Page 51 of The Christmas Letters
Grandma Pearl is silent for a long moment before she finally speaks. “I don’t know if I ever thought about what it must have looked like to you. The way your life changed so quickly. I think I just assumed you’d be excited to have so muchmore.”
“We got more stuff, sure. But way less time with our parents.”
Her expression saddens. “I do remember noticing that. And it’s probably true that your parents got a little too caught up in the whirlwind of suddenly having so much wealth. But you’re wrong if you want to blame their deaths on the money. Your mother always wanted to learn to sail. Since she was a tiny thing. We never had the means for her to learn when she was growing up, so buying that boat with your father was a dream come true for her.”
My thoughts slide to a screeching halt, like a train thrown off the rails. “But she wouldn’t have—”
“Shewould have,” Grandma Pearl says, cutting me off. “Drew, they’d been saving for years. I remember the phone conversation when she called and told me they finally had enough for a down payment and had started shopping for boats. And that was months before the sale on your dad’s company went through. It was an accident, Drew. And a terrible one. But it didn’t have anything to do with them assuming a new lifestyle or pretending to be something they weren’t. They earned their money through hard work and discipline. Your father was very good at what he did. And he wouldn’t want you to limit yourself just to spite his wealth because you think it’s what killed him.”
I shake my head, trying to make sense of what Grandma Pearl is telling me. She’s rewriting my history in real time, and I don’t know how to handle it.
“Blame the ocean. Blame that blasted sailboat. Blame the weather.” Her voice drops, her tone turning steely. “But don’t blame your parents, and don’t blame their money. Especially don’t blame rich people. If you make judgments against people who have money, you’re no better than the ones who judge people who don’t have any. Be better than that.”
I nod, sensing that I needed this kind of straight talk, even if I didn’t realize it. Because Gran’s probably right about Tess’s family and I’ll do better if I go into this relationship with my eyes open, without any ill-conceived biases.
“I’m trying, Gran. I really am.”
“I can see that. And I’m proud of you for it.” She smiles, reaching over and patting my arm with her worn, wrinkled hand. “Now. Let’s talk about your plan.”
“My plan?”
“Drew, you can’t justtellTess who you are. Remember, you did start your relationship with a rejection. If you don’t want to risk her handing one right back to you, you have to do this the right way. You have to make sure that, in Tess’s mind, knowing Drew and Max are the same person is a good thing.”
“How am I supposed to do that?” I ask.
“How did Tom Hanks do it?”
I think back through what I remember of the movie. “He worked hard to win over Meg Ryan’s character. But Gran, I already apologized to Tess. I really think things are fine between us.”
Gran lifts an eyebrow. “Not fine enough for her to choose you over a mystery man she’s never met before.”
Oof.Points to Grandma Pearl for hitting me where it hurts.
“Okay. Fair point. So I need to make sure Tess knowsDrewis a catch.”
She nods. “And then?”
“And then? That won’t be enough?”
She sighs like I’m twelve years old and arguing for a later bedtime. “Have you learned nothing from all the movies we’ve watched together?”
I frown, my brow furrowing, then understanding dawns. “I need a grand gesture.”
Her eyes twinkle as she folds her hands in her lap. “Exactly. And I have a marvelous idea.”
I wind up staying at Grandma Pearl’s house overnight. I tell her it’s because I’m too tired to drive home, which is partly true. But mostly I just don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.
The next morning, I’m supposed to meet Ben at the fire station for the second day of Tess’s toy drive, but Gran’s blood pressure is still a little low, so I call him and let him know I’ll be getting there late if I even get there at all so I can take her to see a doctor. It’s Saturday, so we’ll have to go to an urgent care, but I’d rather do that than assume she’s fine when, at eighty-seven years old,not finecan turn into something deadly really fast.
While we’re waiting for the doctor, I pull out my phone and send a message to Tess. It’s the first time I’ve used it since she programmed it into my phone and my hands tremble the slightest bit as I do.
Drew:Hey, it’s Drew. I’m still with my grandmother (she’s okay…but we’re at the doctor just to make sure) so I won’t be at the toy drive this morning. Ben found someone to fill in for me, so you’ll still have all the volunteers you need. I was blown away by what you pulled off yesterday, and I’m sure today is going to be just as great. You’ve got this.
I end the message with a couple of strong arm emojis then show the whole thing to Gran before I send.
“What do you think?” I ask.
She reads over the message, then nods. “Add a heart,” she says.
