The Substitute Bride

Gary noticed the deep interest shown by Charlie as he stared at the chessboard.

He wondered if the young boy knew how to play the game. The older man came closer and asked,"Charlie, would you like to play chess?"

Charlie nodded and his eyes lit up at the question.

"Well then, let me teach you how it's played," Gary offered. He asked the boy to sit on his lap and patiently explained the chess pieces, how they moved, and the rules of the game.

To his surprise, the child was very responsive and quickly picked up the game. Finally, he challenged Charlie to play a game.

"Great!" Charlie exclaimed excitedly. Since he had just learned how to play, the little boy was not equal to Gary's prowess in the beginning. But as they continued playing, Gary felt somehow challenged. And he was even about to lose this game to a child, even if playing chess had long been just a hobby of his.

As their playing progressed, Charlie impressed his great-grandfather with his seriousness. He carefully thought of his moves and seemed to be developing strategies.

It was then that Gary realized he and his great-grandson had forged an inexorable bond between them.

"I lost the game," Charlie told the old man. As much as he hated losing, the child had to concede defeat.

But Gary suddenly said,"There is hope for a reversal." While analyzing the position of the pieces, he urged his great-grandson to try.

Charlie looked up to Gary, and with all seriousness said,"I better accept failure gracefully."

While playing chess with his great grandfather, Charlie kept glancing at Leila, who was chatting with Chris happily and paid no attention to the conversation between Charlie and the old man

r to Autumn all of a sudden?" she asked.

Gary realized his mistake as he noted Leila's uneasiness.

"Leila, please forgive my grandpa for his careless remarks," she apologized. She moved to comfort the other woman, who paled at hearing Gary mention Autumn. "Are you all right?" Chris asked.

Leila was starting to feel the futility of trying to pass herself off as Charlie's mother, knowing the boy was Autumn's flesh and blood.

Gary's casual words brought her back to reality.

She was fully aware of the blood relation between Charlie and Autumn, although no one else knew the truth.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked again. She was beginning to worry about Leila and tried to lighten up the mood. Finally, the other woman said,"I am fine, thank you."

Charlie couldn't help but be curious about the conversation among the three adults. "Great-grandpa, who were you just referring to a while ago?"

"Oh, forget that," the old man dismissed the inquiry. He now wanted to steer away from the issue and picked up two sweet and sour ribs to put on the child's plate. "You can enjoy as much as you like!" Gary said brightly.