"If you didn't let my son get away with murder maybe he won't be such a smart ass."
"I better go," I told Shannie. "It's going to hit the fan."
The argument turned vicious. It was louder than my parents. It ended with a lot of tears and grandfather calling the airline and booking a return flight back to California the day after Christmas.
"James," he told me as he tucked me into bed that night. "If it wasn't for you I'd be on the way home tonight."
"Stan." He was about to shut my bedroom door. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," he said. The hall light outlined his body as he sat on the edge of my bed.
"Were you talking to Diane the other night?"
He took a deep breath and looked out my window. "How could I? I was at JD's tipping a few with Russell." It was the only time I knew he lied to me.
"I didn't think it was you," I smiled.
***
Christmas came and went and I got my Nintendo, thanks to my grandfather. Truth be told, I wish my mother would have made good with her threats and returned the gifts she got for me. Even though Mother and Grandfather tried to be pleasant, the air was tense. I wish we could do it over again - it was the last Christmas we had together. The next day, I savored the sight of grandfather walking down the jetway; it was the last time I saw him alive.