Chapter 1: The Secret That Couldn't Wait
On the way home from kindergarten, my grandson said, "Grandma, I'm going to tell you a secret Mom and Dad said even the police can't know" — I laughed at first, but by the time he finished, I was heading straight to my daughter's house.
I pick up my five-year-old grandson Noah from kindergarten a couple of times a week and bring him back to my place until his parents finish work.
Those rides are some of my favorite moments because that little boy can talk Grandma's ear off about everything from dinosaurs to what somebody brought for lunch.
That afternoon, he was buckled into his car seat, happily telling me about his day, when he suddenly lowered his voice.
"Grandma, I'm going to tell you a secret Mom and Dad said even the police can't know."
I burst out laughing.
"Good Lord, what are those two up to now?"
Noah looked completely serious.
"It's in the garage."
I smiled.
"What's in the garage?"
"I'm not supposed to tell you.
Dad said nobody can know until it's ready."
At that point, I figured my daughter and son-in-law were hiding some ridiculous surprise.
Maybe a birthday present, some project they'd gotten carried away with, who knew?
Then Noah added, "But I saw it yesterday.
Mom said, 'What are we going to do if she finds out?'"
That got my attention.
"If who finds out?"
He pointed at me.
"You."
My smile disappeared.
I glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
"Okay, sweet pea.
Tell Grandma what you saw."
Noah started explaining, and at first, I thought I must've misheard him, so I asked him to repeat it.
By the time he finished telling me what my daughter and her husband had been hiding in that garage, I nearly missed my turn.
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"Oh my God."
Instead of heading home like usual, I turned the car around and drove straight to my daughter's house.
