Monday
Fourth Driving Lesson
Emma stopped atRobert's office just before noon on Monday. He had promised to take her to lunch. She had to wait a little while. He was finishing up a meeting with some attorneys, but she spent the time watching everyone working on different tasks in the outer office.
She hadn't really given much thought to her grandpa's job as District Attorney, but thinking about it right now she was kind of amazed. How did he go from being an agent for the WSB, to Police Commissioner, back to being an agent, then some sort of job with the Medical Rescue Agency, and now he was a lawyer- the D.A. She guessed he was smart and pretty good at reinventing himself.
Robert opened the door to the office and ushered the two lawyers out the door. Then he turned to Emma with a big smile and crossed the office to give her a hug.
"Your last day in town huh?"
"You promised me lunch," Emma said with a smile.
"That I did," he said. "What's your pleasure?"
"Can we walk down by the waterfront and eat from the food trucks Grandpa?"
"Sounds perfect," he said, opening the door for her and ushering her into the hall.
They ate chili dogs and drank sodas while they watched one of the cargo ships unloading containers.
"What are you doing this afternoon Luv. Do you have friends to see?"
"Yeah, I want to check in with everyone and say my goodbyes."
"Anyone picking you up? How will you get around?"
"I think I can text and someone will come get me."
Robert crumpled the wax paper that had held his lunch and tossed the soda can into the recycling bin.
Rubbing his hands together he asked,"why don't you take the car? We can walk back past the garage. You can go wherever you need to and just call or text me when you're done. I have court this afternoon, and two meetings later. If I'm still busy when you are done you can just take the car to your grandma's and I'll pick it up later."
"Grandpa, really?"
"Absolutely, let's go."
When Emma pulled away from the garage, waving to her grandfather, she felt like she had the world by the tail. All he had said was to be careful and not get a ticket. Then he had grinned at her.
Her friends were suitably impressed by the car and the fact that she was driving a stick. She felt grown up and independent, and lucky. It was a great afternoon.
Anna had texted that she'd bring dinner home, but not until about 8. Emma decided to see if Robert was around so she could give the car back tonight. Maybe he'd even come for dinner. When she texted, he was still at the office and she went there to pick him up.
Emma spent the drive to Anna's describing her afternoon and thanking her grandpa for the loan of the car. He seemed happy and smiled at her from the passenger seat.
"I'm a little sad that you're going home so soon Emma. I sure like having you around, and this visit has been really fun."
"It sure has Grandpa. And I've learned a lot."
He smiled at her. "You're a fast learner my dear. There's nothing you can't do. I'm convinced of that."
"I hope you're right Grandpa. I want to have a life of adventure. I want you to teach me."
"Oh, Emma…. It's not all great.." he said, his voice falling.
"I want to be like you and Grandma, ready to take what comes, ready to meet the next challenge. I want to learn things from you so I can deal with anything."
"You don't want to be like me Emma," he said staring out through the windshield. "You want to be there for the people in your life, the people who depend on you. Who love you."
"But you do those things Grandpa. You're there for me."
"Well, that's debatable sweetheart, but I really wasn't there for your mom and your grandma when they needed me most. When things were the most difficult for them, I was nowhere to be found.
If you want a strong person for your role model, look no further than your mom. Strength isn't about making it through every obstacle, it's about failing, sometimes failing miserably, and then getting up and trying again. And the strongest people, your mom among them, can suffer setback after setback, and experience great tragedy, and it only makes them more compassionate and empathetic to the people around them. They don't become hard, they just become more resilient and their hearts just take on more and more."
"I can see that in Mom," said Emma, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Your dad is a pretty good guy too. He's made mistakes, some big ones, but he's also taken responsibility for them and come out the other side a better man.
It's not about your successes Emma, it's about how you deal with your failures."
"How have you dealt with your failures Grandpa? I mean, if it's okay to ask?"
Robert sighed.
"It is always okay to ask me anything Luv, I just might not always have the answer….. My failures, to be honest there are many that I still haven't dealt with, and for some of them it is too late. Pride, and Ego, and Vanity, and Fear have slowed me down or stopped me. I can run into a burning building Emma, but I really struggle with trying to explain why I've made the choices I have, especially when other people were hurt. I have hurt your grandma and your mom most of all, and I regret it everyday.
They've both forgiven me, mostly, but I'm not sure I will ever forgive myself."
Emma sat quietly in the driver's seat. Things were always more complicated than they seemed at first.
After a bit they got out of the car. Robert gave Emma a long hug, whispering in her ear.
"I want to be there for you sweetheart. If you need me, you call and I'll come running. Anything. I promise."
She looked up at him.
"I know. Thank you Grandpa."
He kissed the top of her head and released her. He stood on the spot until the door to Anna's house closed behind her.
Tuesday Morning, Port Charles Airport.
Emma had checked in at the kiosk and they wandered together toward the end of the security line. Anna took Emma's hand and looked at her.
"It was so wonderful having you here sweetheart, I hope you'll come back soon."
"I love visiting you and Grandpa and Port Charles, Grandma. You should come out to Berkeley again soon too."
"I will. I'll come soon. I miss your mom, and your dad, and I want to see more of Noah."
"That would be great Grandma."
"I really glad you got to spend more time with your grandfather too. He's a pretty nice guy and thinks the world of you."
Emma looked down at her feet for a moment.
"I love grandpa. He makes me feel…. I don't know, like I'm the most important person in the world to him."
Anna smiled to herself.
"Yeah, He can do that. And you know, I think it's possible that you are. Or you and your mom."
Emma shook her head sadly and took a few steps forward in line, she was nearly to the barrier where they would need to part. She looked up at Anna and waited until her grandmother met her gaze.
"Grandpa is in love with you Grandma," she said simply.
Anna looked at her and smiled.
"I love him too Emma."
Emma squeezed her hand a little tighter.
"No Grandma, He's in love with you. Really. It's hard. It makes him sad."
Anna felt unexpected tears rising hot in her eyes.
"Oh, Emma…. I don't know…"
The TSA agent motioned for Emma to approach the desk. She opened her arms and gave her Grandmother a tight hug and moved away. Anna stood on the spot until Emma had passed through security, gathered her things, put her shoes back on, and given her a last wave before disappearing into the concourse.
Anna took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.
