hush' a restaurant like no other. When I was contacted by Mr. Roberts office about a reservation. I was at a loss for words. His secretary, Mary, stated that he had actually eaten in my restaurant and wanted a chance to meet me in person and try some of our best dishes. Our main menu changes weekly, so this would be an opportunity to showcase our best creations.

***

I grabbed a small suitcase from my closet and started to pack my clothes. My mind started to reminisce about when Logan and I were little and all the fun times we had with grandma Nina. She did such a great job raising us after our parents were killed in a car accident. We were only 3 at the time and don't remember much about the accident, but we were told that they had died instantly when our car was hit head on by an elderly man that was having a heart attack.

I picked up my cell phone and punched in my twin brother's name. It rang through and went to his voice mail. "Logan, call me as soon as you get this please, I have something important to tell you."

I hung up and continued packing through the tears. Grandma Nina was such a kind soul, she never had anything bad to say about anyone and had a very busy lifestyle. From volunteering at the hospital to her many clubs that she enjoyed. It was really hard to believe she was gone.

I grabbed a tissue and wiped away the tears. I kicked myself for not going back to see her more often, but she always said 'it's OK Lisa, we face time and call several times a week'. She had made mention quite often that she was very proud of what I had accomplished in my life and knew I would be a great success. I think she was just as excited about the possibility of the 5-star status as I was.

***

I arrived at the airport in Harrisburg early Friday morning and picked up my rental car. It would be an hour drive to my hometown in central PA. The sun was just starting to come up over the mountains. I always loved the beach, but since I had not been back in a decade, the mountains were a sight for sore eyes. I loved the color combination of the green trees against the blue sky, and they look marvelous in the autumn with all the colors.

I arrived at Gram's house around seven am. I found a note on the kitchen table 'Lisa, I have Eloise at my house. I'm sure your flight was long. Take a rest, then come over as soon as you wake up. Peggy'

I went up to my old bedroom and unpacked my bags. The room looked a little different with neutral colors rather than the bright purple it was before. I kicked off my shoes and lied down on the queen bed, grabbed a pillow and hugged it tight as tears fell.

I woke up around twelve and went to my bathroom and decided to get cleaned up. The warm water felt good as it washed over my body. I dressed in a nice tank top with loose-fitting shorts and sandals. It was cool in the house with the air on, but it's August in Pennsylvania. I grabbed a quick sandwich and decided to go over to Peggy's.

The hot sticky air hit me as soon as I opened the front door, like a brick wall. This was one thing I did not miss. The summers in Pennsylvania are hazy, hot and humid. Good thing I combed my long auburn hair into a bun. I could already feel the back of my neck getting wet.

I knocked on the door and Peggy answered with Eloise in her arms. I had never met the dog in person, but Gram would hold her on occasion when we would face time. "Hi Peggy" I said as I reached out gave Eloise a pet. She wagged her tail and licked my hand, she is such a friendly dog.

"Come in dear." she said as she turned and went into the house, I shut the door behind me and followed her to the kitchen. "Do you want a cup of coffee?" She asked over her shoulder.

"Yes please, just creamer if you have." I say as a yawn escapes me. "Sorry."

"It's alright dear, I'm sure you're pretty tired."

We sat at her table and talked, laughed and cried over Gram as we drank our coffee. It was nice to hear that Peggy and Gram were such good friends. Deep down I had always thought that Gram was alone, and she was making up stories, but through Peggy, I learned that since Logan and I weren't around, she kept busy with her friends and her activities.

Gram had one sister that had passed away a couple of years ago from breast cancer. Logan and I have been her close family since my mother was her only child. She had a niece, two nephews and their children, but they live in Canada. She had kept in touch with them over the years, especially since their mother, Fran, passed away.

I stayed for supper, and we continued our conversation. After supper, I helped with the dishes, and then she opened a bottle of red wine, grabbed 2 glasses, and we went into her sitting room to relax. Eloise jumped up onto my lap and curled up. I was a little shocked. I am not an animal person, but Eloise was hard to resist with her brownish-black fur and the pink bow in her hair.