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When the tour was officially over, I stuck with the group so we could walk out together, and I could avoid talking to Dylan anymore that evening.
The next day, I went to visit Grandpa and stopped into the business office to talk to Cheryl, the admin at the senior home. I’d been bracing myself for the conversation for a while, and I figured it was best to get it over with.
I sat in the chair across from her desk.
“I can’t pay everything that’s owed today, but I can make another partial payment toward the balance,” I said, pulling out my wallet and checkbook.
“No need,” she said, waving me off. “The balance has been covered by an anonymous donor. That doesn’t solve the problem of future payments, but for right now, the balance is zero,” she said happily.
“An anonymous donor?” My hands trembled with relief. I’d been dreading how long it would take me to catch up on the thousands of dollars it had been behind. That debt disappearing in a blink was such a gift.
“It happens sometimes. People find hospital and nursing home bills to cover as a charitable donation. And it’s usually the big bills that they figure people will have the most trouble paying. You got lucky!”
I almost cried, but I managed to keep myself together.
“There’s no way to find them and thank them?” I asked.
“Technically, yes, but that would be an ethical misstep. If they wanted the recipient to know who they were, they wouldn’t insist on doing it anonymously.” She shook her head. “I won’t violate that. When someone’s that generous, I can’t see going against their wishes.”
“Of course not,” I said. I took a few deep breaths, enjoying the relief, before pointing at the papers on her desk. “So, how does the billing look going forward?”
Grandpa's Social Security benefits went to the nursing home, and his savings had covered the rest until recently. Now, he had a balance due each month, and I was struggling to keep up with payments. I was behind by several months.
It was worth it to be near him during what I knew would be his last years. But the stress of it was starting to get to me.
And I didn’t want to move him to a less expensive senior home because that meant he’d lose his friends all at once.
Losing Dave had nearly done him in, so if he left everyone at one time . . . no. I’d work three jobs to keep from putting him through that.
Once Cheryl and I were done, I went to see Grandpa. As usual, he talked about missing Dave at first, then switched to asking questions about my life.
“How’s the new boyfriend treating you?” he asked like he did every time.
“Austin’s fine.”
“That’s not really what I asked,” he said, one eyebrow cocked.
“He treats me fine, Grandpa. Brings wine and flowers, takes me out. He’s a good guy.”
“Does he know you don’t really care for flowers?”
I shrugged. “It’s the thought that counts.”
“Your old boyfriend stops in to see me sometimes,” Grandpa said. “Dave’s grandson.”
I had no idea Todd still visited my grandpa. “Why didn’t you ever mention that before?”
He shrugged. “Forgetful, I guess.” He opened his night table drawer to dig inside it. “I think he misses you an awful lot.”
Todd had eventually stopped calling and texting after I went to New York. I guessed he’d gotten the hint that I wasn’t taking him back. He’d texted only once more after I sent the card when Dave passed away to say thanks for thinking of them. I suspected Todd was well and truly over me.
“I’m sure he’s moved on by now. We haven’t really spoken since we broke up over three years ago. But it’s nice that he comes to see you.”
He grunted, then handed me a deck of cards. “Got time for a few hands?”
“Are you going to cheat?” I asked as I shuffled.
“I never cheat. Dirty, dirty lies,” he said with a wink.
