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“The account I opened for you after I sold the company, if you must know. I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Well, I’m surprised now. Shocked is probably a better word.” I sit on the couch with her. “What about Mom and Dad?”
She exhales as if I’m pulling a magician’s secrets out of her. “They’re getting theirs too.” She waves it off as if it’s not a big deal.
“Why did you hold out on giving them theirs?” I understand a little better why my dad would be mad. I guess I was too young to realize what she would have made off the sale. My parents struggled until my dad was able to make a name for himself in the art world and open up a studio in Anchorage.
“That’s between me and your dad.” She folds the paper. “Are you happy, Noah?”
Her quick change of subject gives me whiplash. “What? Yeah.”
“I mean being a photographer. Is it a profession you love? Do you wake up every morning happy you get to do it?”
“Why are you asking?” I lean back on the couch.
“I just want to make sure you’re happy.” She pats my knee.
I shake my head, not understanding exactly what she’s looking for. Some sort of confirmation?
“You don’t have to give that money to Mandi and me. Save it for yourself.” Jesus, if I thought I felt guilty about lying about this whole thing before, it’s going to triple if my grandma insists on giving me this money.
She shakes her head. “It’s my wedding present to you. I’m sorry I didn’t give it to you earlier, but I have my reasons.”
Which I don’t ask about because it doesn’t really matter at this point.
“It’s too much, Grandma.”
“You guys are free to do with it what you want.”
I blow out a breath and lower my head, staring at the floor, guilt consuming me.
“Noah, is there something you want to tell me?”
For a moment, I consider telling her all of it. That the marriage is a farce and I roped an innocent girl into marrying me in an as-yet-failed attempt to end this family feud.
“I have to go.” I stand and bend down to kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow.”
“Noah,” she calls, but I walk out of her apartment, down the hall, and out the doors of the retirement center.
I’m not mad at my grandma. In fact, I’m prepared to give Mandi the entire check to get the inn back on its feet. I just don’t understand why my grandma would keep the money from my father when giving it to him might have fixed their relationship.
I decide notto drive over to Mandi’s because she has last-minute wedding stuff to handle, so I head to Hank and Marla’s. I have no idea how he’s hiding the arbor from Mandi, but when I pull up in the driveway, I see a big work tent set up on the driveway.
Marla comes out of the house with a tray. “Noah?” She smiles at me. “I was just bringing Hank some lunch. Do you want something?”
I shake my head. “No, thank you. I figured I’d stop by and check on the surprise.”
She tilts her head. “You and Hank are keeping this very tight lipped. He won’t even let me see it.” She hands me the tray. “I was going to sneak a peek, but go ahead and bring him his lunch. Tell him he has to eat it all, including the smoothie.” She shakes her head. “You’d think a cancer survivor would take better care of himself.”
I walk into the tent and find Hank hand carving some of the wood around the top of the arbor. I hold up the tray.
He shakes his head. “I heard her.”
“Then you heard you have to finish the green smoothie?”
“She tracks everything I eat since I was diagnosed. But what are you gonna do? I know she does it out of love. Scared the crap out of her and it would’ve me if our roles were reversed. That’s love for you.” He shrugs.
I stand back and admire the arbor. “Hank, I’m speechless. It’s beautiful.”
