Page 54 of Grit
“What?” Melissa’s eyes went wide. “Sweetie, yeah, she does. She was a competitive jumper in high school. Your dad even thought she might make it to the Olympics; she was that good.”
“Really?” Abby sat up straighter. “Why didn’t she?”
“She took a fall and injured her knee. Had to have surgery to put it back together. After that, she couldn’t really compete anymore. She never told you about that?”
Abby shook her head. “Nope. Not even a little.”
“That’s too bad.” Melissa glanced at Abby. “I might call her. I had no idea she wasn’t riding at all. I kind of assumed that you got interested in jumping from talking to her.”
“Nope. I just saw it on TV and thought it looked cool.”
“Who was watching jumping?” They didn’t watch it at the ranch.
Abby smiled a little. “Aunt Audrey.”
“Huh.” That settled it. Melissa was definitely calling Audrey. “You know, even if she can’t ride, she probably would have some great ideas about your lessons. If I can’t be there, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have watching the instructor.”
“Why can’t you be there?”
Such an innocent question. Such a complicated response. “You know, kiddo, sometimes Grandma and Grandpa and I have our disagreements. And when you go to visit them—especially for something as exciting as your first jumping lesson—I want it to be about you and them, not me and them. Does that make sense?”
“I guess so.” She propped a bare foot on the door panel. “I don’t understand why you guys can’t just get along.”
“I absolutely hate telling you things like ‘you’ll understand when you’re older,’ but I kind of have to in this situation. Sometimes there are people in the world who just don’t see things the same way. And that’s me and your grandparents.”
“Did you and Dad see things the same way?”
Melissa smiled a little. “Mostly.”
“Just mostly?”
“Well, if we thought about everything the same way, what would we talk about?”
“I guess that’s true.” Abby crossed her legs on the bench seat, bending in ways that Melissa vaguely remembered being easy when she was ten. “I still wish you’d come and see me when I’m jumping.”
“I definitely will. When you’re ready for an audience, I’ll be there.”
“And Grandma Joan?”
“Absolutely.”
“How about Nana Rumi and Cary and Ox and Emmie? If I win a trophy at a jumping competition, I want everyone to see me.”
Melissa smiled. “Why don’t you focus on learning how to jump and not on your inevitable competitive glory, okay?”
Abby put her fist under her chin and leaned on the center console. “I guess.”
“Okay.” She passed through Hanford. Halfway there. “And when you’re ready for the winner’s circle, I’ll make sure everyone is there.”
“Good.” The foot on the side panel began to tap. “You know we have a house at the ranch, right?”
Oh boy.“Yes. I know your grandparents built us a house.”
“So we could live there if we wanted.”
Melissa kept a smile plastered to her face. “Did your grandpa tell you that?”
“Yeah. And Grandma.”
