I biked my way all the way to my favorite shop, Tilly’s Antiques. The outside was decorated with lovely red and gray bricks intertwined. It had a homely sign that hung right over the sidewalk. As I leapt off my bike, I slipped on the peddle and placed my hands out before I slammed on the concrete. I can be so clumsy, it’s embarrassing. The window was covered in a slight frost so I wiped it off. I noticed a few new things in the display when I peeked inside. I looked over the display and saw the owner, Gregory, waving his hand at me. I smiled, set up my bike at the stand, and rushed inside to properly greet him.

“Good day, Astrid!” He greeted. His warm, kind smile was my favorite part of this shop. His wife, Tilly, passed away a few years ago and this shop was in memory of her love for vintage items. Gregory, in a way, saw me as his grandchild, as he has none. One of my grandfathers passed when I was only three and my other died when I was only a baby so I never had a close relationship with them.

“Good day, Greg.” I smiled back.

“I saw you trip out there, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” I blushed realizing he noticed. I had really hoped no one had.

He cleared his throat, “there is someone I would like you to meet.”

I nodded in confusion. Who would be here to see Gregory? I was here with him a lot and he never mentioned anyone, especially not family.

“This is my nephew, Grant.” He announced as the young man walked out of the storage room with boxes in tow.

“I pulled my jacket farther over my shoulder and shyly waved at the other teenager. He looked around my age, maybe older. Brown hair, brown eyes, and tall. Very tall. I wish I was that tall. He stuck his hand out and I looked at it, no one does handshakes anymore.

“Nice to meet you.” He said.

After a few seconds, I took his hand. He seemed like a nice boy.

“He will be here over Christmas, maybe until February. I want you two to get to know each other.”

He better not be trying to play Cupid. Last time he did, the guy was a huge jerk and I couldn’t stand him. His name was like, Matt, Matteo, or Mike, or something. He acted like an angel around Gregory but was horrible to me the rest of the time.

Gregory told me several times he was perfect, and one day, I should consider marrying him-absolutely not.

I pulled myself back to the present and Gregory looked at both of us, sort of hopefully. He better not expect anything to come from this.

“I have an errand to run, can you Astrid, teach Grant how to run the store?” I’ve run errands, run the shop, and done small favors for him. I really don’t want to be left with a guy I barely know. But I guess every time I’m here by myself, I’m helping someone by myself.

“Sure.” I said pretty….unsurely.

Grant smiled nervously, even he doesn’t want to be here with me.

“Alright, I’ll see you guys later.” Gregory threw a towel at me and patted Grant fatherly on the back.

I snatched the towel with my free hand, walked behind the counter, and wiped the top. Grant watched me do this like a little lost puppy. I peeked back over the counter and stared at him for a second.

“What?” I said with a little more attitude than I intended.

“No need to bite” he stepped back as if I was menacing.

“Sorry, I’m just frustrated. I came to chill out with Gregory and he left.” I flung the towel over my shoulder.

He finally dropped the boxes he had been holding for two minutes straight. It was honestly starting to bother me. He opened them and starting unpacking stuff.

“What are you doing?”

“Uncle Greg wanted me to unpack these. It’s Aunt Tilly’s old things.” I never thought Gregory would want those things touched-ever. I actually touched her childhood clock and he almost had a heart attack.

I walked back to him and knelt down. “What’s that?” He grabbed the small box and read the front.

“For my future grandchildren…”