Page 31 of More Than a Hero
The hum of conversation settled into a comfortable rhythm around the room, the initial nervousness having softened into something more natural. Angie took in the sight before her—pairs of young men and their adopted grandparents leaning in toward each other, sharing stories and trading smiles. It was working.
She clapped her hands lightly to get everyone’s attention. “Okay,” she said, her voice encouraging. “I know it’s difficult to get to know someone when you’ve never met them before. You might be wondering whether you have anything in common or if they’ll like you. That’s normal.”
The adults smiled knowingly, while the boys shifted in their seats, offering shy, almost embarrassed grins.
“In a few minutes, we’re going to go around the room, and I’d love for each of you to share just one thing you’ve learned about your adopted grandparent or grandchild. It doesn’t have to be anything big. It can be as simple as their favorite color. But the goal tonight is connection, and I’d love to see that even on this very first night.”
She glanced over at Pete, catching the subtle chin lift he gave her, a silent sign of approval. The reassurance she was on the right track settled the last of her nerves.
Giving them a few more minutes, she moved through the room, watching how conversations unfolded. Some of the pairs had already relaxed into easy chatter, while others still hesitated, searching for the right words. “Tony, let’s start with you.”
Tony cleared his throat, looking a little uncertain, but when he glanced at the older gentleman beside him, his confidence grew. “Mr. George used to be in the Army.”
George nodded, then smiled. “And Tony here? He’s a hell of a basketball player.”
A murmur of approval moved through the room. Angie’s heart warmed as she moved on.
“Kyron?”
Kyron glanced at the man beside him before looking at Angie. “Mr. Harold loves sweets. Especially cherry pie.”
Harold chuckled. “And guess what? So does Kyron.”
The group laughed, a little more at ease now.
Curly and Rosetta discovered a shared love of singing, which led to an enthusiastic discussion about music styles.
Jimmy admitted with a grin that Marty was obsessed with reality TV shows, while Marty revealed that Jimmy had a passion for history.
David’s face lit up as he revealed how Hannah loved gardening and how his mom also loved planting flowers. “We’re gonna try working on the Careway garden together,” he added, glancing at Hannah, who smiled warmly.
Darius, impressed, shared that Bertram had been in the Navy. Bertram, in turn, found out that Darius had never been on a boat but had always wanted to, and Jalen had always wanted to visit the Baytown Pier.
Mike talked about Rosetta’s love for seafood restaurants. “Her favorite food is shrimp.”
“And his is hamburgers.” Rosetta laughed.
Finally, they’d all shared. Angie pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a lump rise in her throat. In just an hour, young and older strangers had become paired with real, shared moments. She turned, taking in the expressions of the senior adults. They looked happy, engaged… some even a little energized by the conversations. Then she shifted her gaze to the boys, wondering if they felt the same.
Her breath hitched slightly, afraid of what she might find. But instead of boredom, reluctance, or irritation, she saw something else entirely. Smiles. Real smiles.
Her eyes flicked to Pete, who was watching her. She gave him a slight nod, silently asking him to take over.
“I think we can call this a successful start,” Pete announced, his deep voice rolling over the room, steady and sure. “We’ll meet right here every Thursday. If any of you want to do something outside the group, we’ll set up guidelines, and we’ll need to obtain parental permission first. But as we move forward, we might be able to plan some things as a group.”
His lips twitched, a slow grin forming. “I know we can definitely all go to the Baytown Pier.” He glanced at Bertram and Jalen, who both grinned back. “Maybe even charter a boat and watch the sunset. There’s also a kitchen here at Careway. If we get permission to use it, maybe we can have a night when we cook or bake together. Just throwing out ideas based on what you all have shared tonight.”
Richard stepped up next. “Alright, boys, time to head out. I have the van outside. Say your goodbyes, and let’s move.” He borrowed a van from his church that would carry all the boys.
Angie smiled as she watched the boys stand, some offering a hand to their adopted grandparents before parting ways. It was a simple gesture, but one that carried weight.
She took a moment to make sure all the leftover food was properly stored before informing the head nurse that anythingremaining could be shared with the night staff. By the time she stepped outside, Richard’s van was pulling away, the taillights glowing softly in the dark.
She turned back toward the Careway Senior Apartments, walking alongside the older adults, ensuring each of them made it inside safely.
Finally, it was just her and Pete. They stood between their vehicles, the cool evening air wrapping around them, but Angie barely felt it.
Pete stepped in first, wrapping his arms around her. Without hesitation, she melted into him, pressing her face against his solid chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in her ear, grounding her, steadying her.
