“As I said, I had no idea you’d tried to reach me, and I will speak with Eloise when I get back into the office on Monday. You’re the second person this has happened to - where she did not pass messages on to me. But it won’t happen again, I promise you that.”
“Thanks for tellingmethat, Granddad. Because for years, I thought you didn’t care forme. That’s why I left here and went to Paris after college. I had to do some soul-searching. I believed you thought I was irresponsible—a party girl and no different from Mom. I went there wanting to prove you right…but couldn’t.”
She took a deep breath. “I ended up discovering a lot about myself in Paris. I learned that I’m not like my parents, but more like you—focused, disciplined, and ambitious. I was making something of my life.”
“Would you share withmewhat you were doing?” he asked.
She held his gaze. “I decided I wanted my MBA, so I went back to college and got it from Harvard.”
He stared at her, speechless. “You were here in the States?” he asked, shocked.
“Not the entire time.” She told him about the Harvard Extension School that she attended in Paris, and the required classroom hours she had satisfied by traveling back to Massachusetts.”
“I am very proud of you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” Then, she added, “There’s something else you need to know.”
“What?”
“I did my internship at Sharpe Corporation’s Paris office. I didn’t tell anyone I was your granddaughter, and I went by the name of Desiree Sharpe and not Allison Sharpe.”
He couldn’t stop the smile that touched his lips. “Is there anything else you’ve been keeping from me?”
She nodded. “When I was at Rhodes College, I was the president of the chess team. If you recall, I used to ask you to teach me, but you never had the time.”
“It wasn’t that, Allison.”
“Then what was it?”
“I couldn’t handle the memories.”
She tilted her head, confused. “Memories?”
“Yes. Your grandmother and I would play chess all the time. In fact, that’s how we met. We were members of the Harvard Chess Club. Chess is a game that requires full concentration, and I knew I couldn’t sit across from you and not think about her. You might have inherited your mother’s eyes, but you have your grandmother’s smile. You favor her a lot.”
Desiree gave him a cheeky grin. “She was beautiful, so I’ll take that as a compliment.” She paused for a moment. “I know you loved Gramma a lot. Do you ever think you will find it in your heart to fall in love again?”
“Funny you should ask.”
He then told her about Lolita, that he hadn’t been on a business trip for those five weeks, but had gone to visit her. And how anxious he was for Allison to meet her.
***
Now Desiree knew what was so different about her grandfather, and why he appeared so much more relaxed. “I’m really happy for you. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She is looking forward to meeting you as well. She’ll be back in the States in two weeks.”
All this time, she’d believed her grandfather hadn’t loved her. Now she knew he did, and the world suddenly seemed like a brighter place. “I’m so glad we had this talk, Granddad,” she said.
“So am I, Allison. And I hope it’s not the last time. You are my granddaughter, and I love you. I always have, and I always will.”
He opened his arms, and she walked into them for the embrace she’d been waiting for her whole life.
***
“Checkmate,” Cobra said, grinning broadly. “You’re getting rusty, Richard. I won the last time we played, too. Right before you left town.”
“I have a lot on my mind tonight.”
