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Sure.
But as I’d told myself at least a hundred times in the last few days…fuck him.
I followed Nurse Davis from the kitchen up to Calli’s room, wondering what topic my girl had for me today. I’d grown quite fond of Calli. She reminded me of my own grandmother and great-aunts, all of whom were either back orstilldown south.
The room had been transformed. The regular bed was a hospital bed now, with monitors and all kinds of equipment readily available, despite the assurance that Calli’s condition was stable. Everything had been made as homey as possible, but no chances were being taken, not again.
No one wanted to be realistic about how much longer we had with her. And if we wanted to extend that time as much as possible, immediate medical attention when something happened was a necessity. Orion was making sure not to repeat the same mistake.
“Well don’t you look pretty this morning,” I gushed as soon as I saw Calli sitting up in her bed, crochet needle and a skein of yarn in hand.
Calli grinned at me. “Nurse Davis isn’t as bossy as Nancy,” she explained, referring to Ms. Wallace. “She just greased my scalp for me, but let me braid myownhair. Nancy can’t braid for shit, but wouldn’t ever just let me do it myself.”
I laughed. “She was just trying to help you. Trying to keep you from overexerting yourself.”
“Her version ofhelpwas going to have me getting old even faster. Why you think I had that episode? Not enough use of my brain.”
“I don’t think it works like—never mind,” I said, taking a seat beside the bed. “You were asking for me. What can I do for you?”
She gave me a long look, then returned to her crocheting, what appeared to be a soft gray blanket. “I think you already know.”
“Nuh-uh, I need you to make it plain for me.”
She sighed, turning to look at me again. Despite everything—even the subtle cloudiness starting to take over—those eyes were still sharp, boring into me when she said, “You and my grandson. Y’all have got to stop all the fussing with each other.”
“What fussing?” I asked, and she rolled her eyes.
“You think I couldn’t hear all that commotion the other night, when he had that other heifer over here?”
My eyebrows went up. “Actually, no, Ididn’tthink you could hear that,” I admitted. “And I’m sorry you had to.”
“I ain’t hear nothing but that girl screaming about you attacking her. Ms. Wallace told me he brought her over here to get you riled up.”
I sighed. “And I fell for the bait.”
“You did. But you snatched the fishing rod out his hand too, beat him with it.” She laughed. “I bet you he don’t go fishing likethatagain.”
I smirked. “So… you feel me then.”
“I do.” Calli nodded. “But now… whatever that was, let it be over. Life is too short for silliness to be getting in the way of anything.”
“I know you mean well when you say that, but… you’re a sharp lady. I don’t believe much gets past you. And I think you know as well as I do, that there’s nothing between me and your grandson for silliness to get in the way of,” I admitted. “We have our agreement and that’s all.”
She shook her head. “I thinkyouare too smart to believe that.”
“I’m—”
“I told you,” she interrupted, “the day you married him, that my Orion, much as I love that boy, was difficult.”
I smiled, shaking my head. “I don’t remember that.”
“Well… I should’ve.” She chuckled. “Because he is. So serious, and focused, and… more sensitive than he shows. More than hecanshow.”
“Orion does whatever he wants to do.”
“He gives the appearance of doing whatever he wants to do,” Calli corrected, with a pointed look. “But he’s always thinking about other people. It’s not all about money and conquest with him, as much as I know it looks like it. He just wants to do right by the people he cares about. And their memories.”
Was that why he bought my family’s business from up under me?
