The Characters in this story are all aged eighteen or over and are above the legal age of consent.
*****
John Carpenter put the phone down and walked back to his chair, a puzzled look on his face.
"That was my Mum, seems she's decided on a visit and it's this weekend!"
"That's okay dear," said Mary his wife, "she can have Jane's room as it's hardly used now," she smiled as Jane blushed slightly.
"Thanks Mum, that was nicely put, and yes I am embarrassed, Kevin, what do you think?"
"OK by me, Nanny can just think we're doubling up as she's here."
"You don't think one of us should sleep on the sofa then?"
"Oh okay, were you volunteering?"
"Kids it's okay, you can stay together, the family has to know, I don't want you hiding away and pretending it's not happening. After all you have been through, you're not going to start lying to the family, leave it to me I'll pick her up and tell her on the way over."
"You sure about that Dad, it's a big gamble, she may not appreciate your tolerance and I'm not about to face up to my grandmother when she goes into one."
"I'm fifty seven and yes she still scares the crap out of me when she gets angry."
They all laughed at the thought of Mrs Carpenter senior going off into one. She was eighty and only four feet nine inches tall, weighed in at about six stone soaking wet, but her temper was legendary.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I went round to see your Dad, way before we married, I was about seventeen. We were larking around and he said something to Nan, next thing her slippers off and your Dad's legging it out the door. I nearly wet myself laughing, til she turned round with her slipper in her hand and offered me the chance to take his punishment. I was out that door and past your father in seconds. Half an hour later, we're back inside and she's acting as if nothing happened, asked your Dad to pick up some newspapers she'd dropped. As he bent down her slipper was off and she welted him across his rear end. God how he jumped up and yelled. Then I did pee myself a bit, I was laughing so hard."
"Don't ever underestimate your Nan," said John, I can still feel that slipper hitting my arse!"
"Language John, watch that as well when she's here."
The family settled back for the evening, trading stories of how their Gran had dipped in and out of their lives. Everyone agreed it would have been duller without her.
The Next Day
The car pulled onto the driveway and even before the handbrake was on and the engine stilled, the passenger door opened and Mrs Carpenter senior was out and walking across the tarmac.
The children and Mary stood on the doorstep smiling as she emerged.
"Damn long drive, why can't you move nearer, I know because you'd hate it if I was round the corner and kept popping in every two minutes. Get my bags from the boot Kevin, Jane there's my travel case on the back seat, get that please." She paused and suddenly smiled which lit up her face. "Mary you beautiful thing, you look radiant, still letting that wayward son of mine share your bed?"
Mary blushed, "Gladys it is good to see you and we would love to be nearer you, you know that, yes I'm letting him stay for now, after all he's almost housetrained!"
Gladys flushed with the effort of the walk to the doorway, grabbed Mary and hugged her, kissing her cheek. She leaned in close to Mary's ear,
"John told me your news, not surprised they've always been close and it won't be the first time in the Carpenter family, bit of a shock though I bet?"
"You can say that again, then some, come on in, cup of tea or something a bit stronger?"
"Tea would be lovely, maybe something a bit stronger later, now can I get these shoes off they are killing my feet."
The family dragged bags and cases upstairs and put them in Jane's room, Hanging their grandmother's coat on the hook behind the door. Moving back downstairs Jane and Kevin held hands as John went into the lounge to make sure his mother was settled.
"Showtime, Ready?"
"As I'll ever be, any exam is going to seem easy after this Q & A!!"
They came into the lounge as Mary and John organised the teas and coffees.
"Right well you better tell me what's happening, not you John, Jane and Kevin, straight from the horses mouth please, ok?"
"Well Nan, it's not easy to tell, we've sort of always been close and over the last year "ish" , we've realised that we just wanted to be together, we were only really happy and free in each other's company." Kevin smiled as he finished.
"So who said it first, which of you came out and confessed this "unnatural desire" for the other, who knew first?"
"Kevin did, but he kept quiet, didn't want to say anything to me in case it spoiled what we had." Jane smiled too and held Kevin's hand tighter.
"Then one day I realised that the only man I wanted in my life, apart from Daddy, was Kevin. I didn't know how to tell him, but somehow we got in a fight about something and I just blurted it out."
"Yes and I started it by shouting at Janey because she messed up in my room, but argument over, everything came out in the open, then we just had to tell Mum and Dad."
"What was the argument about? can you remember?"
"Borrowing CD's and not putting them back, mixing up the CD's and cases, totally stupid stuff."
"did the job though big brother, got my man."
"Well that all sounds so very romantic, but how are you two going to get along in the big bad world?"
The next few hours saw their Nan prod, probe and push them about the barriers and obstacles they faced. The debate continued over their meal and on into the late evening.
"Well this old lady's tired, been one hell of a day, I hate traveling, but I have to say it's always worth it for Mary's welcome and cooking, Johns attention and my beautiful grandchildren, now where am I sleeping, on the sofa?"
"No Gladys you'll be in Jane's room, all your bags are up there and I can help you unpack if you want, then John will take the cases out to the garage for now, how long do you want to stay?"
"Well firstly I'm glad it's Jane's room, Kevin's is so untidy and secondly until I run out of welcome."
"No worries Mum I'll put your house on the market tomorrow."
"You will do no such thing Jonathan Michael Carpenter, I will not impose on you and Mary like that!"
"Mum, it was just to say, we want you to stay for as long as you like."
"That's fine talk now John, but we will tire of each other, I'd as soon you told me and we can part friends, than linger and get under your feet, you know me I say what I think, always have."
She drew herself up and looked down at Kevin and Jane, they held hands and gazed up to their nan.
"And I might as well get this off my chest now. As far as you two are concerned, I love you both very much and I understand how you must feel, I was young once, a long time ago agreed, but love is a wonderful feeling. I hope you two are very strong, because you're going to need to be, every day you will have to deal with the knowledge that what you do Society frowns on. You'll be hiding something or somewhere everyday of your lives. But and it's a big but, you have each other and you have your family, we will not desert you, ever. Now get up to bed and get rid of some of that energy you're wasting sitting talking to me, goodnight everyone."
She bent and kissed a blushing Jane and a laughing Kevin then walked to Mary and hugged her for a long time, "John is so very lucky to have you. I've been blessed with a beautiful Daughter in Law and two wonderful grandchildren thank you, thank you for always welcoming a crabby old bird into your home."
