Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23166 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
But what do I know about relationships? Around the time when boys started to appear on my radar, my grandpa got sick. He’d taken care of me my whole life and I was going to make sure I took care of him. If I wasn’t at school, I was with him or trying to make sure our lives wouldn’t fall apart.
I’d failed. I didn’t want to put him in a nursing home, even if it was a good one. My heart aches when I think about it. Looking over at the clock on the nightstand, I see it’s only six o’clock and know there’s only one thing that will make me feel better right now.
I grab the cell phone Mason gave me and my old worn backpack and make my way through the immaculate home. The whole place is decorated with art on the walls and furniture that looks like it’s never used. It’s a home, but it doesn’t feel like one. It’s almost as if the place is staged. It looks like what realtors do when trying to sell a house. Everything is in its place, but nothing is being used.
Slipping out of the front door, I make my escape from the fancy building. I still can’t believe it’s where I live now. I walk down the street a few blocks and to the bus station. I pull out my metro card while I wait for the bus, and then get on unnoticed, even though I’m wearing clothes that look like they belong only on a runway.
The cream-colored dress comes all the way to my neck and has short sleeves. The top is form-fitting, and the waist is cinched by a thick navy belt. Then it starts to flare out until it hits mid-thigh. I picked this one to wear because it came with navy flats to match the belt and I knew my feet would love me for it.
Once I’m at the right stop, I hop off and walk up to the nursing home. I give Larry, the security guard, a small wave and stop to ask how his new baby is doing. Once inside, I nod at the front desk nurse, who is going over a stack of files. She pushes a button to grant access. I sign in, asking her how everything is going before heading straight for my grandpa’s room.
I stop when I see him sitting up in bed watching TV. He’s in the same dark green flannel pajamas he’s been wearing for as long as I can remember. He must have two dozen pairs. His thick gray hair is combed to the side, and I follow his line of sight and see him watching an old western. We used to watch them together all the time. It was actually our favorite thing to do after dinner. We’d have ice cream and I’d end up passing out on the sofa. I lean up against the door frame and wait for him to notice me. It easier this way. To just let him notice me first. When he finally turns his head, my stomach tightens into a ball as I wonder what will come.
“Pumpkin. I was wondering when you’d be by.” My eyes water, but a smile spreads across my face. Tonight is going to be a good night. He smiles at me, and I push myself from the door and make my way to him. I drop my backpack next to his bed and move closer.
“I got caught up. Sorry, Grandpa.”
“That’s all right. You look mighty pretty tonight,” he tells me, scooting over in his bed and patting the empty space next to him.
I waste no time hopping up into the bed. One of his arms wraps around me, and he pulls me in for a little hug and kisses the top of my head. The worry I’ve been feeling washes away. Though the nurse told me he’s had a good day, it makes me feel better to see it for myself.
“I started a new job,” I admit.
“At a jeweler?” I can hear the trace of hope in his voice.
He knows making jewelry is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve drawn up pages and pages of jewelry designs over the years. I don’t know why I’m so in love with jewelry, but I am. Have been my whole life. I’m always looking at what people wear, and I'm fascinated by how different people’s taste can be. The jewelry someone wears says a lot about that person.
“No, I’m just an administrative assistant, but I’m still working on that in my free time. I don’t know if I’d like working in a jewelry store much. I just like making the designs.” I lean into him, resting my head against him and staring at the TV.
“You’re doing all right, pumpkin? You don’t need anything?” I can hear the concern in his voice.