Just as he was heading out, he heard her voice behind him. Turning around, he saw Hyacinth standing there, an enormous cake in her arms and a cluster of bright balloons bobbing above her head. Her eyes shone with a nervous, hopeful light.
Before he could speak, she blurted out, “You’re going to be a granddad!”
For a moment, Rufus stood frozen, the words echoing in his mind. Granddad. He looked at the cake—white frosting, cheerful lettering—and then back at Hyacinth’s face, which had shifted from tense to radiant. The odd behavior, the strange tension all evening, now made sense. She’d staged this elaborate surprise and it hadn’t gone as smoothly as she’d hoped.
With emotions surging, he managed to ask, “You’re serious?”
She nodded, words tumbling out in a rush. “I wanted it to be special. I know we haven’t been close, but I want you in my life. In the baby’s life.”
Rufus felt warmth spread through him, loosening the knots formed by years of distance and misunderstandings. Instead of replying, he took a step forward and hugged her. At first, she stiffened—old habits, old insecurities—but then she relaxed, hugging him back.
They left the restaurant side by side, balloons bobbing in the cool night air. Rufus’s heart felt lighter than it had in ages.
“When’s the big day?” he asked softly, curiosity and genuine happiness in his voice.
“Six months,” she answered, smiling. “Plenty of time, Grandpa.”
He laughed—truly laughed—feeling something long dormant come back to life. The awkward dinner and uneasy conversation were already fading into memory. That night, they were no longer distant strangers but something far better: family.