Page 27 of An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love
“Yeah.” I consider telling him the whole saga but settle on “I saw your car.”
“It sticks out, doesn’t it? I considered getting a Honda Accord. I would’ve blended in, then. But Lottie liked riding with the top down.” He gestures to the roof of the car. “I haven’t bothered opening it since…” He chokes on the last word and grits his teeth over renewed, silent sobs. Something about the silence makes it so much worse. I would rather he keen like a wounded animal than keep it all bottled inside.
Without overthinking it, I reach over and grab his hand. He grips back, hard. The pressure of my tight squeeze seems to help him calm down again.
“Gramps? What are you doing here? You didn’t leave a note, and…” It feels a bit out of line to sayAnd you never leave your condo, as far as I know. “And I was kind of worried.”
He takes a couple of deep, shuddering breaths.
“I wanted to get you something.”
“Me?”
He looks at me sideways. “Yes, you. You’re leaving tomorrow and I wanted to get you a gift.”
“A gift?”
We both stare straight ahead, and I realize we’re parked in front of a shop called Bettina’s Beach Boutique. In the window are floral cover-ups, bejeweled sandals, and one very glittery caftan.
“Oh,” I say softly. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop the tears that spring to my eyes. “I don’t need anything, Gramps.”
“A gift is not something you need. A gift is to say that I appreciate you.”
Even though he didn’t actually make it inside the store, even though I have no need for glittery caftans, I suddenly feel that this whole trip was worth it for this moment. Gramps and I have never been close. To hear him say that he appreciates me… it means something. It means a lot.
“It’s nice to be appreciated,” I say lightly.
He pats my knee twice. I think the crisis is over now, although he still looks shaken.
“What happened?” I ask. “I mean, did something happen?”
He answers slowly, thoughtfully. “I couldn’t go in. I never set foot in a place like this without Lottie. She loved to shop. I didn’t mind going in stores with her. I liked to buy her things. Going in without her… I couldn’t. I couldn’t get out of the car.”
I nod. “That makes sense.”
“I’m not a solitary person. I don’t work well on my own. And now that you’re leaving tomorrow, well, it hit me all over again, I think.”
“Oh,” I whisper again. His tone wasn’t accusatory, but his words hurt. I came here to help him, not to make him feel even worse. I can’t think of one helpful thing to say.
“I just miss her is all,” he says. It seems like the understatement of the year.
A long moment passes, and I’m about to suggest that we head back home, when Gramps says, “So, can I buy you something?”
“Uh.” I glance again at the storefront. I doubt there’s a single thing in there that I would wear. And yet there’s no way I can say no. “Okay, Gramps. Let’s check out Bettina’s.”
Inside, we greet the saleslady, and Gramps ambles slowly, taking in the displays with his hands behind his back.
“See anything you like?” he asks.
I tear my gaze away from a white crocheted bikini that costs $150. “My suitcase is so small, I don’t have much room for…” I gesture to a lavender polo shirt that readsBEACH BABE.
He nods, and then his eyes light up and he walks a little faster toward a jewelry display. It’s home to seashell earrings and dolphin necklaces that I would have loved when I was twelve. There are a few dainty gold earrings that might be okay.
But then Gramps says, his voice excited, “How about one of these?” He’s pointing to a row of beaded bracelets. They’re made with round stone-like beads of different colors. Gramps gently removes one and holds it up, gesturing for my wrist.
I hold out my left hand and he slides it on, his hand shaking slightly. It’s made of marbled white beads, with a small gold charm shaped like a heart. I look from the bracelet to Gramps’s face, which is grinning with encouragement. Well, at least he didn’t choose the turquoise one with the dolphin charm.
Back at the car, I admire the way my new bracelet catches the sunlight.
