“I know.”
“The gym is large.”
“I don’t care, Mom.”
She looked directly into my eyes.
“I want him.”
Then she added something that surprised me.
“And can he walk with me by himself? Just Grandpa?”
I swallowed.
Part of me wanted to accompany her.
But this wasn’t about me.
“Of course, sweetheart.”
The following morning, I called Mrs. Larson, the school’s activities director.
I’d originally submitted Kaylee’s senior-night form listing Travis and me as her escorts.
Now I needed to change it.
“Who should I put down instead?” Mrs. Larson asked.
“Duane Ostrem. Her grandfather.”
There was a small pause.
“That will be lovely.”
Then she asked gently:
“Is everything okay at home, Jodi?”
“Yes. Kaylee simply wants her grandpa.”
That was true.
It just wasn’t the entire story.
Wednesday evening, I called Dad.
He answered on the fourth ring, as he always did.
I explained everything.
Kaylee’s request.
Travis’s refusal.
