“After Joshua goes, I’ll start moving my stuff over,” Diane responded. “You know, for someone who claims to like their privacy, you seem awfully eager to have me move in,” Diane observed.
“Oh, hush. I’m only anticipating the cookies and sandwiches you’ll be bringing home for me,” Bev said with a smirk.
Diane chuckled and turned her attention back to the tomatoes she’d started pureeing once more.
“Speaking of Joshua. You two seem to get along quite well.”
“Joshua is cool,” Diane replied.
“Is that young people slang for he’s datable?” she asked.
“Um, sure. I suppose,” Diane replied hesitantly and turned to face her.
Bev turned to face her as well. “Then why haven’t you gone on a date with him? I know he likes you, and I’m pretty sure you like him too,” she inquired, raising a brow.
Diane’s eyes widened. “Um, I…”
“Grandma.” Joshua’s voice rang through the kitchen in annoyance.
* * *
Diane looked down at her bare ring finger. It had been nearly a month since she broke up with Derek and called off the wedding. She wasn’t keen on starting a new relationship anytime soon, yet Bev’s words from the other day rang in her mind like a church bell. It had been awkward between her and Joshua after her statement. She’d made up an excuse that she needed to go get icing sugar for the cake she’d planned to bake today when there was more than enough icing sugar in the pantry.
She wasn’t sure how she really felt about Joshua. Sure, he was very nice, down to earth, funny, and attentive, all qualities she would want in a partner, but she wasn’t looking to date anyone so fresh off her breakup. Yet Bev’s words had effectively planted the seeds in her head that she did, in fact, like him, and there was now a hope that he would ask her out on a date.
“Thank God he’s leaving after tomorrow.” She sighed with relief.
“Who’s leaving tomorrow?”
Diane looked up in surprise to see her cousin. “Nikki, you scared me,” she told her.
“Sorry,” Nikki replied in a tone that had not a trace of regret. “Now. Who is leaving?”
“If you must know, I was talking about Joshua,” she revealed.
“Joshua’s leaving? Already?” Nikki asked, looking on with disbelief.
Diane chuckled. “You know he is an Army captain, right? He only got the month off to be here with his grandmother. Then he has to ship out.”
“That’s so uncool,” Nikki pouted. “I was really counting on you guys getting together and getting married this December instead.”
“Not you, too,” Diane groaned.
“Well, I call it as I see it,” Nikki returned with a smirk.
“This Joshua thing is no longer up for discussion. Now, come help me fold these ingredients. I’m making a chocolate fudge cake for the barbecue tomorrow.”
Nikki walked over and took the wooden spoon from her, and began folding the ingredients. “So is Joshua going to be at the barbecue?”
“I said Joshua is off topic, but if you must know, yes, he and Bev will be there tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Nikki smiled wide.
“We are not mentioning his name for the rest of the time you’re here,” Diane spoke with finality.
“You don’t have to be salty about it,” Nikki responded.
“I’m not. I just need to protect my mental peace,” Diane expressed.
