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“That was a good day for him. As you know they aren’t all that way. And since the last mini-stroke, his memory issues are increasing. His range of mobility hasn’t decreased but is still the same. I’m not telling you anything I’m sure his doctor hasn’t already discussed with you and told you to expect and… if he keeps having the mini-strokes.”
“Yes. We were just hoping.” I look at Ryan whose arms are folded, with his head down. Damn.
“I’m going in. Axel, let’s go,” I call down the hall to him. When he gets to us, Ryan starts walking into Gramps’s room. He puts his hand on Axel's shoulder, leaving me alone to talk to Caroline.
“I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you all.” She sighs.
“It is what it is, right? Thanks, Caroline.”
“No problem, darling.”
“Oh, yeah, if my mother shows up here will you let me know? She’s…” Gosh, what do I say?
“I’ll make sure to tell the rest of the staff when I’m not on shift to contact you.” She touches my arm and gives me that look. The look I’ve come to expect from people after they meet my mother a few times, and find out what she’s really like.
I shake off the sadness of knowing my grandpa's health is deteriorating and he won’t be the same again. And god knows how much time we might have left with the only real parent we’ve known. No time for this, I bat back the telltale signs of impending tears at the corner of my eyes and put on the biggest smile I can muster for my brothers and most of all the man who has always tried to do his best to take care of us when no one else would or even cared to try.
“Hey, Gramps!” I walk into the room with a big smile to fit the laughter in there from the joke he was telling.
“Vanessa, you’re here.” He looks at me, smile faltering.
“Grandpa, don’t be silly, that’s not Mom. You know that’s Lexi,” Axel says.
I step closer and take his hand, still smiling. “Caroline told me you’re the life of the party in here.” I lean in and hug him.
He tenses for a second but soon he relaxes in my arms and I pull back looking into his eyes. Something flashes in them, like a spark of recognition, and his smile is back and brighter than before. “Of course, I know my granddaughter. I’m so happy to see you, Lexi.”
“You don’t know how happy I am to see you, too, Grandpa.” So happy I nod, holding back tears of happiness and sadness mixed together for the strongest, kindest man I know.
“Hey, one of you is missing.” He uses his right hand to push a button on his chair to recline back.
“Drew had to do some stuff at school, Gramps,” Ryan says, leaning back on Gramps's bed, across from the recliner he’s in.
“Boy, who are you kidding? I may not be as sharp as I used to be but school is the last place Drew is. He’s a smart one but I had to drag him kicking and screaming to school when he was younger. More like he’s probably with a girl or getting into something he shouldn’t.” He laughs. “He’s more like his mother than he’d like to admit.”
“Don’t say that around him.” Ryan smirks.
“Oh please. I told him that myself the last time he was here. He spent the day with me and we went out to the gardens.”
“Drew was here, by himself? When?” I ask, wondering if he’s confused and not remembering right.
“Mmm…damn the mind you know, but it’s on my calendar over there. It’s the same day the doc came to see me.” He points to the calendar and it says two weeks ago Doc and Drew, written in someone else’s neat writing.
Wow, he was here. “Who wrote this for you?”
“Caroline. She writes all my appointments and my visits. In case I forget something important. She’s a good woman.”
“She is a great nurse.” I’m just wondering why Drew didn’t tell us he came to see Grandpa. What’s going on with you, Drew?
We stay until it gets dark out and Grandpa starts to look a bit tired and Axel gets restless and whines for food. Ryan takes Axel down to the car to wait while I say bye to Grandpa and ask him about Vanessa.
“Grandpa, did my mother call you?”
“No? Your mother?”
“Your mother’s been gone a long time, Vanessa.” He smiles up at me from his bed. “I loved your mother. I still do. No one else in the world for me but her.”
“You did. Gr—” I stop myself, and go along so I don’t upset him. “She was great, so kind.”
