“I recognize them.I’ll do better.”Taking a breath and exhaling he says, “I better get going, I’m sure Nick doesn’t want to come home and see me in his living room again.”
“Do you want to see your grandson?”
“Yes, I would.”
I take him into Jace’s room where he’s sleeping.
“I saw pictures of him from Chris.They don’t do him justice.”
“I don’t think so either, but I’m biased.”
“You have a right to be.”
“Do you want to hold him?”
“Are you sure?He’s sleeping.I know how hard it is to put a little baby to sleep.”
“Don’t worry about it.Chances are he won’t wake up.”
“If you’re sure?”
“Go ahead, I know you remember how to do it, Sasha’s not that old.”He scoops Jace up like an expert, holding him to his chest.It’s a good feeling to see my father in my home holding my son.
“He looks like you.”
“I think he looks like Nick.”
“He looks like him, too, but he has a bit of you in him.”
He kisses Jace on the forehead and places him back in the crib, still asleep, and I walk him to the door.“I’m going back to the office.”
“All right.”We stand there in awkward silence.I know he wants to say more.
“Can I come see you and my grandson again?”
“That would be nice.”
“I’ll make sure I call first.”
“Okay.”
“Can I ask for something else?”
“What?”
“Can I have a hug, if you don’t mind?”
“You don’t have to ask.I would love that.”Without hesitation he wraps me in his arms in a hug so tight I can hardly breathe.It’s like I remember, and it’s good.
“Are you happy, baby girl?”
“Very.”
“You deserve it,” he says, his voice sounding hoarse.
“Thanks, Daddy.”Kissing my temple, he lets me go and steps back.I make a decision in that second, getting emotional.“Tell Mom I said hi.Maybe I’ll call her sometime.”
He nods his head with a ghost of a smile.“I will.She would be elated to hear from you.”
