The Truth About Us

“Wanna play a game? Like old times? I know a place that has a really nice wooden set,” she said, referring to Daily Grind which had a huge board game area in the back of the coffee shop, complete with a nice chess set.

A small grin curled his worn lips, and he nodded.

Though Abby worried a ride in GG’s car might affect her grandfather’s mood, by the time they arrived at the shop and ordered two iced coffees with extra caramel, her grandfather’s eyes already seemed brighter.

They took a seat in the back, preferring the small bistro table and chairs to the leather love seat, and set their game board up. Abby chose black, while her grandfather picked the natural wooden color.

“Gosh, how long’s it been since we played?” Abby asked.

“A while.” Her grandfather moved his first pawn. “I guess seniors in high school are too cool to play chess with their old grandpa.”

Abby laughed as she met his gaze, glittering as he teased. “Like I’d ever say no to a game.”

They fell silent, concentrating on the game, both of them moving pawns and shifting pieces over the next thirty minutes. Abby’s brow furrowed as she moved, allowing her grandfather’s bishop access to one other pawn. Muttering under her breath, she moved her pawn, but he matched it with his queen.

As they played, he

r thoughts drifted to Kaden once again, unable to forget him. He thought she should talk to her grandfather about everything, and though she had been against it at first, maybe it was the guilt from Friday night or the ease with which her grandfather and she settled back into their routine of the game, but she found herself broaching the subject.

“Grandpa?” she asked, and he snickered as he swiped a pawn.

“Yeah?” He glanced up at her as she took her turn.

“Why don’t you ever talk about the war?”

He froze, his crooked fingers clutching his knight. “Not much to say.”

“I know it would be hard, but don’t you think it might help to share it with someone? You know, kinda like therapy?”

He made his move, then blinked over at her, his eyes hooded below his salt and pepper eyebrows. “I’ve had a lifetime of therapy. Forgetting is the only thing that matters.”

Abby nodded, not wanting to upset him. After all, this outing was supposed to be a reprieve from his grief, not another source of it.

“I get that. Actually, if anyone does, it’s me.” Abby moved, stealing one of his pawns, then took a sip of her coffee, unable to quite let it go. “I’d like to know more, though. Because I love you,” she added, when her grandfather glanced up at her, shaking his head. His hands shook in front of him. “Did you maybe ever write about it? Do you have anything you could give me from your time there?”

Abby turned her attention to the board. The second she moved, she knew she made a mistake, but she had been distracted by her questions and her grandfather’s silence. In one sweep, her grandfather took her pawn and checked her king. Though Abby took his queen next, he moved his bishop and delivered on his checkmate.

Frowning, she stared at the board. “Maybe I’m rustier than I thought.”

“Too much talking,” her grandfather said, then winked at her.

Smiling, Abby stood. “Didn’t you say the winner was treating the loser to a pastry? I could’ve sworn...” she trailed off as her grandfather stood. His laughter rumbled from his chest, a welcome sound.

They made their way to the counter to order. Abby picked out a triple chocolate brownie, while her grandfather opted for a slice of pie. While the barista working the counter, a middle-aged woman with dark eyes and hair and a kind smile, retrieved their dessert, Abby and her grandfather talked about school and how it all would be over soon. How she’d be starting a new chapter in her life.

The barista placed their food on the counter, then rung them up. Reaching into his back pocket, her grandfather grabbed his wallet and rummaged through it for a handful of bills.

Abby stared at the faded blue ink on his arm, no longer needing to wonder what that day was like with the journal entries fresh in her mind. Following Abby’s line of sight, the woman at the counter gently pushed his hand away at the offered bills.

“It’s my treat,” she said.

Confused, Abby blinked over at her, wondering why the peculiar behavior, when she leaned forward. A beautiful pendant made of blue stone hung from her neck, carved in a shape of something Abby didn’t see too often—the Star of David.

She gripped her grandfather’s hand, eyes shining.

“We won,” she said. At her grandfather’s look of confusion, she added, “My grandmother was a survivor. You’re here and so is she. We won the fight.”

Her grandfather’s face contorted, and he wrenched his hand back like he was burned. Shaking, he took a step back.