Granted Wish

Chapter 18

And much to my discomfort, our little journey ended only an hour later in front of a very big and prestigious looking house in a seemingly quiet and peaceful neighborhood. "We're here.", he couldn't even contain the smile anymore, too big was the excitement of finally seeing his friends and family again. I can't help but smile with him, the nervousness decreasing slightly. "When will we be meeting your friends?", I ask, as we both get out of the truck and walk around it to fetch our suitcases. He waits with his response until he's standing in front of me. "They'll come over in a few so we'll have some time to unpack our things and get comfortable. Also, you get to meet my grandparents. They're awesome and maybe a little too cool for their age but don't let them fool you.", he winks at me before leading the way across the healthy looking front lawn, unlike ours.

He rings the doorbell, the grin growing as a short, round figure stomped closer to the almost see through last door. It opens, revealing an elderly woman with a warm and welcoming look on her face. Although I'm kinda nervous, I know that his family must be just as relaxed and laid back as Nathan himself is. The two hug for a long time, words of welcoming and love are exchanged. After a few more seconds, they let go of each other and bring their attention towards me. "Gamma this is Skylar my boyfriend, I told you about him on the phone, remember?", he places a hand on her shoulder and beams up at me. It's so warm, so full of love that my heart aches. He's never looked at me like that before.

"...a handsome young man, Skylar...I'm glad you finally found someone again.", the old lady, glances up at her grandson and I could see black streaks of hair running along the mostly white strands that are tied up into a bun. I didn't get the first part since she started talking with her head lowered and I think it was a name or nickname she used and not even with a clear view of her lips I could make out what it was. "Yes, please do call me Sky, ma'am. It's nice to meet you.", I want to hold a hand towards her but instead she pulls me down for a tight, bone crushing hug. I know she was talking the whole time because I could feel the vibrations against my chest but I didn't know how to tell her that I'm deaf. And frankly, I thought Nathan would have told her a long time ago.

I stare at him with a pleading look, which is greeted with an understanding nod. "Gamma, didn't I tell you about him? He's deaf so please don't talk to him if he's not directly looking at you and keep your head lifted.", he explains, his grin is starting to wear out a little but it's still as cheerful as always. She immediately let's go of me. "...so sorry, my dear. I totally forgot.", this will be kinda stressful. I simply nod and utter a quick "It's okay", before all three of us decide to head inside.

It smells like baked goods and freshly brewed coffee in here, fitting the rather antique furniture and paintings hanging on the wall. The short woman leads us along a row of photographs in which I could have sworn to identify Nathan as a kid, and into the next room which is a living room. All three of us enter, our suitcases still in our hands. There's an elderly man sitting in an armchair facing us with a smirk and a cognac glass filled with light brown liquid in his hand. Legs crossed and pipe in his hand he stares at us through milky green eyes, hidden away behind thick , framed glasses. "It's been a while Nathaniel.", he stirs the content of his glass and tilts his head. "You didn't even bother to call. You know you can never fool the mafia like this, we know where you live.", he unwraps his legs and gets up, pretending to suck on the pipe which was empty.

Glancing over at Nathan, I notice how hard he's not trying to laugh. Although I'm more than confused right now, I smile along, hoping that somebody would explain all of this to me. The gray haired man walks over to us or should I say me, his eyes fixed on me like I'm his pray. I try not to back away as a he slowly closes the space between us, putting the pipe into his mouth every once in a while. "And who might you be? A new recruit maybe?", he stalks around me to get a good look of me from every angle. "Uhm, no sir.", I hesitantly utter, my heart beating insanely fast against my rib cage. Nathan just watches us, both him and his grandmother wide smiles plastered on their face. I'm perplex, maybe even a tad scared as the man appears in front of me again. "So no interest in the mafia then?", I shake my head, shivering slightly.

What is he talking about? What mafia? He couldn't be part of one, could he? Before the old man could say anything else, my boyfriend finally steps in, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close to the side of his heat radiating body. He looks at me as he talks, although I'm not the one who his words are directed to. "Gramps, tone it down, this is Skylar, my boyfriend.", he smiles reassuringly, kissing the tip of my nose. Is This what he meant with 'too cool for their age'?

His grandfather starts laughing placing both items on the coffee table behind him before pulling Nathan into a manly hug, slapping his back roughly with the other hand at his neck. I sure hope he's not going to the same to me. They talk for a second but I'm too busy looking around the living room, noticing how it's modern yet still kinda outdated. For example a huge, old, wooden table with black leather chairs surrounding it, or the vintage beige carpet and somewhat the same couch Nathan and his mother have in their house. Funny, really.

I focus back on the people in front of me, all of them sort of staring at me with grins on their faces. Blushing slightly, I rush to introduce myself the correct way. "Uhm, I’m Skylar, sir. It's nice to meet you.", I utter while holding out a hand towards the shorter man. He stares at it for a while before finally taking it and giving it a tight squeeze. "Welcome to the family, kid!", he nods with a sympathetic look on his deeply wrinkled face. "Thank you, sir.", I try to tighten my grip, but my hand literally feels dead at this point. "Please, do call me Bernie.". I nod, retreating my pulsing hand back to myself. He turns back around to face his wife who's entering the living room with a cake and small forks, placing them on the wooden table. "...Tomcat called earlier, saying that they'll come over for lunch, but you probably already know that.", she smiles, both at me and her grandson. "Yeah, I talked to Kalyx, the girls we'll be coming as well."

He takes my hand in his and leads me to sit down at the table, taking the seat next to me. I'm really curious about that nickname (I'm guessing), because it's the only thing I can't read off of their lips. "Say.", I tug at the hem of his shirt and turns to look at me. "Do they use some kind of nickname for you? I can't seem to read it." I feel extremely stupid for asking but like they say, curiosity killed the cat. "Oh God, yeah they do.", he laughs for a second and then to my surprise starts to sign the letters in sign language. My eyes widen, the blush creeping over the rest of my face. When did he learn the alphabet? I focus on his hesitating hand movements, he pauses between every letter, concentrating on how to sign them.

T

H

A

N

N

Y

"Thanny.", he repeats it and this time I get it. "S-since when do you know how to sign?", I ask, my heart pounding inside my chest. "Well, for situations like this of course.", he sheepishly scratches the back of his neck. "What else did you learn?", I can't help but grin at how cute he is. "Well, you know. Basic conversation and stuff.", it's almost as if he's uncomfortable with talking about it. "You know you didn't have to, right? You could always write something down if there's a misunderstanding.", we get interrupted by his grandmother who placed another cake in the middle of the table, smiling at the two of us having an awkward conversation. This reminds me of the time he muted the movie and his mother pointing it out. He really is too cute!

The two elderly people sit down, although only for a few seconds before all three Walker's raise their heads and look in the same direction. The lady gets up to What I assume is opening the door for someone who must have rung the doorbell. I glance over at my boyfriend who watched her leave the living room and disappear into the hallway. Suddenly, his face lights up and he pulls me to my feet, dragging me back to the front door where a tall, quite muscular boy a few years older than us is standing. His Dark brown, almost black hair tied up in a small bun. He kinda looks like an older more buff version of Nathan, the facial features muscular and the color of his eyes only a few tones darker than his.

Nathan let's go of my hand to wrap his hands around the newcomer and I watch them for a second, smiling at their happy reunion even though I had no idea who that guy could be. My boyfriend turns around, his face so bright with happiness that I can't help but want to kiss his sweet lips. "This is my boyfriend, Skylar. I've definitely told you about him. And Sky this is my cousin, the annoying hand full.", before even saying his name, he immediately used his new discovered talent and signed the letters of it.

D I A N

What an exotic name, I've never heard it before. "Hey, nice to meet you.", I hold my hand towards him but just like their grandfather he stares at it for a while. He then slaps it out of the way to pull me into a bone crushing hug, chuckling as he did so. "Welcome to the family you don't want to be in! We're all kinda crazy.", he states after finally releasing me. "Thanks, I guess.", I glance over at Nathan who just laughed and shook his head. We all head back to the living room, taking our original seats with one person more at the huge table. I notice that his grandma had added a fifth set of plates and utensils so I'm Guessing they knew all along that he was coming over.