“Hey, sunshine. I’ve got pancakes and eggs, but I could do toast and jelly for you instead,” Grady calls from the stove.
“Pancakes are great, thanks.”
Tamsen hands me a glass of orange juice, giving me her genuine smile, not the one everyone was giving me yesterday.
“Thank you.”
“Come.” Trick pats the barstool next to him.
It’s the word I want to hear. I was worried when he felt the need to carry me to the bathroom. Coddling is not my thing. Last night was my breakdown; now it’s passed. I’m sensitive and compassionate, and in spite of what some mean, catty bitches have thought over the years, that doesn’t equate to weak. I had a weak moment, but I am not a weak person.
“When do you want to go get your nana?”
I scoot up on the stool. “Just as soon as we’re done eating. She’ll be itching to leave. Besides, I feel awful for abandoning her last night when I told her I would stay.”
“No need, honey. I talked with the nurses on her floor and told them you weren’t feeling well and to tell your nana when she woke that you’d pick her up in the morning.” Grady winks at me, setting a stack of three pancakes on my plate, two more than I’m going to be able to eat this morning.
“You’re the best.”
Grady gives Trick an I-told-you-so look.
Trick rests his hand on my leg, giving it a gentle squeeze. I expect him to make some snide comment to Grady, putting him in his place the way they both seem to do, but he doesn’t. It makes me wonder if Trick shares my gratitude for what our friends, our family, have done.
*
We arrive at the hospital, greeted by anxious Nana dressed and sitting in a guest chair looking more like a visitor than a patient. The doctor discharged her a half an hour ago.
“There’s my dear girl.” She stands holding open her arms.
“Good morning, Nana. Sorry we would have been here earlier, but I overslept and then Grady made breakfast.”
“No worries, dear. As long as we stop for some real coffee on the way home, I’ll be happy.”
Trick lets me drive and Nana sits in the front seat. Once again, allowing me to be strong, not over-coddling me, and allowing Nana to have her favorite spot in the vehicle.
“So … how are you today, dear?” Nana breaks the silence, giving a quick glance back to Trick.
“She knows.” He gives her a sad smile then meets my gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Well in that case I’ll break more bad news to you. Rachel came by the hospital this morning before you arrived, and now she’s planning on meeting us at my place around noon to discuss funeral arrangements.”
“I’m sure he has it all specified in his will. What’s to discuss?”
“Day, time … I don’t know.”
We pull up in front of Nana’s and Trick gets out to open her door.
“Thank you, handsome.” She winks and he grins.
“You can stay if you’d like or you can pick me up later.” I wrap my arms around him.
“I’ll give you two some time alone.” He kisses me.
“Thank you … for everything,” I whisper against his lips.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my wife … my life.”
I smile. “I’ll call you later.” I hand him the keys and take Nana’s real coffee so she doesn’t have to maneuver the stairs with it in her hand.
After I get her settled on the couch with her feet up, a blanket over her lap, and her coffee, I curl up on the love seat across from her. “I never asked. Was Rachel in the car too?”
“No. She had a holiday fashion show rehearsal. That’s why I invited your father to dinner. It was…” she forces a sad smile “…your mom’s birthday. We were on our way to her favorite restaurant—the place is still open after all these years. I bet you never knew we did this every year, just the two of us. It’s the only day of the year that I see a glimpse of the man he used to be with Lucy. But this year, for the first time since she died, he tried to skip out. Said he had too much to do with the election just around the corner.”
Nana shakes her head, an intent gaze focused at the lid on her cup. “I insisted he come, just for an hour or two. I wouldn’t take no for an answer.” She draws in a slow, controlled breath. “Nobody saw it coming.”
“What happened to the drivers?”
“The driver of the vehicle that hit us died. She wasn’t wearing her seatbelt, at least that’s what Mary said. Our driver suffered a broken arm but he’s fine.” Nana’s pained face meets my gaze. “Now, dear, how are you handling this?”
I feel the emotions sting my eyes as I chuckle. “Not so good last night. That’s why I didn’t stay with you. But now I just don’t know. I’m sad, hurt, and angry. Whether he deserved it or not, l loved him. I think a child is programmed to love their parents and it makes me sick to think of how long I waited for him to show me love.” I roll my eyes to the ceiling and swallow. “I mean … it goes both ways, right? Parents should be programmed to love their children, no matter what.” I wipe a single tear from my cheek. “You’ve always told me that he loved my mom, so I kept thinking that eventually he’d let go of her loss and embrace me like I was the only precious part of her he had left.”