"She was filled with a strange, wild, unfamiliar happiness, and knew that this was love. Twice in her life she had mistaken something else for it; it was like seeing somebody in the street who you think is a friend, you whistle and wave and run after him, but it is not only not the friend, but not even very like him. A few minutes later the real friend appears in view, and then you can't imagine how you ever mistook that other person for him."
― Nancy Mitford, The Pursuit of Love
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Rick stood in his the mirror taking in his nicely growing facial hair. It's been three days since he last been in Michonnes presence and it was a very painful hard on that she had left him with those days ago. He could almost still taste Michonne on his tongue. He was frustrated. The thoughts of her had him masturbating twice a day. At night to go to sleep and in the morning in order to take on his day of leisure. The merger was no longer an issue. Michonne still was on his mind. He noticed a text coming in. He leaned against his bathroom sink as he read the message from the woman who could easily have him wrapped around her finger.
Michonne: Hi...
Michonne: I'm frustrated.
Rick: Me too.
Michonne: I am going to call you.
Rick was surprised by this turn of events and was slightly amused that her frustration didn't match his own. His was sexual and hers were the inability to be in two places at once and before he knew it he was stopped in front of Walmart picking up her Granny Mabel in his black Bentley.
Rick had pulled up in the parking lot along side the front of the store he had never ventured inside even though he had met one or two of the family members at different events who were part owners of the popular chain, Walmart. Rick had no idea what she looked like but made a calculated guess when he spotted the elderly woman with no bags standing outside just like Michonne described...dressed in blue polyester everything. The only thing that wasn't blue was her hair. It was a short gray afro.
"You look much better in person I say." Granny Mabel smiled at the driver, Rick, who closed the door behind her and slid back into the driver seat.
"You've seen a picture of me?" Rick's eyebrow arched, slight surprised by this admission as he found his way out of the Walmart parking lot.
"On Michonne's phone. She has two pictures of you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes indeed. She has one where you were going to shave what looks to be what you trying to grow back and one when her phone rings when you call her. You have on a white shirt in the second picture. Look like you could have buttoned it up a couple of more buttons but that is neither here nor there I says. I must say, you smell decent too."
Rick couldn't help but laugh. Highly amused. "I am better looking and decent smelling. I am glad I have impressed you so far Ms...?"
"You can call me Granny Mabel. I am so glad you come to rescue the day. I have no idea how to catch the bus back. I did all the calculations to get to Walmart and for the life of me I have no idea why I didn't do the calculations to get back. I got my license taken away some time ago due to mistaking the gas for the brakes. I tell you the mind is one thing you don't want to go."
"Did you find what you were looking for at the store?" Rick was curious due to the only thing she was carrying was a Blue purse with bright daisy flowers as a design.
"I have no need for anything. Just wanted to walk around. When you get my age ain't much else to do. I can either make doctor appointments or see what the living is doing and you can really catch a glimpse of it inside of a Walmart."
"Is that so?"
"I just be lonely sometime and I know my Grandbaby has a job to do and she does it very well you know. I am just thankful she had me move in with her. She has such a beautiful home. Everything just so nice and clean. Michonne is very particular about her space, you know. I says Michonne, when you going to have some babies and she always give me the same answer, when she finds a man with no STDs. Scary world if all the men are dirty."
Rick couldn't help the smile on his face as he listened, taking note of everything. He had no idea where he was taking Granny Mabel because he had no idea where Michonne lived.
"Michonne was going to take me to the horses. She would have gone today but some important client called. If it ain't clients it is her students from her sword class."
"Swords?"
"Oh...yes. Correction, fencing. She teaches fencing for Olympic contenders...or she is a coach. The hell if I know. I do know she always correcting me on what she actually does with those long knives."
"Huh. I didn't know that."
"There is probably a lot you don't know about Michonne. You the first mister of hers I have met and had a conversation with so I say you must have done something no one has ever done."
"What is that?
"You either playing her hand against her or you are indeed STD free."
"Well, there is no playing here, Granny Mabel."
"Good. So it must be the latter." Granny Mabel squeezed her bag closer to her body glad to be reassured that she didn't mistakenly get in the car with a serial killer.
"I am not bad looking, I smell decent, and I am STD free."
"Yes, in damn deed. She don't need to look no further." Granny Mabel patted the back of Rick's hand with her own.
"You want to go to the horses Granny Mabel...I will take you to the horses." Rick took her hand and gave it a good squeeze as he kept his eyes on the road.
Rick spent the whole day with Granny Mabel playing the horses. Granny was making two dollar bets that left Rick puzzled.
"I play for fun son, not to go broke."
It was after 8:30pm when Granny Mabel made it back home. Rick could see Michonne standing outside the front door. Michonne was visibly upset tapping her foot with her hands on her hips. Rick opened Granny Mabel's door and helped her out the car. He walked Granny to where Michonne stood.
"Neither of you two have your phone on?" Michonne asked obviously upset.
"Michonne, I had a good time with Richard today. Don't ruin it."
"I was worried about you Granny."
"You sent Richard after me, and from there you should have had no worries. I was in good hands. I won 20.00 dollars off a two dollar bet. I says it was a wonderful day." Granny walked passed Michonne and went inside.
Rick couldn't take his eyes off of Michonne when she finally locked eyes with him as they stood outside her home.
"Why didn't you answer my text?" Michonne asked Rick. Her arms were across her chest.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know you would be worried after I texted you that I found her."
"It is 8:30pm."
"Got her home before 9pm. She said if she didn't have a lifetime movie she wanted to watch she would have stayed out longer."
"What?" Michonne asked in disbelief.
"I am good fun, Michonne. You wouldn't know that because you won't date me."
"So you are dating my Granny?" Michonne had a incredulous look as her eyes tried to compete with the blue ones and not look away first. The blue ones lost.
"Goodnight Michonne." Rick smiled and walked back to his car. He pulled out of her driveway as she walked back into the house, closing the door behind her.
Late that evening Rick received a text.
Michonne: There must be two sides to you.
Rick: Is this something you are thinking about or asking me?
Michonne: I am confused and I don't like it.
Rick: Let me help you.
Michonne: You usually text me Good Night way before now.
Rick: This was the first time I was able to say it to you.
Michonne...
Rick: I had a very good time with Granny Mabel.
Michonne: Goodnight.
Rick thought it was abrupt. He didn't text back and he didn't expect one as he chuckled. He got a ping.
Michonne: Thank you.
Rick: Your welcome. Goodnight
