A Grandmother's Gift

When we got back to Lisa’s house we were both in a good mood. During the evening Thomas was very attentive towards Lisa and to say she was surprised would be an understatement. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling from ear to ear and I was very happy for her. Knowing she had been crushing on him for so long and now that she is finally getting some attention from him warms my heart. Kyle and I also had a great time conversing about different subjects. While we were getting ready for bed my phone buzzed and it was a text from Kyle “ I really enjoyed meeting and spending time with you today. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.” I was smiling while reading his text, then I heard Lisa singing “Kyle and Kadian sitting in a tree k.i.s.s.i.n.g.” We both started laughing. “ I had a really good time as well and I'm looking forward to our next meeting.” I pushed the send button. “ Goodnight beautiful” was his next text and I replied with “ goodnight to you as well.” He is definitely worth getting to know a little better and besides he was the first man to interest me this much.
The next morning after having breakfast with Lisa, I went home. Ethan was not there when I arrived, so I decided to put away my news cloth while waiting for him to come back. He was back within the next hour, he was at the gym working out. He freshened up and we had lunch together. While we were eating he said “ Your grandmother signed over her ownership rights to the company to you.” I was puzzled by what he just said. “I thought old man Cole and Mr. Holloway were the only owners. I don’t understand.” I said, while looking at him. “I thought the same thing too until our meeting yesterday. Turns out that when dad and Daniel went to the bank to get the business loan but their incomes weren't enough. They had to add their wives as owners as well to fulfill the income requirement for the loan. The ladies let their husbands run the business, while being silent partners. She never had a reason to mention it until now, she said. She was displeased with his recent behavior and the messages she sent to you.” At least she knows right from wrong and doesn't follow along with his every disgusting behavior.
I nodded my head, while thinking she is nothing like her husband. Now that I think about it she really has been nice to me. She always remembered my birthday and would send gifts to me at school. She even came to visit me one weekend when I was in the 10th grade. She was very pleasant during that time, but I was still mad at all of them, so I refused to get to know her. Now I feel a little guilty, she was put into a hard place by her husband. I will make sure to apologize for my behavior, before I go back to school. “ Does old man Cole know what she did? We both know that he will not be pleased about this.” He took a drink from his cup and shrugged his shoulders. I think he finally had enough of his father's dominant behavior. “ Maybe we should keep this from him, I don’t want him to be mad at grandma over this.” I told him. Something like this can separate the family and I don’t want to be the cause of that. When I was young I always wanted loving grandparents like my friends. I felt that I was cheated out of that experience, because of Cole's ignorance. But now I realized it wasn’t just his ignorance, it was all about his power over this family. He abused his position as head of the family to make everyone's life a living hell.
“ Mom said she hasn’t been happy in their marriage for over twenty years. She is thinking about a separation, so she can decide if she wants to stay married to him. She hasn’t spoken to him about her feelings yet, she wanted to wait and see what will become of the marriage arrangement since he refused to let the matter go. She was furious about all the things that Justin said at the meeting. She tried to talk sense into dad, about what a bad idea the marriage pact was. Dad being dad refused to listen to anything she had to say and dismissed her opinions on the matter. I guess that was the last straw for her and she didn’t want any part in forcing you to marry someone as disrespectful as Just, because of a stupid pact he made.” Some things are starting to make sense to me now, she didn’t look like she wanted to be at the marriage meeting. “She doesn’t want her only granddaughter to be subjected to a loveless marriage with such a disgusting man. That was a direct quote, by the way.” I smiled. Grandma sounds a little feisty, never though she had it in her. Being overshadowed by a domineering narcissist does tend to hide other people's true personality.