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I thought it, but didn’t say it.
I just smiled.
“I can tell you love him, very much,” was what I chose to allow out of my mouth. Even with everything that had happened, Calli’s mind was still running very well. And even if it weren’t, I wouldn’t dare disrespect her.
Or hurt her feelings about her precious asshole grandson.
“I do, he means the world to me,” she said. “His brothers too, but Orion… he’s one in a million and even his brothers would say so. After his mother passed and then my Leo… he’s held it together. Always. And he’ll do that for you, too. If you let him.”
Again, I swallowed my words.
Maybe before this latest bullshit I would’ve believed her, but the way he’d overreacted to my honest mistake made me more inclined to simply brush it off.
“I hope I have someone in this world who believes in me as much as you believe in him,” I said, grabbing her hand and lacing my fingers through hers. “It’s honestly beautiful.”
She gave me a sad smile. “I can see you think I’m just talking, but I’m telling you what Iknow,” she insisted. “Be patient with him; he’s having a hard time accepting what’s next.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”
“That I don’t have long.”
“Don’t talk like that,” I immediately countered, and she immediately brushed me off.
“Ain’t no point in pretending about what it is or what it isn’t.” She shrugged. “I’d hoped to see some great-grandbabies soon, but that’s alright. I got to see one last wedding, one last beautiful bride,” she told me, squeezing my fingers.”
“Hey, you stop it,” I scolded. “I just need you to hold on for me, okay?” I asked. “I’mnot ready for you to go to glory, and I know Orion isn’t. It would killhim.So you just…stop it,” I repeated, squeezing her hand back. “Give us time. We’ll make those babies for you. And you’ll tell my mama about them for me. Right?”
She sighed, not exasperation, just… tiredness.
Deep, visceral exhaustion that took years and years andyearsto build.
I knew I was asking for too much.
But she nodded. “Make it quick,” she whispered.
“I’ll try my best.”
Whew.
That wasnotthe conversation I’d expected to have with her, not one Iwantedto have either. Especially not ending it on a promise to essentially make amends with her rock-headed grandson.
I was a woman of my word though.
As such, I didnotsimply ignore Orion when I found him hovering outside, ready to pounce on me for any information about Calli’s condition.
“What did she need to talk to you about?” he asked, blocking my progression down the hall.
“Making sure she gets enough mental stimulation. I’m sure you can speak to her nurse about it,” I told him, keeping the bitchiness Iwantedto give him out of my tone.
For Calli’s sake.
“Why wouldn’t she talk to me about that?” he questioned, stepping in front of me again as I tried to get around him.
“You’d have to ask her that yourself. Now could you please… I’m trying to get to work.” I gestured for him to let me pass and after a moment he gave in, moving so I could step around him.
“I know you’re lying,” he said to my back, and I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully before I chose to respond.
“I don’t give enough fucks tolieto you,” I said, not bothering to turn around. “As always, I’ve told you what falls into the realm ofyourbusiness. Believe whatever the hell you want.”
