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“You gave us a scare,” I say, my voice breaking.
“Stop that. No crying.” Edna’s eyes drift shut, and when she opens them again, she looks at Aiden and holds out her hand. He walks across the room and sits beside her, his big, warm hand enveloping hers. “Are you officially out of the Friend Zone?”
Aiden and I look at each other and laugh. “Yes,” he says. “Thanks to you.”
“Pfft. I had nothing to do with it.” She cuts a frail hand through the air as her words morph into a cough. “My throat is dry.”
Aiden grabs the pink pitcher of water on her bedside table and pours her a small glass. Bringing it to Edna’s lips, he helps her take a sip.
“Not too much,” I warn.
She relaxes against her pillows when she’s done and sighs. “You look tired.”
“It’s your fault.” I laugh and brush another tear from my face. “How do you feel?”
“Like I had a heart attack.”
“Edna.”
“Too soon?” She laughs and blinks slowly.
“If you’re tired, sleep. Aiden and I will be here when you wake up.”
Edna considers that for a second and then shakes her head. “I can sleep when I’m dead. I’d rather talk to you. When does the next trivia game at the Senior Center start?”
“You just had a heart attack, you shouldn’t be worrying about a trivia game.”
“I’m thinking that since you two are a couple now, Aiden will have to join the women’s team.”
“No way.” Aiden laughs and shakes his head. “I can’t leave my brothers hanging.”
Edna laughs, and I stand up. “Can we please talk about something other than a stupid trivia game?”
“Like what, dear?”
“Like the fact that you just had a heart attack. Do you understand how serious that is? You could’ve died, Edna. Maybe we should be talking about what we’re going to do when you get out of here. You’ll need to change your diet to something more heart-healthy. No more salt or—”
“Lizzie.” Edna frowns. “I’m okay.”
“But you could’ve died,” I sob. Aiden releases Edna’s hand and walks around the bed to hug me.
“But I didn’t. I didn’t die, and no way in hell am I giving up salt. I love salt.”
Is she crazy? “You have to do something.”
“I am,” she says. I sniff and turn in Aiden’s arms to look at her. “I’m going to live the rest of my life the way I want to live it. I’m going to eat salt and chocolate and probably French fries because you know how much I love them, and I’m going to be as active as God will allow me to be, and you’re going to accept it.”
“Edna—”
“I love you, Lizzie. And I love Aiden. If I could’ve had a son, daughter, or grandchildren, I’d hope that they would be just like the two of you. I’m grateful that I’ve had you two to help take care of me the past couple of years. But let’s face it, I’m no spring chicken, and I’m going to die. Everyone does.”
“I know that. But I’m not ready for you to kick the bucket.”
Edna laughs. “There’s my girl. How about you sit back down here and tell me about how Aiden swept you off your feet.”
; “It’s an epic love story that I’m sure you’re going to enjoy,” Aiden says, kissing Edna on the head. “And while Lizzie tells you about it, I’m going to call my parents and reschedule our dinner plans.”
