“I’m so sorry.” He barely dipped his chin in answer.
Her grip on his hands tightened. “I can’t believe it.” The tears streamed down, leaving white paths in the dirt on her cheeks. Her trembling increased. “Could you...” She bit her lip. “Would you ... read the letter to me, please?” She sucked in a huge breath and blinked several times as the tears multiplied.
He released her hands and picked up the envelope andopened it. More than anything, he wanted to hold her right now. He pulled out the single sheet of paper and unfolded it. As he held it in his left hand, he reached his right hand over and covered both of her hands again. She latched on and squeezed—holding on as if her life depended on it.
He inhaled and cleared his throat.
“Dearest Eliza,
Your precious grandfather closed his eyes moments ago. I know his last breath will be coming soon. He developed a chest cold two days ago, and when he finally allowed me to summon the doctor last night, the news wasn’t good. I haven’t slept a wink since then, wanting to spend every moment he had left by his side. The shock of his departure hasn’t hit me yet, and I’m sure that great tears will be forthcoming, so that’s why I wanted to write you now.
He loved you so, my darling. Our greatest gift has been to raise you.
Last night he told me that he could die a happy man knowing that you were carrying on the Mills legacy. That you were a fine paleontologist, and he hoped you have the chance to share and teach with thousands of others about this science that you love so much.
With that, he added several things to his will. One addition is that he is giving a substantial sum to the Carnegie Institute for the Hall of Dinosaurs. He wants you to thrive and prosper with your work.
The rest of the details can wait until you return home, but please finish your work there this summer. It will take me some time to grieve my wonderful husband, and that is something I wish to do alone. You know how much I need my privacy, especially during difficult times. It says nothing about how much I miss you and love you, simply that I need to tread through my emotions with God alone as my guide.Navigating this life without your grandfather will take some getting used to since I have never been on my own.
I will look forward to your return at the end of the summer with eagerness and great joy, my dear.
With all my love,
Grandmama”
THURSDAY, JULY13, 1916•ADAMSFARM
Eliza’s pillow was soaked with her tears, and no matter how hard she tried, she had barely slept since she heard the news. She’d never suffered this kind of loss before. When her parents died, she’d been too young to understand.
The thought of never seeing her grandfather again, never hearing his voice, never feeling his whiskers against her forehead as he hugged her was almost more than she could bear. What must Grandmama be feeling? They’d been married for fifty years.
As strong and courageous andstubbornas her grandmother was, she deeply loved her husband. The past few years, Eliza had noticed her powerhouse of a grandmother slow down and become a bit ... frail.
More than once in the night, Eliza determined to pack up and go home. Then she’d roll over and hear Devin’s voice in her head telling her that her grandmother was adamant Eliza finish out the summer at the quarry.
She gave up on trying to sleep and sat up in her bed, pulling her knees to her chest. Her grandmother was very private. She asked for time to grieve on her own. The least Eliza could do was grant her that.
But staying out at Dinosaur National Monument no longer held the same appeal.
She longed for home.
Longed for the museum.
And having Devin here after an absence made her realize she didn’t wish to be away from him either.
She scooted to the edge of the bed and placed her bare feet on the floor. The wood planks were smooth and a bit cool under her toes. A nice reprieve from the heat of the day.
At the window, she stared out at the stars.
Nothing had seemed quite right since she came out here.
She leaned her forehead against the glass.
If she’d never left, she would have had those last days with her grandfather.
She would have never gone to that judgmental little church. Or been subjected to the wrath of those women.
Without her drawing those people’s unwanted attention, the vandalism and theft probably wouldn’t have happened either. The quarry wouldn’t be shut down.
