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Jake enters the kitchen with a smaller lady, and I immediately feel like I’m looking at an older version of the beautiful woman in her wedding dress.
“This is Rose. Jay-Jay’s grandma. Rose, this is Claire.” Jake introduces.
She’s pale—the rosy cheeks I imagine she has drained of all color.
She knows I’m here because of more than a leak.
Fiddling with the strap of her handbag, she offers a sad smile.
I try to smile back.
She pinches Jay-Jay’s cheek. He backs away, his face reddening. “Grandma,” he moans.
He’s adorable.
“Me and your dad were talking, and now that you’re on summer break from Friday, how about me, you, and grandpa leave early for the beach house?”
I can’t see his face, but I know he’s bursting with excitement.
He nods. “Awesome. Are you coming, Dad?”
“Your dad will be busy.” Rose answers. “We’ll leave on Saturday. He’ll join us at the usual time, and maybe he and Claire could join us for a night or two before then.”
I can feel the twitch in my lips.
Back with Mandy and Garry.
I’d give anything to be there right now.
“I’d like that,” I say, glancing at Jake. His eyes pull together. Whatever he’s thinking now is causing him pain.
I know him well enough to know that being without his son for weeks isn’t the norm.
He’s sending him away because he’s scared for his safety.
“We’ll be there, buddy.” He hugs Jay-Jay, his eyes closing as he grips his son’s sweater. “Say goodbye to Grandma. We’ll go upstairs and get you ready for bed.”
When we’re alone, my throat feels tight, and I scratch at the skin, needing to open my airways.
To her, I’m a strange woman in her grandson’s home.
Tears well in her eyes before she tilts her head and offers a watery smile.
“Can I hug you?” she murmurs, her voice wobbly.
Relief instantly washes over me, and the breath I don’t know I’m holding escapes in a whoosh.
“Of course.” I think she needs one as much as I do.
Her hugs are as good as Jay-Jay’s, but they have a maternal squeeze.
When her chin wobbles, I take both her hands before I have time to think about it.
“I’m so sorry this is happening to you,” she cries, taking a tissue from her pocket and patting her eyes. “We thought that man was out of our lives for good.”
A sorrowful lump lodges in my throat. “Please don’t be sorry. Don’t apologize for him. And I’m sure Jake is just being cautious.”
Her palm cups my cheek, and I swallow the prickle of emotion. “I know you don’t know me, but please take my advice. I’ve known that man upstairs since he was a boy in diapers. Me and his mom were best friends long before then. Life has changed him, but his heart is the same.” Her tears stream freely now. “Trust him. He’s cautious for a reason.”
