Grant smiled up at his father. “Yes, Sir.”
Randy motioned David over. He put his arms around both his boys. “You boys know that I don’t like to get emotional in front of my kids, but I think this conversation was long overdue.”
“We love you, Dad,” David gulped.
“I love you too,” Randy nodded. “And I am so proud of you both. David, you’re the family man I’m still striving to be. Melissa is one lucky woman, and, for her sake and for Leah’s, I hope you’ve learned a lesson or two from your dad’s mistakes.” Randy turned his head from his oldest son to his youngest. “And, Grant, you have more talent in your little finger than I have in my entire body. I could stand here and go on and on about the things that I can envision you accomplishing in your life from a professional standpoint, but, as a man who has been there and done that, I want to tell you right here and now that the most important thing in your life, aside from faith in God, should be your future wife and your future children. Your children are the most important legacy you leave, and, despite everything I have done to hurt our family, I look at the two of you, and I know that, for all the things I got wrong, your mother and I got something right.”
As the evening got late, some were preparing to head over to Granny Miller’s house for the night, while others, including Randy, had decided to drive back to Memphis and get a hotel room.
As Nora sat at the kitchen table with Joanna, lamenting the fact that she had not invited John to join her for yet another family holiday, the sound of Grant’s laughter poured from the living room. Nora peaked her head out the kitchen doorway, delighted by the sound of his childlike giggles that were rare and treasured. His mood had shifted, a common phenomenon that Randy could produce in those he loved.
“Careful, boys!” Nora called as David and Grant wrestled playfully on the floor.
“David!” Grant screamed as David pounced on top of his little brother. Despite the age difference between them, they loved to tussle like most brothers, but Grant felt more vulnerable tonight than he ever had. His energy was gone, and, though he didn’t want to admit it, when David pounded on him, it truly hurt.
“Off the top rope!” David grinned as he put his hands up to his mouth to mimic the muffled cheers of the crowd as he fell down onto Grant.
Grant laughed as he punched at his brother.
“You’re about to go in the sleeper hold,” David called.
“Dad?” Grant cowered playfully as he punched David in the jaw.
“My gosh, Grant!” David yelled. “You play too rough!”
“Don’t rub it,” the general chuckled from the recliner.
“I barely hit you!” Grant laughed.
“Here, let me show you!” David laughed as he pinned Grant’s arms to the floor.
“Dad,” Grant laughed nervously as he wiggled toward the couch.
“You punched him in the face, Soldier,” the general shrugged as David drug Grant away from the safety of the sofa. “He owes you one!”
David punched Grant hard in the arm and then in the chest.
“Dad?” Grant giggled.
Randy just smiled at his boys.
Suddenly, Grant’s tone changed. “David, quit!” he cried.
David playfully pounded Grant in the chest again.
“Give me a break, David,” Grant wiggled away from him with no attempt to fight back.
David let go of his brother, sure it was just some tactic Grant would employ before launching a sneak attack.
Grant sat up, his breathing heavy.
“Whoa,” David sighed. “Is your nose bleeding?”
Grant wiped his nose with the back of his hand and then stared at the blood.
“Grant, you okay?” Randy asked.
Nora walked into the living room with Joanna trialing behind her. “What happened?” she exclaimed.
“This jerk busted my nose,” Grant shoved David.
“What?” Nora exclaimed. “David, what did you do? Grant, go to the bathroom!”
“David?” Melissa gasped as she walked into the room with Leah on her hip.
“I didn’t touch his face!” David insisted.
“He busted my nose, Mama,” Grant pointed with a grin.
“Go to the bathroom, Grant,” Nora insisted.
“David,” Melissa sighed scoldingly. “You guys are way too old to play so rough.”
“Baby, I didn’t touch his face!” David insisted. “I should have after he landed a cheap shot to my jaw…but I didn’t!”
“I don’t see your face bleeding, you bully!” Grant hollered from the bathroom.
