Running with Secrets

Untitled Part 42

"That grandson of mine spends an awful lot of time on the phone, doesn't he?" Kathleen asked Kristin.

She looked behind her, only seeing his backside in the living room as Kathleen served her a plate of potato chips and a grilled cheese sandwich.

"He sure does, but I understand he's a police detective and has to take phone calls at all times of the day."

"He works too hard, if you ask me." She answered, waving a table knife in the air. His parents think the same. If you ask me, Kristin," she paused and wrinkled her brow at the visitor, "Heath needs a good woman to settle him down. Get him a desk job. Something where he can spend more time with his family." She looked Kristin square in they eyes and said, "and give me some great-grand babies. "

Her eyes went wide and she felt a blush rise up her neck. "Oh."

Heath walked in to the cozy kitchen that hadn't been redecorated since he was a teenager and still had the country look to it, only to find Kristin and his grandmother in a stare-off. "What did you say to her Gramma?"

Kathleen put her knife in the sink and handed him an identical plate of food. "Nothing, Dear. Now, eat your lunch."

Eyes still wide, Kristin looked at her plate and finished up her potato chips and sandwich in a hurry. "She was telling me how she thinks you work too much."

"That's not all you said, is it Gramma?" He sighed at her then looked at Kristin. "You're blushing. What did she really say?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, Heath." Kathleen interrupted.

Kristin pulled her lips between her teeth to stop her from laughing, only to snort out her nose. "Your grandmother is funny." she said. Turning to his grandmother she said to her, "I'm not afraid of you, Kathleen." she smiled at the older woman. "A woman who lives in a gingerbread house, who's hair resembles cotton candy should know better than to make empty threats to strangers about the reproductive potential of her grandchildren." She raised an eyebrow and half-cocked her head at the older woman. "If you can call it a threat."

Heath's mouth dropped. He'd never seen anyone, even his dad, talk to his grandmother this way. Ever.

"In fact," Kristin said, picking up her plate and taking it to the sink, rinsing it off as she spoke. "I take this as a challenge. You may need to up your game, Heath. I don't know what your grandmother has in store, but I think she's a sneaky woman with ulterior motives up her sleeve. We may just have to watch ourselves and take care not to trip into her plan." She turned her look to Kathleen. "She told me she needs you to settle down and give her some great-grand babies."

Kathryn's mouth fell open and she turned a beautiful shade of crimson.

"GRAMMA!" Heath scoffed. He suddenly remembered his police training and occupied his profession now with his grandmother. "It's none of your business how hard I work. I have plenty of time off and my love life is off limits to you!"

Kristin continued her smirk, facing out the window above the sink. Kathleen stammered an apology. "I know, I know. But I needed to see what your friend here is made of. Stern stuff, is what." She said. "Kristin is made of stern stuff."

They looked at each other, understanding passing between them.

"What?" Kathleen said. "What is it?"

"I need to excuse myself," Kristin said as she left the kitchen. "Tell her what you think is okay." She she said, resting her hand on Heath's shoulder as she turned to him and left the room.

"I said something wrong, didn't I?" Kathleen said, fidgeting with her hands.

"Gramma," Heath began after Kristin had extricated herself from the room. "Kristin has had a rough several weeks recently which culminated in her boyfriend's body being found."