Page 58 of Game Changer
Damn.
“He never did have much of a filter,” Chelsea whispers to me.“But now it’s totally gone.Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize.”
Grandpa is telling a story, I think it might be about when he met Chelsea…or maybe Grandma?It’s not entirely clear, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense, but Molly’s listening, smiling, and making appropriate comments.
“And then she went outside, and around, and I waited, and that was so much fun,” he says.
My heart contracts painfully.There are times he’s still with it and times he’s not, and it’s so fucking sad.
Chelsea returns from the kitchen, setting a plate of cookies on the table.Molly eagerly reaches for one, and offers the plate to Bob, who shakes his head.
“How’s your mom doing, Jackson?”Chelsea asks me.
“She’s doing great.She has a book coming out later this year.”
“Oh, wow!That’s amazing!”Chelsea beams.
“Yeah.It’s about achieving high performance and staying humble, I think.”I add for Molly’s benefit, “My mom’s a sports psychologist.”
She nods.“I think that’s so cool.”
“Your mom is such a smart woman,” Chelsea says.“It was nice to see her at the wedding last year.”
“She’s talking about moving here,” I say.“I think she has a job offer from the L.A.Cougars.”
“That would be a big change from Toronto.”
Grandpa isn’t saying anything, just smiling and nodding.He’s totally faking understanding.Which is also heart-rending.
By the time we leave, Molly has Grandpa telling her what a beautiful girl she is and she has to come back.I see the hint of sorrow in her smile, but she nods and agrees, and even though she’ll never see him again, I know she’s right to say that because he probably won’t understand if she says no, and it makes him happy and that’s what matters.
“Thank you for being so kind to him,” I say once we’re in the car.
She gives me a weird look.“You don’t have to thank me for that.He’s a wonderful man.I wish I’d met him when he could tell more stories.I bet he was fascinating.”
“Yeah.He was.”
“You still have those memories,” she says softly.“You always will.”
“Yeah.”I blow out a breath.“I wish I had more, though.I wish…”
“What?”
“Dad and Uncle Matt kind of spoiled my relationship with Grandpa.I wish that didn’t happen.”
“Ah.Yeah.I get it.But…”
Now it’s my turn.“What?”
“Well, your relationship with your Grandpa is between you and him.”
I huff.“True.But I felt like I needed to be on my dad’s side, you know?”
“Even though you and your dad don’t get along.”
Jesus.This woman.She’s always fucking right and it’s exasperating, but also…she’s right.“Okay, I get what you’re saying.My dad’s my dad, and I…care about him and also I care about Grandpa.”
