Page 34 of An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love
Sam responds simply,K.
My parents are another story. After my final meeting wraps up, I step out onto Gramps’s balcony and give my mom a call to let her know about my change of plans.
“You’re staying there? Is everything okay?” My mom’s voice is shrill with worry.
“Yeah, everything is fine. I just need to figure out some stuff with the house, and, I don’t know, I think Gramps likes my company.” I perch on the edge of a deck chair, which squeaks with age.
“Of course he does. Who wouldn’t enjoy your company?” she says with the certainty only a mom can have. “How’s he doing?”
“He seems okay. He seems like Gramps.” I hesitate, wondering if I should tell her about his panic attack outside Bettina’s Beach Boutique. Normally, that is the type of thing I would tell my momwithout a second thought. But for some reason, it feels like a secret between Gramps and me.
“Okay. But you can’t stay there forever, you know.”
“What? Who said anything about staying here forever?”
“You have your life here, your home, yourparents.”
“Mom, I am not staying here forever.”
“Because Florida sunshine is not all it’s cracked up to be. It can really age you. Plus, their politics there are just…” Mom makes a noise of disgust. “You haven’t talked to anyone about politics, have you? Because those people can turn on you like that.” She snaps her fingers.
“No, I haven’t talked to anyone here about politics. It’s not like I’m going to dinner parties. I’ve made small talk with, like, three people.”And made out with one, my brain interjects rudely.
“Good.”
“But you know Gramps watches MSNBC. What’s the big deal?”
“Yes, but he lets his friends think he watches Fox News.”
“That cannot possibly be true.”
“Anyway. You aremuchbetter off at home in Seattle.”
I gaze over the balcony railing at the Gulf of Mexico shimmering lazily under the bright sun. I suddenly have a very strong urge to be sprawled out in the hot white sand.
“Whatever you say, Mom.”
We say our goodbyes and I tell Gramps I’m heading to the beach.
“Do you want to join me?” I ask.
“No, no, it’s time for my nap. You have fun.”
I realize, with a heavy feeling in my chest, that although Gramps lives on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, he never ventures beyond the pool deck.
The next morning, it’s back to my workday routine… Florida-style. With the time difference, I don’t have to start work until noon here. I sleep in until a luxurious nine forty-five.
“The dining room closes at ten,” Gramps tells me, sitting at the kitchen table as I enter the kitchen, rubbing my eyes.
“I know. I usually just have a smoothie before work.”
“Work, yes. I’m very interested to see this so-called remote work in action.”
I side-eye him as I gather my yogurt, spinach, and frozen peaches.
“It’s not all that interesting. It’s literally just me sitting at my laptop.”
He shakes his head and flips a page of his newspaper. “In my day, it was a lot of bustling from lab to lab, holding twenty-person meetings in windowless conference rooms, and chatting with colleagues in the office kitchen.”
