Grandfathered: The Continuing Story

A Very Grandfathered Christmas, Part 1

November gave way to December, and Jimmy couldn't possibly be happier. Fall was his favorite season, but Christmas was undoubtedly his favorite time of year. His past Christmases would be spent at ritzy parties filled with alcohol and girls whose names he did not remember. But now, Christmas meant something so much more to him. Now that he had a family to spend it with, all those parties of Christmas past meant absolutely nothing. He'd take spending quality time with his loved ones over a crazy holiday bash any day of the week. And spending quality time with his family was exactly what Jimmy was doing as he spent the day at the Kingsley house, helping Gerald to decorate the place and surprise Sara when she came home from work.

"Gerald, your Christmas playlist needs more variety," Jimmy told his son as he hung some tinsel on the tree. "Glee and Mariah Carey are great and all, but nobody does it like Sinatra."

Gerald grinned with amusement and was about to throw back a witty remark, but the ringing of the doorbell interrupted him from doing so. "I'll get it," he announced, heading over and opening the door. He had a welcoming smile plastered on his face, but it soon vanished and his heart sunk to the floor when he saw who was at the other side.

"Gerald..." it was Bruce, the man who had raised Gerald when Jimmy wasn't there. The man who, after breaking up with Sara after she didn't want to move to China with him, cut all ties with her and Gerald for no good reason. Gerald studied the older man's face and saw that it was drawn with countless emotions, but Gerald's expression hardened and he clenched his jaw.

"Bruce, what are you doing here?" Gerald asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I came back to L.A. to visit my family for the holidays," Bruce explained. "And I wanted to visit you and your mom, too, to see how you guys are doing ... and to apologize."

Gerald folded his arms. "Apologize?" he said, a bit emphatically. "What for?"

"Gerald, you know what," Bruce said, his voice and facial expression softening. "I was just upset, and hurt..."

"Upset and hurt, huh?" Gerald shot Bruce a derisive smile. "You know, sometimes I get upset and hurt, too, by the people I love, but I don't just drop them and leave them hanging with no explanation. How could you be hurt by the fact that my mom made the completely logical decision not to go all the way to China with you? Everything she has is right here in L.A.; you can't get mad at her for not wanting to up and leave the entire continent!"

"Gerald --"

Bruce tried to interject, but Gerald couldn't hear since all the hurt feelings he had been holding back for almost a year were finally pouring out. "And how could you be mad at me?  I did nothing. We used to be so close, but then you just completely forgot about me. You hurt me, Bruce." Gerald's voice was hot with fury, and Jimmy, who wasn't even involved in the conflict, could feel the tension that was heating up the room.

"Gerald, if you'll just let me explain -- "

"There's nothing to explain," Gerald said indignantly. "You've shown me the real person you truly are. And if you think I'm gonna let you mosey on in again after all the pain you've caused my mom and me, you've got another thing coming."

Bruce stayed silent for a couple of seconds, as though he were trying to form the right words to say. "Look, I can see you're busy with your dad right now," he said, gesturing towards Jimmy, who waved awkwardly. "So it doesn't make much sense right now to stay here and ask for your forgiveness. I'm sorry this was so unexpected, but I hope you'll at least consider touching base with me." He heaved a sigh, and Jimmy saw a glimmer of genuine sadness in the man's eyes that made Jimmy feel bad for him, despite how annoying he could be. "Goodbye, Gerald," he said in a husky voice, tentatively stepping down the stairs and slowly walking off. Gerald stood there fixed for a few moments, and then slowly shut the door.