A No Nut November Tale.
Disclaimer: All characters are over the age of 18 and are all fictional.
***
Liberty Falls, Texas
1/11/24
"Mom, do you have your passport?"
"Yes, it's right..." Ava gasped as she started rummaging through her purse. "Oh my god! I had it right here!" she said exasperated.
"Mark! Do you..." When Ava turned around, she was met with the sight of her husband holding two passports.
"Got it right here. Left it on your bedside table."
"I think it's best if you hold them, Dad." Scott chuckled.
"Yeah, at least until we get there. I bet she didn't forget any of her makeup," Mark said.
"Oh, hush! I must've left it there by accident," Ava said as she snatched the passport from his hand. "Scott are going to leave tonight?"
"Yeah. I'll pack a bag later with some things and then head to grandma's."
Mark's phone vibrated. "Uber's here," Mark said.
"Oh, my goodness! Ok, Mark, we have everything, right?"
"Yes," Mark sighed as he grabbed the luggage. "Besides the passport you almost forgot, we have everything."
"Perfect! Scott, come give mommy a kiss and remember to help your grandmother with whatever she needs, got it?"
"Yes, I know." Scott had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. "You've told me that like four times."
"I'm just saying because I know how much your grandmother spoils you."
After kissing his mom goodbye and his dad ruffling his hair, they were gone. Scott Feldman's parents were traveling from Texas to New York, and from New York, they were to board a cruise ship to France for the wedding of one of his mom's best friends. This left Scott and his grandmother, Daisy, all alone.
Scott lived in Woodcrest, a gated neighborhood nestled amidst rolling hills and manicured lawns of Texas. Every two-story house was the perfect contrast between luxury and coziness with white picket fences, a little slice of 60's Americana in the modern age.
Scott was 21 years old. He was your typical football-loving college student. He was attending John Hopkins University, majoring in finance, just like his father and grandfather had before him.
He glanced at the time; it was 11:39 a.m. It was still a little early to eat lunch. Since he was all alone now and had nothing else to do since the semester had ended three days ago, he decided to play some video games.
After raging in Call of Duty like everyone else, he ordered a large pepperoni pizza for lunch. He ate the pizza while watching YouTube, and after downing twelve slices all on his own, he fell asleep. Hours later, he woke from his food coma. He quickly checked his phone, and after looking at the time, he decided it was time to head over to his grandmother's house.
After packing a bag, he left. Luckily for Scott, his grandmother, Daisy, lived only six houses down the street. Her Tudor-style house was located in a cul-de-sac. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange, casting a warm, golden glow across the lush, emerald field as he made his way over.
His grandfather had passed away almost a decade ago, and his parents suggested that Daisy move to Woodcrest. She was reluctant to move at first, and that was to be expected. After living in the same house for years with her now late husband, it was hard to let go, but Daisy eventually realized that living in such a big house all by herself wasn't the best idea either.
With the help of Scott's father, Daisy managed to sell her home and move just down the street.
Scott walked right in, and the warm embrace of his grandmother's house swallowed him. He never knew how to describe such a feeling. He just knew it was Grandma's house, which was... warm... and cozy.
"Grandma?" he called out, dropping his backpack in the hallway.
"In the kitchen, dear!" she responded. Scott followed the heavenly scent that beckoned him from the kitchen.
Scott had returned three days ago from college, and despite his grandmother living just six houses down the road, he hadn't seen her yet. He walked and saw his grandmother finishing cleaning the kitchen counter. The kitchen was warm and inviting, filled with the delicious aroma of butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
Daisy's eyes lit up as he entered the kitchen. "Scott, my dear!" She walked over to him to give him a hug and a kiss. Scott wrapped his strong arms around her, lifting her slightly off the ground, causing her to squeal with delight. As they parted, Daisy took a step back to admire him, a proud smile playing on her lips. "You've grown so much since I last saw you," she said, her eyes shining with affection. She wiped a smudge of her red lipstick from his cheek with her thumb.
Scott towered over Daisy; he looked down at her with a smile. "I'm home, grandma." He smiled. "Sorry for being late. I fell asleep."
"Oh, my dear. You better stop growing. Every time I see you, you seem taller. When did you come back?" she asked.
"Three days ago. Sorry for not coming over. Mom and Dad were basically just waiting for me to get back so that they could leave."
"Yes, Ava hasn't been able to stop talking about that wedding she was invited to, and honestly, I don't blame her one bit. Her best friend is marrying some rich French guy who got all her and all her close friends an all-paid cruise to France for her wedding."
"Yeah, Mom almost left without her passport."
Daisy chuckled. "Did you eat already?" she asked.
"Yeah."
Daisy's eyes narrowed. "What did you eat?"
A cheeky grin appeared on Scott's face. "You already know... Got me a large pepperoni pizza with garlic butter on the crust."
Daisy rolled her eyes and gave him a playful slap on his chest. "I knew you were gonna say that. I've already told you to stop eating that crap. You should've come here for a nice home-cooked meal."
DING!
"Oh, Perfect! The pie is ready. Wanna a slice, darling?" She grinned.
"You know I do. What kind of pie is it?"
"Pumpkin pie."
"Nice."
"Take a seat. I'll get it for you."
Scott watched as his grandmother moved gracefully around the kitchen. Daisy Doyle was the epitome of a housewife from a bygone era. She was a great cook and baker. Her garden, which was visible through the kitchen window, was a masterpiece of neatly trimmed hedges and flowers of vibrant colors that seemed to bloom year-round under her care.
Despite the years etched on her face, she had beauty—a timeless beauty, her skin only showing the slightest hints of the years that had passed; her red hair was a shade darker now threaded with a few strands of silver, and her green eyes never seemed to lose their sparkle. Her attire was impeccable as well. She wore a floral dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, cinched at the waist with a belt that highlighted her figure. An apron was tied around her, a charming accessory that made her look like she'd stepped straight out of a 1950s magazine.
The neckline of her dress was modest, yet it allowed for a tantalizing glimpse at her grandmother's ample cleavage. He let his gaze linger there for a moment. Scott knew that perhaps it was a little... frowned upon to stare, but hey, he was a guy, and besides, there was nothing wrong with admiring the beauty of an older woman.
Especially a woman who had aged like a fine wine like his grandmother. Scott couldn't help but think that Daisy kind of resembled a younger Helen Mirren in a way. His grandfather had certainly been a very lucky guy having married a woman like Daisy.
"Here you go, darling," she smiled sweetly. "A nice big slice just for you." Daisy set a plate with a generous slice of pumpkin pie right in front of him.
"Thanks, Grandma!" He immediately dug in.
"You're welcome, darling. How about a nice glass of milk, dear?"
"Mhmm." He nodded with a mouth full of pie. They chatted about his school, his friends, and his football season.
Scott leaned back in his chair with a smile and a belly full of his grandmother's delicious pie. "That was delicious, grandma. Thanks."
"Want another slice, dear?" she smiled.
Scott chuckled. "I would love to, but I can't. I'm full," he said, rubbing his stomach.
Daisy laughed. "Well, I made it just for you. You know where to find it if you want more."
"Oh, you know I'll definitely grab another slice later."
"Scott dear, I know your mother told you to keep me company, but I don't want you to think that you have to spend all your time cooped up in here with me."
"Yeah, Grandma, I know. This is not a problem or a hassle for me. If it were, I wouldn't be here." He smiled. "Most of my friends are out of town anyways. So, it's not like I'm gonna be missing any big party or anything like that. Besides, after how loud college can get, it's nice to enjoy some peace and quiet."
"Oh, honey," she hugged him and gave him another kiss. "I'm so glad you're home. Your room is ready upstairs. How about you take your things? Then we can make popcorn and watch a movie."
"Sure thing." He grinned.
Scott grabbed his backpack and went upstairs to the guest room. "
Maybe Mom is right. She does spoil me a little too much.
" But he wasn't complaining.
Scott walked into his room and threw his bag on the bed. Just then his phone vibrated. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw a WhatsApp notification from his friend Austin.
/You ready, MA BOI? It's D-Day/
Austin texted.