Grandma Ariel

"Finally..."

Maya slumped back against the soft sofa in the pantry. She stretched, stretching her bones, and yawned.

"Here's your coffee, Maya," Noreen said, handing her a cup. "Lots of creamer, lots of sugar."

"Thank you, Noreen," Maya said, taking the cup from Noreen and taking a sip. "Oooh, it's delicious, Noreen. Everything is just right. You're a great coffee maker, so I think you'll slip through the needle's eye."

Noreen sat down next to Maya. "Is he that scary?" Noreen asked in a low voice.

"Hmm, I guess that would be a subjective assessment. He's not scary, to those who know him and know his likes and dislikes. He's strict, disciplined, a little stiff, a little cold, and a little introverted."

"That's too much of a 'little' that makes him seem scary," Noreen said with a grimace.

Maya laughed.  "He'll be back the day after tomorrow, and you'll be facing him. In my conversation with him, he said he'll be working on the Maverick family's villa right away, and they're known for being fastidious about details. So, you'll definitely be busy after he arrives. Just be prepared. He doesn't like slow people."

Noreen felt a little daunted, but she had promised herself she'd be ready for anything.

She had Jonathan to raise. She had many desires for her son, and the bottom line was that Jonathan should have the best in life, so that as a mother she wouldn't regret it later.

Besides her son, Noreen also wanted to make her parents happy. They were her biggest supporters, as were Lisbeth and her family. She wanted to make them proud and repay their kindness with whatever she could.

"Mommy, are you tired?" Jonathan asked when Noreen picked him up after work.

"Yes, I am," Noreen said, leaning toward Jonathan and kissing his head. "But my tiredness disappears when I see you."

Jonathan smiled broadly, revealing rows of tiny, pearly white teeth and healthy, pink gums.

"Want to go for ice cream at the cafe in building 2?" Noreen asked. "One of my friends at work said she likes that cafe because their matcha ice cream is delicious."

Jonathan nodded enthusiastically. "But, Mommy, I want to buy some watercolors too, is that okay?"

"Of course I can. Do you want to learn to draw?" Noreen asked seriously. "If you want, Mommy will buy you some good drawing supplies too."

"Yes," Jonathan said. "My teacher said my drawing was good and put it up on the creativity wall."

"Hmm, what did you draw?" Noreen asked again.

"A wolf in my room," Jonathan said.

Noreen's brow furrowed. She noticed Jonathan had been mentioning wolves a lot lately, even dreaming about them.

"Little Jon, why are you so into wolves lately? You even dream about them. Is it because of that picture in your room?" Noreen asked.

Jonathan shrugged. "I don't know. But I like that picture because it's beautiful and lifelike."

"Hmm, you're right, although it does look a bit scary to me. Well, as long as you don't ask us to keep one, I guess it's okay," Noreen said with a laugh.

She pushed open the door of the ice cream shop and found a seat by the window, then went to the counter to order ice cream for herself and Jonathan.

"Have you made any new friends?" Noreen asked, handing Jonathan a green ice cream cone with colorful chocolate toppings in a bear-head bowl.

"There are a few," Jonathan said. "But I'm not friends, just acquaintances."

"You should try to make friends with them, then. You can try tomorrow or the day after," Noreen said.

After eating ice cream and chatting, Noreen and Jonathan went to the bookstore.

Noreen was delighted because it seemed Jonathan was indeed interested in drawing, just like she had been as a child.

Jonathan looked intently at the drawing supplies and was comparing brands.

"Jonathan, you stay in this area, okay?" Noreen said to Jonathan. "Pick whatever you like. Mommy will go to the technical books section for a bit. There are some books I want to buy too."

"Yes, Mommy," Jonathan said obediently. He pointed to the red basket at his feet. "I'll put the things I want in there."

Noreen left Jonathan in the stationery area and went to the technical books section. She was choosing between several books when someone touched her shoulder.

"Help!"

"Ah!"

Noreen turned around in surprise and saw an elderly woman leaning against a bookshelf. Her face was pale and her forehead was wet with sweat.

"Oh, ma'am, are you okay?" Noreen asked in surprise. She quickly supported the woman, worried she might fall. "Your hands are so cold. Wait a moment, I'll sit you on the floor so you can get something to drink."

Noreen quickly took off her jacket and spread it on the floor, then helped the elderly woman sit up and stretch her legs.

Noreen took out the half-empty bottle of mineral water she always carried in her bag and handed it to the elderly woman.

"Oh, thank you, dear," the woman said after taking a drink. "I feel much better now."

"You're dehydrated, ma'am," Noreen said.

"I guess so," said the old woman. "It was so hot outside and it's so cold in here, but I forgot I can't handle extreme temperature changes."

Noreen gently massaged the old woman's feet. "Just rest until you feel better. Or should we go to the hospital? I'll take you."

"No, no need," said the old woman quickly. "I'll just sit for a while and then I'll go home."

"Here, eat this candy," Noreen said, handing her a ginger candy. "When I have a headache, it usually helps."

Noreen sat down next to the old woman and continued massaging her feet. She remembered her mother and suddenly missed her, even when they'd only called once every two or three days.

"You're so beautiful and kind. What's your name, honey?" the woman asked gently, stroking Noreen's hair.

"My name is Noreen, ma'am," Noreen replied with a smile.  "Where is your house, ma'am? I'll take you home when you're feeling better."

The woman shook her head. "No need, dear. I came with some bodyguards, but I sent them off to get some coffee while I stayed. They look tired and thirsty, too. Following an old woman like me can't be easy."

Bodyguards?

Noreen studied the old woman and admitted that she looked different from most old women. Her clothes were neat and expensive, as were her bag and shoes. Then Noreen noticed the necklace and earrings she was wearing—a set, gold with small, sparkling diamonds.

Was she a noble? Or perhaps from a famous billionaire family? But why was she left alone? Even the necklace and earrings alone, if sold, could buy a house.

Or perhaps the old woman was the type of wealthy woman who didn't like being too constrained by protocol, so she politely dismissed her bodyguards, telling them to find some coffee so she could roam freely.

"Honey, could you call one of my bodyguards and have him come here to pick me up?" the old woman asked. "I could actually mind-link, but the doctor told me not to unless it's an emergency. So I had to use the phone, but that useless thing just ran out of battery."

"Do you remember the number of your bodyguard I should call, ma'am?" Noreen asked, pulling out her phone.

"Uh, I forgot," said the old woman. "Oh, my name is Ariel."

Noreen was confused. How could she call someone she didn't know her phone number?

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Noreen looked up at Jonathan. Her son was carrying a shopping cart filled with drawing supplies.

"Oh, baby Jon, you're here," Noreen said happily. "Could you wait for Mrs. Ariel here while I look for her bodyguards? They're probably at the nearest coffee shop."

"Oh, what a handsome young man," Ariel said. "You look just like my grandson. What's your name, young man?"

Jonathan smiled. "My name is Jonathan, grandma."

"Wait for her here," Noreen said. "She forgot her bodyguards' phone number, so I guess I'll go find them."

Jonathan crouched beside Ariel, who looked pleased. "Hi, grandma Ariel, I'll stay with you here."

He touched Ariel's hand and flinched slightly, startling Noreen and Ariel as well.

"Jonathan, what's wrong?"  Noreen asked, confused, when she saw Jonathan's pale face.

"Your son has electricity in his body," Ariel said, confused.

"W-what?" Noreen asked, confused.