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“As best as I can knowing they are going to crack my chest open,” his grandfather said.
“You’ll have a nice manly scar. Grandma will love it.”
His grandfather laughed like he knew would happen. “There is that. Though she won’t think it’s so manly while I’m healing and she is caring for me. I’m worried it’s too much for her.”
“She’s strong and you know it. She’s lived with you all this time.” He wanted to add she dealt with his mother but didn’t. Why bring up old negative news at a time like this?
“She has,” his grandfather said. “I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done the past few weeks. I know it hasn’t been easy being further away.”
He’d gotten a home health aide lined up to start as soon as he let them know that his grandfather was home. He was going through someone recommended by his grandfather’s doctor. He found out what was covered through insurance and then told them to bill him the difference.
He didn’t need them stressing over anything and just said it was taken care of. He’d make sure his grandparents had the care they needed for as long as it took whether insurance covered it all or not.
Maybe there was some guilt in there that he didn’t visit as often and should have. If he did he could have noticed his grandfather wasn’t doing well and he wondered if this surgery could have been prevented.
“It’s fine,” Sawyer said. “You know that. I’ve got downtime when I’m stuck in the car with James.”
His grandfather laughed again. “Does he still chat your ear off?”
“Always,” he said. “That won’t change.”
The nurse pulled the curtain back. “The doctor will be in shortly. He’s out of his other surgery.”
“I’ll go get Grandma so she can see you before you go in.”
He went to leave, but his grandfather put his hand out to him. The wrinkles and age spots were going to war and he wasn’t sure which one was winning. It probably didn’t matter other than it was a reminder of how time had flown and how fragile those in his life were.
“If something happens to me in there.”
“Nothing is going to happen, Grandpa,” he said. “You’re going to wake up and be a pain in the butt for Grandma and she is going to be so happy for it, she’ll give you a pass...for a week or so.”
His grandfather forced a smile. “I hope you’re right. But if something does happen, make sure she’s okay. I need to know someone is there for her that I can count on. If she has to move closer to you, she will. I know it.”
His eyes started to itch, but he blinked a few times. “You’re going to be fine. Both of you are, but you know damn well I’ll be there for her. And you. You can count on it.”
“It’s nice to know there is someone I can count on other than Gretta,” his grandfather said.
He was seething inside and hoped when he walked out he saw his mother but knew that wasn’t going to happen. He could tell by the way his grandfather was talking.
“Grandma,” he said. “The doctor will be in if you want to go see Grandpa before he’s taken into surgery.”
His grandmother stood up and moved to the doors to go in and he took his seat and pulled out his phone. He’d check email while he could. The news was playing on the TV in the waiting room. It was half full, which was more people than he wanted.
A text popped up from Faith while he was scrolling through the news. He opened it and saw a picture of Fred looking back at him with his big tongue hanging and the caption: “There is a ball here waiting with your name on it.”
He grinned. It was what he needed right now.
“What are you smiling at?” his grandmother asked him.
He looked up. He’d yet to tell them about Faith and it’d take her mind off of things knowing he had a girlfriend.
He could even tell her how they met and how long it’d been going on.
Nope, he couldn’t. He forgot his father talked to his ex in-laws. Guess he had to keep it as what the rest of them knew. That he’d only been with Faith a few weeks.
“I’m dating someone. She sent me a picture of her dog just now. It’s a great dog.”
“I know about Faith,” his grandmother said, grinning.
