Grandma Esther didn't visit often but always made her visits memorable. She had just gone to see her son at the precinct and now she was going to his house where she was informed her granddaughter and Barry were.
"Grandma Esther, what are you doing here?"
"Can't a grandmother visit her grandchild?" She said hugging her.
"Yeah of course."
"How are you and Barry?"
"We are good. How's grandpa, why isn't he here?"
They talked for a while catching each other up. Talking about Iris's new job, and grandma Esther's cruise that her and grandpa just got back from.
They hear steps coming down the stairs. "Grandma Esther." Says Barry running to give her a hug.
"How's my favorite bear?"
"I'm your only bear."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way." She says patting his cheek. "How's work, that Captain Singh isn't working you too hard is he?"
"No, work is good."
"Alright, but if I hear that he's yelling at you, you just say the word and I'll walk right up there and give him a piece of mind. No one messes with my bear."
"I love you mama bear."
"Love you too bear cub."
Esther turns to look between Barry and Iris. "So any developments, new relationships in this house I need to know about?
Barry and Iris looked at each otherconfused and back to grandma Esther. She's asks the same question for the last ten years. Iris always thought it was weird the way she asked, like she was implying something. And then it hit her. What she was asking. Esther finally saw the realization in Iris's eyes and Iris eyes dart to Barry. Realization dawn on Barry as well who looked at Iris and down sadly and his phone rang. He immediately used that make his exit leaving Grandma Esther alone with Iris.
"Thank the lord, he finally told you. It's about damm time." Says grandma Esther.
"So you knew."
"Of course I knew. The only one whose as blind as bat when it comes to your best friends' feelings for you is you."
"Why didn't you tell me?
"It wasn't for me to tell child." Grandma Esther approaches Iris and puts her arm around her shoulder.
"So when I'm I going to see little bears and little Irises running around?"
"What?"
"Don't you what me. I ain't getting any younger. I want great grandkids. You and Barry need to get busy ASAP."
"I'm…I'm with Eddie."
"Who the hell is Eddie?"
"The guy I told you about on the phone. A few months ago."
"Oh him, I thought he was long gone."
"Why would you think that?
"Come on sweetheart you and Barry don't have the best track record when it comes to boyfriends or girlfriends. You date a guy compare him to Barry and when they don't measure up you dump him."
"That's not true." She says but sounds unsure. "What about Eddie, I've been dating him for months."
"Yeah, and wasn't Barry in a coma when you started dating him. And weren't you alone and vulnerable without your best friend. Had Barry been awake that guy wouldn't have lasted pass the third date."
Iris open hey mouth to deny it but nothing came out as the realization of what grandma Esther said hit her. Iris never dated anyone long term while Barry was around. Her last serious boyfriend before Eddie was in college and that only lasted until the end of the semester when Barry was back into her life. Same with him. He dated in college but they broke up before he came back home. It occurred to her that Barry was probably planning to confess his feelings for her then.
"Yeah, well, things change. I'm with Eddie now and I'm happy with him."
"Uh hum."Grandma Esther not convince.
"What you don't believe me?"
"Not with the way you look at Barry no."
"No you too."
"Look I won't tell you how to feel. But sooner or later you're going to have to confront your feelings and make a decision. For Barry's sake and for yours."
"Okay."
"Well I have to go. The last thing I need is for your grandpa to burn the house down."
"I wish you didn't have to go."
"Well I'm only an hour away sweety." They hug and grandma Esther walks to the door.
"Tell you what I'll even babysit when you and Barry have little feet running around."
"GRANDMA."
"I want some great grand-kids dammit."
Iris just shakes her head an amuse look on her face. But deep down feelings she's not ready to explore are threatening to rise to the surface.