Chapter 7

I didn't sleep with Woodsmen, we didn't even make out for very long. When the sun finally broke we climbed down the treehouse and slowly walked. Both feet on the ground we saw the wolf. I froze letting my heart drop. He was asleep softly snoring. Woodsmen pulled out his camera and took a picture.

"Now we'll know if he's real." He said, determined. I nodded my head and pulled him.

"Please let's go." Worried he'd awake. Quickly we hopped out of the forest. Soon I found myself running. I wanted to get as far away from Him as possible.

We ran and ran until we hunkered for breath. Gasping, I told him we were almost there. We continued but walking rather fast. Both worried we'd still be followed, we had had enough of the forest.

About a half hour later I saw the tip of Grandma's cabin. Overjoyed, I exclaimed, "WE MADE IT!" Feeling more tears glide down my face I took Woodsmen's hand and pulled him to the entrance. I knocked on the great wooden door, "Grandma!" I yelled. No one answered. Anxious that the wolf might have gotten her I opened the door.

My Grandmother screamed, "Good heavens!" I continued coming through the front door, I jumped at her hugging the fragile woman. Glad she was alive I forgot to introduce Woodsmen.

"Hello dear what a pleasant surprise." Grandma said hugging me back. I released her smiling ear to ear. "And my who's this?" Grandma was wearing a flowery apron with jeans and an old tattered t-shirt. Her silver hair was up in a bun while a golden bracelet hanging off her left wrist.

"Grandma, this is James, he's a photographer."

"You don't say, well welcome to my home James. Please come inside and have something to eat."

"Thank you ma'am, it's a pleasure to meet you." He grabbed her hand and shook it lightly. We entered the front door as Grandma guided us around the house to the kitchen. I threw my bags on the couch and winked at James, he followed. The living room was small and had Grandma's rocking chair and yarn material by the fireplace. There was an old dusty brown couch parallel with the fireplace on the other wall. The rest of the living room was held by pictures of family before me. Keep heading straight from the front door leads you into a large kitchen with a tiny tv in a corner playing cooking shows. It was a soft mess but Grandma had only touched the peak if this is her baking day.

"Grandma, I brought you some goods." I held out the basket.

"You did!" She happily took the basket and opened it. "Oh Red, you spoil your grandma." She grabbed my face and kissed me.

"I know but mom told me to always visit you often. I needed a good reason."

"Of course Red- oh! Your Hood has a tear in it!"

"It does! Where!?" I said frantically spinning in a circle.

"Right here on the shoulder. Come on take it off." I followed Grandma's instructions.

"Look at this nice hole." She put three delicate fingers through it and shook her head. "I'm making a loaf of bread for some friends for a banquet tonight in town, it's your Auntie Fern's recipe. You know it don't you?"

"Of course Grandma I'll start kneading the dough." Both of us split away and got to work. Woodsmen stayed behind me as he snickered under his breath.

"You two are a lot alike."

"Well of course we are." I said washing my hands, "Do you think my dad came out of a lion? I've lived with her all my life." I began putting on an extra apron.

"But where's your mother been?"

I shrugged, "She uh… passed away when I was young."

"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to upset you." He came around and grabbed my waist. "Let me know if this is too much." He whispered in my ear, "Tell me about the recipe and 'Auntie Fern'." He was distracting me as his hands sat on my waist swaying us together. It didn't bother me and we liked each other… I was interested in whatever he wanted to do to me…

"Well… my aunt traveled to Paris to find the perfect French bread when she came along with a recipe in 1955."

"So your family collects recipes?"

"Oh yes, and I know them by heart." I smiled.

"You're so talented." He nuzzled my neck as I fell into a blushing coma. I couldn't move. Luckily, Grandma's footsteps snapped me back into reality. Woodsmen stepped back and continued to watch me knead.

"Here Red, all fixed." She set it on the round table that sat in the corner next to a window. Grandma came up and also watched my work, she shifted to Woodsmen staring. "Who is this young man?" She finally said.

"My name is James." He smiled. Grandma grinned back.

She put her hand on the side of her face as she half whispered. "He's so handsome." Then laughed warmly as it brighten the room. "Well Mr. James, what brings you to these neck of the woods?"

"I'm a photographer."

"Right, Red had said that previously. What are you taking pictures of?"

"Just nature, the trees, the rivers, the waterfalls, people, Red let me come along with her on her trip up here."

"Really? You know you two would make a great couple."

"Grandma!" I snapped.

"Honey, you're not getting any younger."

"What era do you still live in?" I laughed.

"Alright alright I'll drop it Red, I'm only teasing." She came up behind me rubbing my shoulders and kissed me on the cheek. "Anyway, you kids are welcome to come with me into town for the banquet tonight."

"You don't have to go James." I said.

"I mean I know part of the deal was to part ways after this-"

"Pish-posh, stay until Red leaves I don't care. You're a sweet young lad." She patted his cheeks and walked down the hall. I stuck the bread into the oven and turned to face Woodsmen.

He smiled, "Now you can't get rid of me." I kissed him. I couldn't help it. Him there just made me feel great inside. I felt protected and safe.

"Hey love birds, I need your help!" Grandma yelled from the other side of the house. We broke apart like sticky glue on fingers rushing to her side. We began doing chores for her, things she couldn't clean or lift. By the time we completed all the tasks for the day it had turned into evening.