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"A garden of love grows in a grandmothers heart." – Unknown

Chapter 68
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I smiled at Kade from behind Grandma Jacky's back as she hugged me. "I made a promise to myself that if you two didn't stop being so damn stubborn, and get together by Christmas, I was going to have to intervene."

Kade motioned for me to follow him upstairs. "God knows I wouldn't want that, dear calm, completely sane grandmother."

"You're damn right," she responded, releasing me. "Did my dear grandchild forget so soon the lengths I'll go?" She opened her arms to Kade, who grimaced before accepting her hug. The sight was heartwarming.

I took the opportunity to glance around the inside of the house. I expected differently for an elderly woman, that's for sure. I thought there would be countless antiques, old modern furniture, and things of that nature, but no.

As soon as we walked in, there were countless pictures, and signed autographs around us. I couldn't get to all of them at once, but the one that stood out the most was a man with a tiger pelt to cover his privates, twisted in an angle where his pale cheeks were on full display. A three-piece grey living room set was carefully arranged around the room, leaving enough room for the flat screen plastered right above the lit fireplace.

The ceiling was so high that a neck would hurt for staring too long. The floors were wooden, not a speck of dust in sight. In the corner, a Christmas tree, tall and lit was surrounded by presents of all sizes, and colors.

Leading past the kitchen, I could see the high windows, nearly as tall as the ceilings. I was beyond excited to wake up, and watch the snow fall from their view.

Kade followed my gaze to the tree. He turned to his grandma with an eye roll. "I told you I didn't want any gifts."

Grandma Jacky rolled her eyes as she led us to the kitchen. "Oh, shut the hell up. Don't you ever try to tell me..." Her words became a blur as I entered the kitchen. The room was lined with Christmas decorations yet still elegant.

"It's so beautiful in here," I complimented as I examined the house.

She grinned, a hint of pride in her tone. "Thank you, darling. William had this built for me as soon as he was able." Her fingers grazed the tall plant that sat in the corner of the room.

I tilted my head before I recalled the name. It took a minute before it clicked. Kade's father.

I glanced over at Kade, whose expression had gone stone cold. I stepped closer, placing my hand on his forearm.

I let my hand fall from to his bicep, wrapping an arm around his waist. His rigid body slowly relaxed as he nodded at me.

Grandma Jacky took notice of his reaction and offered me a thankful smile. "Too bad he's a bastard now, though. Dumb bitch." With a chuckle, she motioned for us to follow her.

"He did give me Kade's hard-headed self, though," she muttered as she led us to another room. "I'll give the son of a bitch that."

I smiled at that, but I noticed the grief in her tone. For a dead grandson, and a son, who killed said grandson, and beat his family. A son who would be in prison for the rest of his life. I was sure it wasn't easy for her, no matter how much she tried to joke about it. Even though he was a monster, she was his mother. I was grateful that she didn't take that out on Kade.

"Oh!" Grandma Jacky clapped as she spun around. "My favorite room!"

Kade craned his neck to whisper in my ear, "It's because there's booze in it."

I chuckled, then examined the room. It seemed like a mix of an arcade, and a bar.

The floor was littered in confetti, I wasn't too sure why, but it added up to the room's atmosphere. To the far left were a couple of stools surrounding a bar, with a countless assortment of alcohol bottles behind it. Facing the bar were several different types of furniture with leftover cards astray on every surface.

I could hear traces of Christmas music throughout the house along with the large television positioned in front of the furniture. There was every game you could think of: pool table, an arcade game, darts, a game system,  and several tables full of candy and popcorn.

"Sorry for the mess," Grandma Jacky joked as she kicked at the confetti. "Me and the girls got a little excited last night. Guess who won?"

Kade chuckled, stepping over a stack of empty beer bottles. "Without me?"

"Money doesn't wait on nobody;,boy," she pointed at him. "And, don't you touch my alcohol! The girls are coming over for Christmas to keep me some company, and you know how Daisy is about her rum."

As Kade was about to respond, her eyes widened before she turned, and pushed past us. "Wait!"

We followed her to the living room, the music growing louder with each step. I hadn't even been here a day yet, but for right now, it felt as if my problems were diminishing.

"Damn it, Kade," she cursed then removed her shades as we entered the living room. "Your big ass head blocked it."

"You're one to talk," he snorted in response.

The two continued to bicker. It was a funny sight. It was more than obvious where Kade got his snarky side from.

Now that we were back in the room, I noticed something else. There were no pictures of Kade's dad. All the pictures consisted of were Kade, and his little brother at different ages, as well as Grandma Jacky with some celebrities, or with her friends.

She marched to one of the futons, throwing a blanket to the floor. "This is for you." She handed the red stocking to me.

I smiled as I examined the stocking. 'Kimberly' was printed in white at the top. I could feel that it was already full.

"Thank you so much," I grinned as I admired the stocking. "It's so cute."

Kade examined it with a perched eyebrow then directed a glare at his grandma. "Where's mine?"

"Up your ass," she grumbled as she grabbed his from the couch. "Plenty of coal in there to last you."

I laughed. "He'd love that, I think."

His scowl morphed into a smirk down at me. "I'd love something even better." A chuckle slipped from me as he placed a small kiss on the top of my head.

His grandma stared at us with a scowl that matched her grandsons. "Ugh, I hate young love. Get the hell out of here before I puke." I laughed as she passed us, her hand squeezing my wrist before she continued on.

"We're baking, decorating gingerbread, and all of that holly jolly shit at seven," she announced. "You can meet the crew, too. Ray's going to love you."

"Grandma, don't make me have to be in competition with an old man," I heard Kade groan from behind me.

I laughed as his hands came to my waist. My own fell on top. "I don't know, you might be in trouble."

Jacky nodded, shaking her finger at her grandson. "She's right. Ray's an old pimp; he knows how to get the ladies."

"Kimberly and I were gonna go out," he told her, lowering his head to my shoulder. I glanced up as he looked down at me. "Unless you want to stay."

I nodded. Going out with Kade was great, but I liked his grandmother. I wanted to know more about the woman who was one of the only few people he talked of with awe.

I glanced back at Grandma Jacky, who was typing something into her phone. "I'd love to, actually."

Kade groaned from behind me. "I've lost you to my grandma, already."

"What can I say? I'm a charmer," she shrugged with a chuckle, then walked off to god knows where. "Oh, and I got us all matching PJs, too!" I heard her shout.

Kade's fingers trailed around my sides. I shrunk away, giggling as he turned me around.

"There's no way in hell I'm wearing matching pajamas," he grumbled under his breath, shaking his head. "No fucking way."

I grabbed my suitcase, beginning my walk up the stairs. "They might be cute." A yelp of shock slipped from me as his hand smacked me from behind. When I turned to glare at him, he was grinning.

He raised his hands with innocence. "It was the wind, sweetheart."

I rolled my eyes, but continued up the stairs. My stomach twirled in its own routine as I thought of tomorrow night.

When I didn't hear his steps, I turned. His attention was on the wall, only furthering my confusion until I stepped back down. Then, I noticed it.

A picture on the wall, of him and his brother.

Kacen was hanging onto Kade's neck, a big, radiating grin across his young face. Kade was staring back into the camera with a small smile, an arm supporting Kacen.

Another was to the side of it. They were both at what looked like a table. Kade had Kacen, who was dressed in a SpongeBob pajama set, in his lap, a lit birthday cake in front of him. Kade had fresh bruises along the skin of his face, but they were both smiling at the camera, showcasing Kacen's missing tooth.

My eyes flickered to Kade, who was staring at the picture with a pained expression. Immediately, my hand fell to his. His attention raised to mine.

"He was adorable," I said, squeezing his hand. "He looked so precious."

Kade attempted a smile, but it broke the moment he looked back to the picture. "He was," he said. "I made that cake for him for his birthday. I didn't have much at that time, so that, those pajamas, and couple paint supplies were the only thing I could get him. He treated it as if I'd given him a million bucks. I don't even know how my grandma got that picture." His chuckle brought fourth my own.

"I'm sure he appreciated every single thing you did for him," I reassured him, my arm stretching over his waist. "I know he did."

His head bobbed, his throat bobbing under the statement. With a sigh, his eyes swept forward, right over the suitcase. A small smile fluttered over his lips.

"Grandma put me, and Kacen on a mattress, and let us go down these stairs once," he reminisced. "I hit my head, and while she stitched me up, she let me get my first taste of vodka to help the pain. Burnt like a bitch. Kacen tried to get some to see what was so bad about it, but I wouldn't let him. Little stubborn guy did it anyway when he saw I wasn't looking, and nearly choked himself." His laugh was clear, but the traces of sadness remained.

We were on the last stair, now. I grabbed both of his hands as I watched his expression shift from nostalgic to remorseful.

"I'm sure this place makes you miss him," I said softly. I hated it for him, truly. If I could take the pain away, I would. In a heartbeat, I would.

Kade shrugged, shifting his feet. "It makes me miss the memories, more than anything. That feeling when I thought we would be okay. That we would stay with our grandmother forever. That we were safe forever. That we were finally loved." He stared at our hands, his lips uplifting slowly. "But, it's different this year. I have you, you know? I've never brought anyone else here. But now, this house, my grandma and her antics, those memories. I have you to share it with. My person."

My insides softened into mush as I nodded. I understood what he was saying. I was glad that I could help ease the tension of his memories in this house. I hoped I could continue to do so through the time here.

"Come on," he suggested, stepping up so that we were chest to chest. "I wanna show you our room for the night."