How do I tell this story without being boastful? Maybe if we start at the beginning. When Ricky and I got together, Emma was 2 years old. She was his only grandchild from his only son from a previous marriage that ended when his son was just 10 years old. From that first weekend Ricky tried to make me a part of his family. I think because of this I have always felt like they were my family too.
Imagine after just one date being introduced to your boyfriend's entire family. Of course, it helped that he was celebrating his 50th birthday, so many of them were at his party. I met his mother, his stepfather, his coworkers, and his friends all in one evening.
The next day I met his sister and brother and some nieces and nephews up at his sister's cabin. It was the last hurrah before she sold it.
It wasn't that first weekend but in the first month that I met his son, his son's wife, and Emma. She was this adorable little girl with wild curly brown hair. We took her to a birthday party in the park for another little girl.
Flash forward through his son's divorce and he and the girls (there was a second granddaughter by this time) moving in with us so his son could get back on his feet. This was for about 2 years, until I found a job in Reno and we moved away.
Flash forward again and Emma is in college and living with us in Reno. This lasted less than a year until she found some roommates and moved out. Who was to live with two old men, right?
My point is I have been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. She is family.
When my mother died I came into some money. Not a lot but some. I wanted to share it with my granddaughters. So I gave them each 5000 dollars no strings attached. I told them my mother wanted them to have it.
By this time I had 3 granddaughters and a great grandson. Talk about feeling old. Anyways, I gave the 3rd 5000 to our son since the new child was only just born. Not that he needed the money, but I wanted to appear fair. Same story that my mother wanted him to have it.
Emma used the money to go to Europe. She went for 5 weeks and stayed in hostels or Airbnbs. She did what I had wanted to do at her age. I think my mother would have approved.
Flash forward two years later. Emma came to stay with us in Palm Desert for a week, starting on Father's Day. She works from home as an accountant so I set her up in the guest room / office so she could work for our house.
We picked her up at the airport and went to dinner in Palm Springs. When the bill came she picked up the check and wished us a happy father's day. I was never so proud. It was a happy father's day for me for probably the very first time.
It has been quiet around here this week since she went home on Sunday. I can't wait for her next visit.
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