Maybe, Callie felt awkward due to the dream. Sitting by the side of Nelson, she didn’t know where to put her hands on, and her breath was quick.
Nelson looked at her wrist after dealing with his work today by phone and he said, “You are getting used to it.”
Callie lately caught on and then she pointed at his ring finger saying, “Same as you. Practice made perfect.”
Then both of them became silent which was suffocatingly embarrassing.
When they arrived the old mansion, Callie got off the car right away. She felt like burning when she was with Nelson. However, because she was too nervous, she sprained her left ankle, almost stumbling.
“Ouch!”
“What’s the rush?” Nelson held her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
Callie was in a trance since she noticed there was full of concern in Nelson’s eyes, and soon she got away from his arms and said, “I… I can walk.”
Suddenly, the joyful voice from Old Oconnor came into their ears, “What a lovey-dovey couple!”
Feeling hasty, Callie waved her hand and wanted to explain, but Nelson held her in arms again and said, “Grandpa, Callie sprained her ankle. Is there pain relief spray?”
Old Oconnor stopped making fun of them and said, “Yes, yes. Get her in!”
Then he asked Bianca to take the spray.
Nelson picked Callie up by the waist and stepped in with loping steps. Subconsciously, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stared at his jaw in a trance.
Callie said, “Actually, I can walk on my own.”
“If you are not afraid of falling down again, then do it,” Nelson responded in an angry tone with his eyebrows furrowed.
Callie was put on a couch, and Bianca brought a medical kit and some ice cubes and handed the pain relief spray over to Nelson, saying, “Girl, you should be more careful.”
Old Oconnor even exaggerated it, “Shall we go to hospital?”
Callie gave a wry smile and said, “Everything is fine. It’s only a mild sprain. I will soon be good.”
Nelson squatted halfway down next to her. He wrapped the ice cubes with a towel and put it on her ankle. Callie’s ankle was slender. Nelson could grip it with one hand. His hand stayed here for a while and finally applied the spray which seemed to be a profession method.
Callie felt her ankle a bit cool but not painful. Maybe it was illusion.
Nelson felt her eyes on him, then he raised his head and said in a tone as the same as before, “Too careless of you.”
“I…” Callie mumbled.
It was like she was to be blamed by her father when she did something wrong at the young age.
Old Oconnor immediately comforted her with a subtle smile, “You don’t have to take it personally. He’s always talking in such a way. It seemed that he’s angry but the angrier he is, the more he cares about you.”
Really?
Callie looked at him with curiosity in her eyes, but he didn’t respond but turn to wash his hands.
Upon his reaction, Callie made it clear that Old Oconnor was right.
Callie smiled and said, “I know him, grandpa.”
Hearing that, Old Oconnor smiled even more widely.
It had been half a month since Callie came here last time. She inquired about his condition and, by gripping his hands, kept telling him to take the pills in time and keep himself rested.
It was not pretend. She liked this old man who was kind and very nice to her. She could feel his sincerity. Thus, even if she did not act with Nelson as a loving couple, she would treat him well.
“I don’t have grandpa. In my heart, you are like my real grandpa.”
Nelson washed his hands up. No sooner had he walked out of the restroom than he heard such a word, so he stopped.
“Gosh, did he pass away long time ago?”
Callie didn’t tell him the truth and nodded her head.
“No worries. From now on, I am your real grandpa.” Old Oconnor liked her really much, and he even felt sorry for her after knowing that.