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“You don’t think I knew from the very beginning that it was fake?” He chuckles. “You’re not the sort of man who tells me on the phone that he’s single, shows up with a girlfriend a week later, and a couple of weeks after that shows up with a fiancée. You think I haven’t known you your entire life?” He smiles at me. “I’ve known from the beginning that you were both faking it. The relationship, that is. But I also know the feelings are very real.” He cocks his head. “And I have a feeling you’ve both realized that now too.”
I stare at him. “Wait, what? You knew?”
“I knew. But I could also tell she was exactly the sort of woman you need. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s thoughtful, and she wasn’t in it for the money. She was in it to help you. You wanted the trust, and helping you was all she cared about.” He nods. “That’s the sort of woman you need.”
“I don’t care about the trust anymore, Grandfather. I’m sorry I lied. I’m sorry I betrayed your trust.”
“I’m still giving you the money, Brett. It was always yours. I know you’re going to use some of it to create the nonprofit for veterans, and I’m very proud of you. I think it’s a wonderful idea. And whether you want to believe it or not, you were always going to get the money.”
“Wait, what? You—”
“I also wanted you to find love. I wanted you to live. Charlie was your friend, and by all accounts, he was a good man. But just because he died that night doesn’t mean you did too.”
“I know. I understand that. I still feel guilty, but I think the better way to honor his life is to live mine to the fullest and to really love. And I love Rosie, and she loves me. The relationship is fake, and the engagement is fake, but one day, it won’t be. And when I propose to her for real, I’m going to make it a huge affair because she deserves that.” I swallow. “She’s my Lena.”
My grandfather smiles as he thinks of my grandmother. “I knew it from the moment you introduced her to me.”
“What do you mean?”
“The way you said her name. The way you looked at her. The pride, the joy, the love. You might not have known it then, but I sure did. Your grandmother and I know true love, so we always recognize it. I’m glad for you.” He lets out a sigh. “Your parents, well, they didn’t have love. And I’m ashamed I let Tyson marry your mother. But then I got you, and I got my beautiful granddaughters.”
“They’re going to New York,” I tell him. “They want to see what it’s like to live as regular people and not as Sellecks.”
“That will be good for them,” he says, nodding. “I take it, you’ll support them?”
“Yeah. I’ll give them some money and see if any of my contacts can help them find jobs, but I’m going to let them find their own way. It’ll be good for them to get away from Mom and this life in California.”
“I agree.” He leans forward. “You’re a good son, and a good grandson, Brett, and a good friend. I know you’re always there for other people. You’re the protector. But Rosie, she protects you. She protects your heart. She protects your mind. And she’ll take good care of you as a wife. Even the strongest men need to be able to break down sometimes.”
“I know. I trust her with my life. She has my whole heart, and I know she’ll be a good mom. And she’s funny. She’s really funny, Granddad. She makes me feel alive. She makes me feel wanted and needed and like who I am is enough, and none of it depends on money or looks or fame or anything. And she’s going to help me with the home. We’re going to set it up together, and I think we might even put on a little comedy show once a week.”
“That sounds like a fine idea. Thank you for coming to talk to me. Though I knew you would, once you figured it out.” He smiles. “You’re a good boy, Brett. I’m proud to have you as my grandson, and I’ll be proud to have Rosie as my granddaughter whenever you two get married.”
“She doesn’t want to get married right away. She wants us to date and enjoy that, and of course I want that too. But I want to make her my wife already. I know that sounds crazy.”
My grandfather laughs. “You’ll have to practice patience. I know because when I met your grandmother, I wanted her to be my wife right away. She’ll be your wife one day. Right now, enjoy it. Enjoy all of it.”
“She turned down NBC. A huge opportunity in LA.”
He looks surprised. “For you?”
“I don’t think it was for me. I don’t think it was ever her dream. I thought it was—maybe because so many people care about big things like that. But she wants to be around the people she loves. I want to make sure I can make her happy, you know?”
“You already have, my boy. I bet she’d tell you so herself. Now go. Go find her, make her breakfast, and make plans because your life is now, Brett. Not yesterday, not tomorrow. Now. You need to live it. Seize the day and enjoy it. And tell her that your grandmother and I love her and that we’re here for both of you, always.”
He stands up and walks over. “Now get up, boy, and give me a hug. You’ve made me the happiest old man today.”
“I love you, Granddad.”
“I love you too. Now go give your beautiful girlfriend a big hug and a kiss for me.”
“I will.”
I hold him tight, and he holds me. All I can think is that I’m one of the most blessed men I know, and I never even realized it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
ROSIE
