BXBX NOVEL Chapter 530 - Gran And Gramps (1)
~ Bangalore, India ~
JoAnna, Jeff, Bridgette and Steve landed at international airport in Bangalore, India and headed straight for their hotel.
It was early morning, but JoAnna and Jeff slept in the plane, so they were not very tired.
JoAnna freshened up and finished inspecting an expansive Maharaja Suite in their hotel. She is waiting for Jeff to finish his morning routine. He got out of the bathroom just after the breakfast was wheeled in their room.
"I confirmed with gran, they will expect us this afternoon.", JoAnna informed Jeff.
She is excited. Jeff has a morning meeting and after lunch two of them will head out to meet with her paternal grandparents. JoAnna wants Jeff to meet them and also hopes that they can give some information about the summer she spent with them when she was a child. Maybe they confirm that she is \'little J\' from Jeff\'s memories.
Jeff was nervous. "What if they don\'t like me?"
JoAnna did her best to suppress laughter seeing how his behavior is childish. "If they don\'t like you, it\'s their loss. They live on opposite side of Earth from us. It\'s not like we need to live with them." She saw that Jeff frowned and coaxed him quickly. "Relax, relax… what is there not to like? You are so likeable that even your brain is handsome."
Based on Jeff\'s smile, JoAnna concluded that he liked that compliment.
"Don\'t go out without me.", Jeff warned.
"Don\'t worry. Bridgette and I already booked full spa treatments for us. That is where we will spend the morning. I will look five years younger when I meet my grandparents.", JoAnna was happy.
"Five years? That will make you a minor…", he said jokingly and then his expression turned serious. "If you get a massage, make sure it\'s from a female. For facial as well… whatever you do, make sure no male touches you."
JoAnna laughed but she had to call hotel spa and request for female staff in front of Jeff. Only then he finished breakfast and went to get ready.
Jeff and Steve went for their morning meeting, and JoAnna and Bridgette enjoyed full treatment in the spa. By the time they returned to their rooms, Jeff and Steve were back from their meetings.
Four of them had lunch together in one of the restaurants in the hotel. Jeff asked how their morning went. JoAnna said that spa is very nice and recommended that the guys try it out as well. Then she remembered that before they went for a spa, something else happened.
"We had a video chat with Sophia and Felix after you left."
"Are they ready for the wedding?", Jeff casually asked.
JoAnna laughed and shook her head. "Sophia is all over the place. That tells me how nervous she is. She was talking about anything as long as it was not related to the wedding. Luckily mom is there to help, and Sarah will join tomorrow."
Jeff shook his head. "They are going to Reno first."
"Why?", JoAnna was not happy with this news about changes in Sarah\'s schedule.
Jeff shrugged. "Maybe to tell mom and dad that they are engaged. They will stay a day or two." Jeff saw that JoAnna is not happy that Sarah got delayed and added. "Felix is there. What is he doing?"
Bridgette shook her head and spoke with her heavy French accent. "My brother was only giggling. He is not capable of helping. The only thing he was talking about was the baby."
"Oh, yes!" JoAnna exclaimed. "They found out the gender."
Jeff looked at JoAnna\'s excited expression and forced a smile. "What is it?"
"You don\'t have to pretend that you care if you don\'t." JoAnna pouted.
Jeff pinched bridge of his nose and admitted. "Fine. I don\'t care. It\'s a baby. Why does it matter what gender it is?" He really didn\'t care. Jeff would care only if it\'s their baby, JoAnna\'s and his. All other babies are not important.
"Fine! Then I will not tell you! Even when I\'m pregnant I will take the test secretly and not tell you the result!" JoAnna puffed her cheeks angrily.
Jeff was shocked hearing her words. "You can\'t do that!"
"Hmph! Just watch me!", she lifted her nose defiantly.
Bridgette laughed seeing how silly they are.
Steve didn\'t dare to laugh, even if everything looks fine now, Jeff would scold him later. He lowered his head and kept his focus on the plate in front of him.
…
Jeff and JoAnna are standing in front of the two-story house. Their driver said he will wait for them in the café at the corner, and just to call him when they want to head back.
Low concrete wall signifies where property lot begins, and front yard is only few steps deep.
JoAnna was not able to see if there is a backyard. Neighboring houses were also only few feet apart. She thought that compared to the large estate on East Coast from her memories, her grandparents really scaled down their lifestyle by coming here.
She looked at the man next to her who was stiff. "Hey, are you OK?"
Jeff nervously nodded.
"Relax, they are easy going people. Let\'s go. They are expecting us."
They got in the front yard and rang the doorbell.
Older lady opened. "Anna, baby…" She hugged JoAnna right away.
"Hi gran!" JoAnna hugged her back.
"This is Jeffrey, my fiancé." JoAnna introduced Jeff.
Older lady scrutinized him for a second before her face broke into a smile. "Come in, boy, why are you standing there? Call me gran or Mary." She giggled and pulled him in.
Mary pulled Jeff by the arm inside and looked at JoAnna. "Anna, baby, your fiancé is handsome. Is he treating you well?"
"Yes, gran.", JoAnna shyly responded.
"James!", Mary bellowed while looking up the stairs. "Anna is here! James!"
"Coming, coming… why are you yelling?", James\'s voice came from second floor.
"If I don\'t yell, you complain that you didn\'t hear me.", Mary grumbled.
"What are you talking about? My hearing is perfect…" James was already next to her and smiling at JoAnna. "Baby, let me look at you…"
JoAnna twirled on her toes and giggled while her grandfather gave approving nods. "You are a beautiful lady. Any man should be lucky to have you." James completely ignored Jeff.
"Beautiful yes. But isn\'t she a bit skinny?", Mary asked her husband while looking at JoAnna.
"I\'m just fine, gran. Gramps, this is Jeffrey, my fiancé.", JoAnna told her grandfather.
"Jeffrey?", James finally looked at Jeff. But he was not giving any friendly vibe.
Jeff extended his arm for a handshake and plastered a friendly smile on his face despite unfriendly attitude James gave him. "Jeffrey White, nice to meet you."
Old man frowned and looked at Jeff\'s hand for few painfully long seconds, contemplating if he should take it or not. Reluctantly, he shook Jeff\'s hand, not introducing himself. Instead of saying his name, old man scoffed: "White? Never heard of you."
Jeff glanced at JoAnna. She told him that her grandfather is easy going. How on Earth is this easy going?
"Tell me boy… is it a good thing or a bad thing that I never heard of you?", James scrutinized Jeff.
Jeff opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn\'t know how to respond to this question.
"Gramps, why are you giving him hard time?", JoAnna scolded her grandfather.
James shrugged. "Hard time? I want to know if he can take care of you. How is that giving him a hard time?"
JoAnna stood next to Jeff and held his hand while facing her grandfather. "Jeff can take care of me. He is very capable."
"Capable? What does he do?" Old man didn\'t like that JoAnna took protective stance against him.
"I run my own company.", Jeff responded, emboldened by JoAnna\'s support.
"Which one is it?", James scoffed.
"White corp.", Jeff proudly said.
"Never heard of it." Old man shook his head. "Now you tell me if that is a good thing or not."
Jeff was in disbelief. He didn\'t want to argue with old man, he is JoAnna\'s grandfather. But the old man was getting on his nerves.
\'He is Anna\'s grandfather, he is Anna\'s grandfather…\', Jeff chanted to himself silently.
Jeff found that he is at a loss. He can\'t retaliate, because he needs to be polite. Jeff only hoped that JoAnna does not care much about this old man\'s opinion.
Jeff glanced at JoAnna and saw that her whole face was contorted in anger as she glared at her grandfather.