Since we were right down the street, we walked to the cemetery to lay fresh flowers on my grandparents’ graves. As soon as we stepped outside, a chilly wind brushed past us, and snow began falling. Summer was just days away. Newcrest wasn’t the warmest city I’d lived in, but the cold and snow should have been over a long time ago. I expressed my desire to see Gammy again, but knew it probably wouldn’t happen in the middle of the afternoon. But Sophia, my sweet Sophia, was a great cheerleader.
“You’ll see her,” she said.
“But it’s daytime. I don’t think they come out in daylight.”
“She’ll come out as soon as she hears your voice. She loves you so much.”
“Well…I hope you’re right. I won’t hold my breath, though.”
“While we wait for her…it’s still Love Day, and I love you,” she said sweetly, inching toward me.
My eyebrow went up.
“You look like you’re looking for trouble.”
“Trouble?” she asked, cocking her head to the side. “I don’t know her.”
“Mmm hmm. I love you too. You and your trouble.”
No sooner than she planted a kiss on my cheek, mist poured out of Gammy’s headstone.
“Oh my Watcher,” I shouted. “You were right! She’s coming!”
The mist spilled onto the plot and swirled around our fee. Gammy’s ghost popped as orange as a sunset.
“I know y’all not trying to get busy in the graveyard,” she shouted. “I’m not mad, though. Come here, my baby!”
I laughed and threw my arms around her.
“Hey, Gammy! Happy Love Day!”
“Oh! Is that what day it is? Happy Love Day to you!“
She squeezed me tightly, and just like Mama did when I announced I had proposed, she pushed me aside and turned her attention to Sophia. Pope women. I shook my head lovingly at her.
“Let me see that ring!”
Sophia extended her hand and let Gammy ooh and ahh.
“Okay, Luca,” she said. “You did well! Let me see some pictures! I want to know everything!”
Sophia whipped out her phone and scrolled through the wedding pictures she was tagged in.
“Oooh a beach wedding,” she shouted. “That dress was perfect! Awwww look at my baby! You were so handsome, Mr. Cute Face!”
Now I had to know. Did Mama name me that, or did she steal it from Gammy?
“Oh, look at my child,” she said with a tremor in her voice. “She was always so beautiful. I miss her so much. Hmph…I see she’s still messing with that ol spineless…let me be nice. Oh! You had Ali officiate? That’s so special. And there’s my other baby, looking like a model! She probably doesn’t remember me. That venue was perfect! Was that Tartosa?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sophia said.
“I would have loved to get married there, but we eloped at the romance festival.”
Sophia’s face lit up.
“Really? I always heard of sims doing that but never met anyone who did.”
“Now you have! It was magical…but oh so cold! That fool has us out there in a blizzard! Speaking of, let’s get you out of this cold.”
We went inside the building, but it didn’t provide much warmth. It was eerily cold in there, and I thought I saw a figure floating around the casket in the font.
“Gammy…are you okay? You don’t seem like yourself. And you’re orange.”
“I am,” she said. “Don’t worry about me. Tell me about you. How’s married life? Are you trying for babies yet?”
I glanced over at Sophia, who nodded at me, giving her blessing to share our story with Gammy.
“Married life is amazing. I’ve never been happier. We’re moving to a bigger house in San Sequoia tomorrow. And…uhhh…we’re still working on a baby.”
“Oh noooo. Are you…”
“Yeah.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. That kind of thing can knock the wind out of your sails. I personally haven’t gone through it, but I’m familiar with wanting something really bad and not getting it. Don’t give up, you hear? It’ll happen! Just be good yourselves and don’t get stressed out. You’ll see!”
“Thanks, Gammy. We’re trying to stay positive.”
“Good. Well, you two should get out of here. It’s Love Day! Take this young lady home and blow her back out until you pass out! Put THREE babies in there, ha ha!”
“Gammy!!”
I’d always been one to respect and listen to my elders…
