Lily White Lies(105)

Gramp laughed and threw an arm around Joker as he opened the door. “You let Him decide, you’re going to pass me on your way down.”

“Like hell I say. I’ve done some good things in my life, you just don’t know about them. I don’t go tooting my own horn the way you do.”

I heard Gramp say, “You’re the same lying sack of shit you’ve always been,” as they disappeared among the guests in the living room.

Con joined the other guests when Gram asked him to give us a few minutes alone. Once the door had closed behind him, she pulled an envelope from the desk in the corner. Handing it to me, I looked curiously at her.

“Go ahead, child... read it.”

I began to read a lot of legal wording, much of which I didn’t understand and continued to read until I came across something that was familiar, suddenly realizing what I was holding in my hands.

“Gram this is...”

“Yes, child,” she nodded, “It’s the deed to Wisteria Falls.”

“But Joker just... why didn’t Gramp...”

“Principle, child. Men are a proud bunch. If it makes Joker happy to think he gave Wisteria Falls to his grandson, let it be. It’ll serve no purpose to tell him otherwise. Once you're married it won't make any difference, but it just goes to show you how foolish their stupid feud was and who the bigger man really is.” She paused, and then said, “Don’t go telling your grandfather I told you this, but he intends on giving this to you on your birthday, instead of leaving it to you in his will.”

I bowed my head. “Another lily white lie?”

Gram waved me off and turned me to face the mirror that hung on the wall by the door.

“I’ve never been more proud of anyone as I am of you right now, child. The way you’ve handled everything you learned, the way you’ve embraced your mother and I’m the most proud of you for the fine woman you’ve become. I just wanted you to know that,” she said before giving me a pat on the hand and leaving me to stare at the girl in the mirror.

I studied her carefully, memorizing every detail of her face, her expression and the fire in her eyes and suddenly realized, I was her. I had become the girl in the mirror. With the help of people who knew the true meaning of selfless love and a few lily white lies, the insecure, indecisive girl from before was gone for good.

The corners of my mouth turned up in a smile, as I said, "Give’em hell," and rejoined the party.