I told him I didn’t know what would happen next.
He nodded. “I don’t either.”
“I don’t trust you completely.”
“I understand.”
“If you say ‘I know,’ I may push you into the fountain.”
He laughed and so did I.
Then I flew home that evening. For two weeks, we barely spoke.
Then he sent me a picture of his actual face.
There was no filter and no old photograph.
He captioned it: “Morning. I’m unfortunately still 81.”
I laughed. I sent back a picture of myself before coffee.
“I’m unfortunately still 62.”
That was how we started again. Slowly and cautiously.
We had video calls this time.
Every week and then every few days.
Noah wandered through the background constantly.
Sometimes he waved.
Sometimes he said, “She’s too good for you, Granddad. Don’t mess this up.” David told him to go away.
Claire eventually met Noah and David on video too.
