Chapter Text
Harlan had once introduced them as his ‘grandkids’ at a book signing in Boston. It had been as jarring as it was sweet; that he thought of her that way. Standing beside her in a fawn coloured jacket Ransom flashed a brief smile while Harlan continued chatting with an old editor friend he’d run into. A sweet little old lady named Ada in tortoise rimmed glasses and a pantsuit. When Harlan excused himself to talk to his agent, she’d turned her attention to Ransom.
“I don’t know if you remember me?” she smiled. “But your grandma used to like to bring you to this bookstore when you were little.”
“Well, this place always was her favourite. Probably why Harlan stills likes to have his first signing here.” Ransom’s laugh was fond, something Marta could almost physically feel because the cramped bookstore meant his hip brushed hers every moment or so.
Ada fixed her with a little smile next, “And you are, sweetheart?”
“Oh,” Marta extended a hand quickly. “I’m Marta Cabrera.”
“Lovely to meet you,” she dropped the hand she’d shaken and grinned at Ransom. “Such a beautiful girl. Have you two been married long?”
That took them both by surprise. Marta blinked stupidly while Ransom was quicker to recover.
“We’re not a couple Mrs Arkin,” he said with a nervous grin. “Marta is Harlan’s nurse.”
“Oh!” Ada clapped both hands to suddenly flaming cheeks. “I’m so embarrassed. I just thought-. You two just seemed so close I assumed-“
“Well, you’re not wrong about us being close,” Ransom interrupted her ramblings and give Marta her second shock by placing one large palm on the small of her back. “We are family after all. Right Marta?”
That last part was something he said in a softer tone, the hand on her back rubbing in small almost chaste circles that, nevertheless, made her think of what it’d be like to feel those hands with fewer clothes and inhibitions. Her sister was right. Ransom was just too hot and someday Marta would probably explode from her unrequited lo-
“Ready to leave, kids?” It was Harlan, grinning and back from wherever he’d wandered off to. Marta nodded mutely even as Ada said a very embarrassed goodbye.
There was one thing though. The hand on her back remained where it was until they got back to the car.
