We both quickly pulled up chairs.
“So I was lucky enough to meet Winston,” Drew said. “What a special guy.”
I hoped he knew not to mention the surgery. I tried to catch his eye to telepathically communicate not to.
My grandfather’s face transformed when he smiled. “You like him? Great little guy, my Winston. Emilia takes such good care of him.”
Minus that one time I accidentally let him eat construction debris.
“She does,” Drew agreed. “It seems like Winston adores her.”
“How could he not? My granddaughter has the biggest heart.” He leaned closer to Drew. “She’s also a knockout, if you happen to be looking for a sweetheart.”
Drew glanced at me. “Oh? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Excuseme, young man, how dare you—” He paused when he realized that Drew was laughing.
“Of course I’ve noticed,” Drew said. “How could I not? And pardon me for saying it, but it looks like she got her beautiful eyes from you.”
If he hadn’t already been killing my grandfather with kindness, that would have been the fatal blow. Our shared eyes had always been a source of pride and connection between the two of us.
“She did!” he crowed. “And you know what else she got from me?”
Drew shook his head.
“Her stubbornness!”
They both cracked up like it was the funniest thing ever while I pretended to be offended.
From that point on it was the Charlie and Drew show. It was almost annoying how well they got along. When the time came to leave the both of them put up a fuss. It wasn’t until I agreed that we wouldbothcome back to visit that they reluctantly said their goodbyes. I rolled my eyes at the melodrama. You would think that it was the nineteenth century and Drew was headed off to war and leaving behind his family with the way the two carried on.
When we got home, Drew went straight to the habitat in the yard.
“Win, buddy, you’ll never guess who I met!”
I giggled to myself as he climbed into the enclosure.
“Oh wow, look at you, munching on that flower!” Drew exclaimed. “Are you having dinner? Is that your salad?”
For someone who had been so thoroughly confused by the concept of a pet tortoise, he’d certainly taken to Winston quickly. Drew sat down on the ground in front of him.
“Anyway, as I was saying, I met Charlie and he told me all about what you were like when you were a tiny hatchling. He said you were barely bigger than a silver dollar back then. Look at you now! Such a big strong guy. Right?”
My heart warmed as I watched them. Who knew that Drew could be so sweet?
“How’s that surgery scar? You seem like you’re feeling better.”
Drew reached out to scratch Winston like I’d demonstrated. He must’ve felt me watching, because he turned abruptly.
“What?”
“Nothing, I’m enjoying the bonding, that’s all.”
“He said you should join us,” Drew insisted.
“Well, okay then.”
I hopped the low fence and plopped down beside Drew, and for the next thirty minutes we laughed about every single thing Winston did.
