Page 24

Nanna xxx

The envelope is sealed, and I gasp the second I open it. Inside are thick bundles of hundred-dollar bills, crisp notes packed tightly together.

My eyebrows knit as I stare at the money. Something about this doesn’t feel right. I know for a fact Nanna didn’t have this kind of money lying around.

“Where did this come from?” I ask suspiciously.

Bennett casually lifts one shoulder. “She asked me to give it to you when she passed. She didn’t want to burden you with any more debt.”

“When did she give this to you?” I ask.

“I went to visit her the night she passed.”

My eyes widen at his admission. “You did? Why?”

He clears his throat and nods. “I forgot to return the key to the house. I didn’t know she wasn’t going to make it through the night, Poppy, but I’m guessing she must’ve had some idea. I never would have left her alone if I knew.”

A lump knots in the back of my throat. “Did she ask you to lend her this?”

“Of course not,” he replies, and his response is so instant, I believe him. “I believe there’s $20,000 in the envelope.”

I gasp, “$20,000. Where did she get that kind of money?”

“She told me how she was caught off guard by all the extra expenses she was faced with when your grandfather passed, so she put provisions in place so you wouldn’t have to go through the same thing.” A small grin tugs on his lips as he speaks. “I believe she called the people at the cemetery scamming bastards and referred to their exuberant charges as highway robbery.”

I exhale a small laugh because I remember her using very similar words with me. Nanna never had a problem saying exactly what was on her mind, especially when she felt someone had wronged her or the people she loved. For a brief moment, I can almost hear her voice again, the way she’d huff in frustration before launching into one of her stories.

Bennett drapes his arm over my shoulders as we exit the funeral home to make our way back to his car. I side-eye him because I’m still not entirely sure when we went from strangers to whatever this is.

A week ago, I didn’t even know his name. Now he’s making sure I eat breakfast, sleeping on my couch, and casually throwing an arm around me like he has every right.

The ridiculous thing is, I don’t hate it.

My heart feels so heavy, but on a positive note, the money in that envelope was more than enough to give my grandmother the send-off she deserves.

I was able to purchase a stunning white casket with gold trimmings and the most spectacular floral arrangement to adorn the top. Delicate white rose buds with scattered red poppies woven throughout, a detail that Bennett suggested.

The white felt peaceful, and the vibrant red poppies are a small reminder of me.

With the money Nanna set aside, there’s even enough left over to organise a small wake afterwards, which is something I hadn’t thought possible.

I know some of the neighbours will come, along with the friends Nanna made through church over the years. She spent so much of her life showing up for other people, and I want to give them the chance to do the same for her. A place where they can share stories, remember her, and say a proper goodbye.

When we reach his car, he removes his arm from my shoulders and glances down at his ridiculously expensive watch.

“Where do you want to go for lunch?” he asks, opening the car door for me.

“You can just drop me off at home,” I reply. “You’ve already done more than enough.”

“I cleared my entire day for you, Poppy, and I’m hungry. I noticed how sparse your fridge and cupboards are.”

Heat rises to my cheeks as I slide into the vehicle. I wait until he’s seated beside me before I elaborate.

“I leave home before the sun comes up to head to my cleaning job. From there, I go to class, then the hospital, before heading to my waitressing job in the evenings. There’s no point buying groceries when I’m barely home.”

“Nanna was right, you work too hard.”

“I don’t have a choice,” I counter.