During her grandson Don's early college years before she met and married Richard, Leta was a secretary for the New York Life Insurance company and rented a house relatively near to the university he attended. As her only teenage grandson, Don was responsible for coming by once a week to mow her small lawn, or during the winter months, shovel her snow as needed. She would serve him cookies and tea, overpay him five dollars for the effort and visit with him.
Don had been dating a young woman named Pat on and off for nearly four years—all through high school, quite a long time in Leta’s estimation, but as she noted, her grandson was easily distracted. Late in the summer, as they were chatting, Don asked a favor of her.
“Grandma,” he said with excitement and pride in his voice, “last night I asked Pat to marry me.”
She was flabbergasted. While she had met and liked the pleasant young woman, who was actually more grounded than her grandson and therefore a good influence on him, she knew that his parents had more immediate plans for him. They wanted him to finish college and get a good job first.
“I know it’s kind of a surprise,” he continued, “but I love her. She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met, and I just know she’s meant to be mine. Even when I was with other girls, I couldn’t help thinking about her.”
“What did she say?” Leta asked.
“She was surprised, like she didn’t expect it,” he answered with some confusion. “But she said yes, and we want to get married soon.”
“Have you told your parents?” Leta inquired.
“Not yet, but I will.”
“You need to,” Leta said.
“But I need your help,” Don continued.
“To tell them?”
“No, not that. I already know they’re not going to be happy about it, but it’s my life, right?”
She smiled and barely nodded. As a parent, she knew about letting children find their own way in life; it just wasn’t always easy and frequently accompanied by arguments, slammed doors and hurt feelings.
“I wonder if you’ll loan me some money,” he asked.
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