Page 113 of Crashing into Love

So, after dinner and a long, hot shower, she’d climbed into bed and turned off the lights. She was exhausted. She’d been killing herself in training because she had wanted to take a few days off to spend time with Selma and Gia. Then, she’d flown internationally to get to them and had had a turbulent flight and a long drive from the airport due to bad weather. Now, she would be going back home tomorrow, and she wasn’t sure what to do about her relationship.

Right as Drew was about to close her eyes, though, she heard the beep sound at her door. Someone – no, not someone – Selma was using her key. Drew didn’t move. It was immature, and she knew that, but she pretended that she was asleep. Selma slid into bed behind her and wrapped her arm around Drew’s middle. Drew still didn’t move.

“I’m sorry,” Selma whispered.

Drew didn’t know what the woman was apologizing for, exactly, but an apology wouldn’t change the fact that Selma wasn’t ready for Drew to be in this part of her life; the part she shared with Gia. And Drew could be patient; she just couldn’t change how it felt seeing Selma’s wide eyes, telling her that she could take the damn cake to the kids herself because she didn’t need Drew’s help.

When Drew woke up the following morning, Selma wasn’t there, but she’d left a note that she had to take Gia to her drawing class and that she’d be back. Drew hadn’t told Selma what time her changed flight home was, which was her own fault. She texted Selma that she had to leave for the airport to make her plane and packed the few things she’d bothered to unpack.

“Don’t give up on her.”

Drew turned toward the front desk and found Ruth standing there with a clipboard in her hand.

“Sorry?”

“Don’t give up on her.”

“I’m not. I just have to get back.”

“Oh, Drew…” The old woman shook her head.

Drew walked over with her roller bag.

“Honey, Selma hasn’t had anyone real in her life, ever.”

“She had an ex-boyfriend.”

“He was a decent man, don’t get me wrong, but Selma never loved him. He was the kind of guy you date when you don’t have time to meet anyone else and he’s there. I realize that sounds mean, but it’s also the truth. There was no love there, no passion. He didn’t mind that she was a single parent, and she liked him enough to give him a chance.”

“Ruth, they were together for six months.”

“Drew, you’re a snowboarder – you know that she was gone for most of that time leading up to the Olympics. And most of the rest of her time was spent here, with Gia. I’d wager that they spent maybe a dozen or so nights together that whole time.”

“Okay. So…”

“So, you are real to her. She’s never had real. She got pregnant young, devoted her life to Gia and this family, and, well, snowboarding. Nothing else. Then, you show up here, and you connect with her daughter, whom she’s been so protective of because Gia’s father wanted nothing to do with her. That’s a weight that Selma has carried for over ten years now. She’s tried to be Mom and Dad to Gia – or, two parents, if you’d rather. Selma never found anyone worthy of her or that child to share any of the responsibilities that come with parenting. Now, you’re here, and not only do you want her, you want Gia, too.”

“I do. I love Gia. I think she’s an amazing kid. She’s a little Selma, and I–” She stopped herself.

“And you love Selma.”

Drew nodded and said, “She doesn’t know yet.”

“Well, that’s for you to tell her, then. But I’m her grandmother; I see her making a mistake. And while I think it’s important that we all learn from our mistakes, I can’t let her make this one.”

“She said she wanted to be ready, Ruth. She didn’t say that she was.”

“She is. She just doesn’t know it yet. So, like I said, don’t give up on her. Just give her a little time.”

“How much?”

“If you love her, you’ll give her as long as she needs. I know she feels it, too. She’ll get there.”

“I’m not getting any younger, Ruth,” she joked.

“Neither am I,” the woman replied. “And I’d love to see my granddaughter happily settled down with someone before I go. So, just trust me on this. I’m old and wise; I know what I’m talking about.”

Drew gave her a smile and an appreciative nod.

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