Chapter 6

Xander

I stare at her retreating back, still grinning to myself at her blush. I notice gran smiling at me and I hug her to my side “ready to go" I say.

Gran keeps the grin in her face as we get into the range rover. She’s quiet, till we enter the massive gates enclosing our property. Then she turns in her seat and faces me.

“ In all seriousness Xander, I have something to ask of you and before you say anything, know I've thought long and hard about this and I need you to hear me out with an open mind"

“Gran?” I ask, more than a little confused. Just a few minutes ago she was smiling at me and now she’s all serious. What could be going on.

Gran holds her hand up to me to stop me from speaking, “ Just listen, my boy. I have always wanted and will always want what’s best for you. You believe that, don’t you?”

“Ofcos I do gran"

“Good. I think it’s time you settled down and got married.” She says

I almost choke on my own saliva “What? ” I splutter as I stare at gran. Has she lost her marbles.

“Just hear me out. I’m not getting any younger and this cancer scare has made me realise that I need to see you settled and happy with a family of your own. Its been eating at me for awhile now and it’s the kind of stress the doctor says I don’t need” she says. Talk about a low blow gran.

“Gran, you do realise I am only 27 right? I have plenty of time to settle down and get married and you will definitely be there when it happens. You’re not going anywhere “, I say, more than a little baffled by my grandmother’s sudden interest in my love life.

“ I want you to marry Hayley. There I said it.”

“You want me to marry Hayley? The same Hayley I met like 30 minutes ago that could barely make eye contact with me?", I almost shout at gran. What has gotten into her?

“Has she put you up to this gran? Was this her idea?” I ask a rather stern looking gran. Of all the scenarios I could have come up with, I never in a million years could have foreseen this conversation. There’s no way my gran came up with this on her own. I guess Hayley’s not as innocent as she looks. She sure had me fooled.

“Xander, Hayley had nothing to do with this. In fact she didn’t even know you existed until today. You are my grandson and I want what’s best for you. Hayley is what’s best for you. Trust me on this please", gran pleads.

What is going on here. Gran is actually taking this conversation seriously?

“So, I just want to get this straight…this Hayley who apparently didn’t even know I existed has agreed to marrying me?”, I ask

“No, Xander! Why do you have to be so suspicious? Why can’t you just trust me? I haven’t spoken to Hayley. I have my reasons for asking this of you.”

“I’m curious gran. Help me understand your reasoning. If you think Hayley is so perfect for me, why not ask me to take her on a date….why jump straight into this marriage crap?” I ask, trying to understand.

“Because I am hopeful that I will beat this cancer but there is a chance I won’t and if that happens, I need to know that you and Hayley have both made a commitment to each other that you can’t just shrug off. If my time runs out, and even if it doesn’t I will know that I gave the both of you the best shot of a family together!” she says quietly. Tears streaming down her weathered face.

“Oh gran, you’re not going anywhere” I whisper as I pull her in for a hug.”

“Please Xander, do this for me. Just agree and I will take care of the rest”, says my grandmother who has sacrificed so much for me and never asked for a thing in return…until now…how do I say no? I can see she’s serious. Am I dreaming? If this is what gran wants I can give her that to make her feel better, but it doesn’t have to be a real marriage and soon enough gran will see on her own that this was a mistake. Why would Hayley say yes anyway? Unless she had something to gain. I could turn this around. I just have to come up with a plan. If I make it worth Hayley’s while grandma doesn’t  have to be any the wiser and she can get on with her recovery in peace.

I can see gran isn’t going to let this go and until I know she is out of the woods health wise I am not taking any chances with her health.

“Ok gran, but no more crying" I say feeling lost.

“There’s just one condition”, I add, “let me handle Hayley. You are far too worked up about this as it is. I will do as you ask but if this doesn’t work out after we give it a try you will have to accept it gran".