“That’s what happened. It just jumped right out.” Her gram sounded a lot more like her old self.
“You didn’t hurt yourself, did you, Nelly?” she asked, and Nelly just about fell over.
“You know who I am?” Nelly asked, and while she hated the vulnerability in her voice, she couldn’t quite bring herself to be confident.
“Of course. My granddaughter. You’re getting home from school. I guess I must have been coming out to greet you, although I kind of blacked out on that part,” her gram said. Then she looked up at Roland. “It was awfully nice of you to help me out. I’m not quite the featherweight that I used to be, and I might be a little bit much for Nelly to handle. She needs a good strong man in her life,” she said, tapping on Roland’s arm like he was the good strong man that she needed.
As if.
There was no way. Now, her Secret Saint partner, on the other hand…
No, she wasn’t going to think about that right now. Although, she was still struggling with whether or not it was okay to have feelings and an emotional attachment for someone that she didn’t even know. He was obviously a Christian, and he was concerned about pleasing the Lord and living a life that followed what the Bible commanded, not just being a Christian in name only.
Like Roland.
Except…Roland was gently helping her gram over to the recliner and convincing her to sit down for a moment, after she admitted to having a dizzy spell.
“Maybe a glass of water would help?” he asked.
“I suppose I wouldn’t mind getting one. Although, why don’t you just stay right here, Nelly, and let Roland go grab a glass of water. It’s good to see a familiar face,” her grandma said.
Nelly hurried over, glad that her gram actually wanted her. She was feeling rather extraneous.
“Is it okay if I get a glass of water from the kitchen?” Roland asked in a low tone that she figured was meant for her ears only as they passed in the living room.
“Of course it is. Thank you,” she said, still not quite able to believe that Roland McBride was actually in her living room, helping her, and not mouthing off with a bunch of sarcastic comments and disagreeing with every word that came out of her mouth.
“Are you okay?” she asked her grandmother.
“It was just a little tumble. I didn’t even hit the floor. Why are you so worried?” Gram asked.
She didn’t know whether to be honest with her gram about her confusion or not. “You didn’t recognize me when I walked in the door.”
“I didn’t? Are you sure? I mean, maybe you had kind of a long day at school, and you’re exhausted. Perhaps you should take a nap.”
“I think I’m okay,” Nelly said slowly. Her grandma didn’t haveany recollection of being confused. It was like the whole thing didn’t happen. She’d totally blocked it out.
“Maybe you should go get a glass of water for yourself. I’ll be okay here, and I want to talk to you a bit, but…you’re doing a lot. Maybe you’re just working a little too hard.”
She shook her head, but she did rise to her feet. Maybe she could meet Roland in the kitchen, and…she wasn’t sure. But a glass of water didn’t sound like a bad idea.
She hurried into the kitchen and met Roland as he shut the spigot off with a full glass in his hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kind of make myself at home in your kitchen. I’d opened three cupboard doors before I found the ones with the glasses in them.”
“That’s not a bother at all. I appreciate you being here. It’s… I suppose you were delivering a Christmas tree?” she asked. Roland was not one of her contacts, but maybe he was one of her Secret Saint partner’s contacts, since her Secret Saint partner seemed to have no trouble getting Christmas trees when they needed them.
“I was. I heard a crash, and I think you yelped—it wasn’t quite a scream. The door was open… I’m sorry I kind of barged in.”
“No. I appreciate you making sure. If Grandma had fallen on the floor or needed an ambulance, I just—appreciate the help.”
He seemed as amazed as she did that they were actually having a civil conversation for the first time in their lives.
It really was the first time in their lives, and she thought back about it. She couldn’t remember them ever talking in a rational way before.
“I don’t want to tell you what to do or anything, but I have a little bit of experience with this. My mom’s mom lived with us for a while when she had dementia. It was a slowly progressing thing. Has she been checked out by a doctor?”
“No. I need to do that. But…I guess I’ve been in denial. And the episodes haven’t been that many or that long. And it’s Christmas.”
