Secret Valentine Read Free Page A

on. “Gran, you still awake?”
    “Yes child, come in.”
    I opened the door to find her setting aside one of her romance novels. “Kevin stopped by today, about the cookies you made for the Valentine’s Dance, but I couldn’t find them.”
    “Oh, that’s because they were in my car to drop off. I forgot to do that on my way home. Could you drop them off at the police station tomorrow?”
    She picked her book back up, not giving me any eye contact. I stood there for a short moment, and then replied. “Sure Gran. Get your rest.”
    * * *
    That night while lying in bed, I tried to brush off what Kasey had said, but I had the same feeling. I wanted to know who my mystery man was—if he was Kevin, or not—and at the same time I was nervous. In high school I had a major crush on him but never showed it because I didn’t want to be hurt. Kevin was the star quarterback for our high school football team. What were the chances he would date someone who wasn’t on the cheerleading squad?
    Drew and I were friends in high school but I couldn’t see us as a couple. But who knows, maybe he has changed. It’s been years since I’ve seen him.
    I must have finally fallen asleep sometime in the early morning hours because I woke to Gran knocking on my door. “You up? A package arrived and it’s marked urgent.”
    Sitting up, my voice was barely working. “Come in, Gran.”
    She did and handed me the package. “You must have had a rough night. I heard you up a number of times.”
    “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “Why don’t you open your package and get dressed? I’ll make you something to eat.” She started for the door.
    “Thanks, Gran.” By the time she had left I was awake enough to know that the package on my bed was from him . It was a square box with a red and white ribbon, and a note attached.
     
    Do you know who I am yet?
    Are you willing to live for the moment?
    Tonight, 8 P.M. at Carleon’s Restaurant.
    They’ll have a table reserved for you,
    and I’ll meet you there.
    Tonight we’ll have dinner, and go dancing.
    Happy Valentine’s Day beautiful!
     
    Walking into the kitchen to join Gran for brunch, I had a few doubts about dinner with a mystery man. All my life I dreamed of the happy-ever-after like all the other girls, but that didn’t happen for me. I ended up marrying an abusive jerk who ran off with his assistant. Maybe I wasn’t meant to have a happy-ever-after . Maybe some of us were meant to be grouchy old ladies.
    “Child, I know what you’re thinking and I only have one thing to say about it. Go! ”
    I was so shocked by Gran’s statement, all I could do was stutter. “What?”
    “Don’t play me. I have more years on you and I know what’s been going on.”
    I stood there staring at Gran with my mouth hanging open. “What? How?”
    “Your Gran isn’t as out of touch as you think. She knows what’s going on and who has been sending you all these packages.” She handed me a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich.
    I looked from my sandwich to Gran. “How can you just make sandwiches and not tell me who it is?”
    She shook her head, took a bite of her sandwich, and ignored the question.
    “Gran?”
    She took a drink of her sweet tea. “It’s not my place to tell. I’m flabbergasted you haven’t figured it out yet. Tonight you’ll go and meet your mystery man.”
    I sat there nibbling on my sandwich trying to process everything. “How did you know?”
    “That’s easy, child. He told me. He wanted to let you know how he feels before it was too late again. All the years you were away he has had a candle burning for you. I wish you could have seen his love for you all those years ago, but I won’t let the two of you make another mistake.”
    She took another sip of tea. “Now, go get dressed so you can run those cookies downtown.”
    * * *
    Thirty minutes later I was parked outside of the police station, and still confused about what to do. Gran thought I should go, but could I put