Author's Note: I hope you like this ficlet. I know it's been awhile since I've updated, but I'll try to post more regularly
Chapter 5: Meeting Nana
Serena was nervous. She wanted Dan's grandmother to love him more than anything. Serena wasn't sure what to expect? Would she be a sarcastic introvert like her grandson or an artsy enigma like his mother? For all the years, she'd known Dan, his family had been a bit of a mystery. She of course knew Rufus well and Jenny too, but she'd only met his mother once and he rarely talked about any other family while Dan seemed to know the ins and outs of her family. Dan looked over at her in concern. "Everything ok?"
She smiled brightly at him and said, "Everything's great."
"Are you sure? You have that faraway look in your eyes," Dan said with concern.
"I guess I'm just a little nervous to meet your nana."
"Nana Humphrey is going to love you," he said as he manoevered the sedan into the parking lot of a retirement home. She got out of the car and looked around. Serena spotted an older couple playing shuffle board while others lounged around a pool. Dan walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulder. He knocked on the door and was greeted by a petite woman in a blue jumpsuit. "are you just going to stand there? Come in."
Dan and Serena followed the older woman as she led them into her small apartment. "Is that how you greet your nana boy? You should know better"
Dan smiled and wrapped his arms around his grandmother. "I missed you too Nana."
"My you're so much prettier in person. I've been keeping up with your little drama thanks to danny's little project."
"Nana!"
"What? You started that website for this girl? That's what you told me."
Serena smiled ear-to-ear. She may have been a delicate woman, but she definitely was a Humphrey through and through. She reminded Serena of both Jenny and Dan.
"So, Mrs. Humphrey I love your place,"Serena said as she picked up a wooden sculpture of a giraffe.
" Call me Evie. I got that on Safari. It was the one and only vacation that my Jonah took me on before he passed, bless his soul."
"I've always wanted to go on Safari,"Serena said.
The older woman slapped Dan on the back. "Whatcha you waiting for boy. Take her before time runs out."
"I'm only 24 Nana. We've got plenty of time. Anyways, where's iggy."Dan asked.
"You and that damn cat. He's loved this fat thing since he was little. I'm surprised the damn thing is still alive."
Serena leaned on Dan as Evie went to get the cat from the other room. She placed the cat in Dan's hands and Serena watched the transformation from man to little boy. "You miss me iggy. Is Gran treating you right? You getting so fat boy."
"Is he always so attached to that Cat?"Serena asked.
Evie motioned for Serena to join her in the kitchen. She put on a kettle. "Some tea?"
"I'd love some."
Serena sat at the small kitchen table as the older woman busied herself with making the tea. She placed a steaming mug in front of Serena and opened a cupboard and pulled out a small abulm. "I think you should take a look at this. Danny he likes to put on a tough act, but he's a soft one."
"I know that's why I love him."
The older woman smiled and squeezed Serena's hand. "I'm glad everything worked out. I was a little worry when he told me about his plan. I mean it's a bit half-cocked, but it's easy to see you are as crazy about him as he is about you."
"I am. He saved me."
Evie looked at Serena warmly, "You saved each other."