“Meanwhile, I’d be doing what? If I’m gonna turn to dust, I’d rather do it in the ground beside your grandfather.”
She closes her eyes, and I let myself relax a little. If she can argue like this, she’ll rally still. No one really chooses when they’re gonna go, right?
Of course, if anyone could get death to do her bidding, it’s Vivian Quincy.
“I miss him, Andrew.” Her words come out so low, I almost don’t make them out. Her eyes are shut, her face sagging with fatigue. But beneath the oxygen tubes, I see the faint line of a smile at the corners of her wrinkled mouth. “I been… dreaming of him again…”
She sighs, and I hear her breath rattle before she coughs again, but this time it doesn’t scare the hell out of me. I’m sure she’s fallen asleep, and I’m about to text Annie to come back, but then she stirs again.
“He likes… your girl…” she slurs. “Laughed when she… jumped right over the fence…”
My spine goes rigid. “What’d you say?”
Silence.
“Grandma, what did you say about Grandpa?”
Is she asleep? I run my hand along the back of my neck, smoothing down the tiny hairs that now stand on end. Her breath deepens, but then she frowns.
“Mad at your mama…”
“Who is?” Me? Her? Evie?...Grandpa Pete?
The thought gives me another shiver, and I shake my head to clear it.
“Why, Anthony, of course.”
I leap out of my chair like it’s on fire. Annie choses that moment to walk back in, finding me practically pressed against the wall. Her eyes bug.
“What’s wrong?” she hisses.
I look from her to Grandma and back again. “Was she— When you—“ I stop. Swallow. Blink at her. “While you were here with her, was she talking about… about Grandpa Pete… a-and Anthony?”
Annie’s brows rise as one. “Um… no?” Eyes wide, Annie looks around the room and hisses. “Are theyhere?”
This time, instead of shuddering, I get pissed. “If they are, they’re gonna have to get through me before they can have her.”
“Drew.” Annie cocks her head at me, half-pitying and half-amused. “Maybe… maybe we need to prepare—” Then my sister looks at Grandma Quincy, her expression collapses as she seems to hear herself, and before I know it, she’s clutching me in a hug.
Stunned silent, I lift my arms like a robot and hug her back. She sobs against me, making little squeaks as she cries, giving me all her weight. I let myself relax as I take it. Whatever happens, no matter how shitty I feel at the thought of losing Grandma, I’m not the only one.
I’m not alone.
I squeeze Annie tighter, thinking about how many years Grandma has been the bridge that connected her to me. Before my sister could drive to see me on her own — and even after — Grandma Q would take her. My mother sure as hell wasn’t going to.
It was those Sunday afternoon visits every other month that shored up what we have.
Resting my chin on Annie’s head as she weeps, I look over at our grandmother and silently thank her for my sister. We’d probably never be this close now if it hadn’t been for her.
A new brand of guilt marks me.
Grandma Q has given me so much. Who am I to ask for more?
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
EVIE
“How’s Mrs. Vivian?” Mom asks before blowing across her tea. She insisted on coming to my Level I class this morning, and judging by the way Tori scowled the whole time, Mom must have twisted her arm to come along. So now we’re sipping oolong in the tea room at the Yoga Garden, killing time before meeting Dad for lunch.
