Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
She has swelling of her feet, fatigue, weakness... all the symptoms we knew were coming. She has end-stage heart failure, and even though we knew she didn’t have long, we thought with how she’s been doing lately we would have longer.
I secretly text Lucas because I don’t know what else to do. He would want to know that his granny has taken a turn for the worse. The doctor is here with Granny. She’s having a rough day.
Instead of texting me back, he calls.
I try to control my voice when I answer, but it’s shaky. “Hey, Lucas.”
“Hey honey, you okay?”
I grip the phone tighter. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just hate seeing her like this.”
His voice is deep and thoughtful. “We knew it was coming. All we can do is try to make it easy for her.”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. This is his grandma we’re talking about, and he’s trying to soothe me. I’m supposed to be the professional here. I strengthen my nerves and start relaying the treatment we’re starting. “The doctor gave her some medication to let her rest. We’ve upped her oxygen a little. She’s resting now.”
“Good, good. I know you’re doing all the right things for her, Bella. I’m going to round up the boys, and we’re going to stop in and see her, okay?”
I nod and let out a sigh in relief. “Yeah, that sounds good. She’ll be happy to see you guys, but we can’t tire her out.”
“I promise.”
I hang up the phone and make it back into her bedroom as the doctor is closing up his travel case. “She needs to rest, and I told her no more dancing today.”
I smile even though it’s the last thing I want to do. “Right, no more dancing.”
I smile at G, and she gives me a faint smile through the oxygen mask before closing her eyes. I follow the doctor to the edge of the room. “What do you think?”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “There’s not much time, Isabella. All we can do now is make her comfortable.”
I know that, and even though I ask him, I know he can’t give me a definite answer. “How much time, Doc?”
He shakes his head. “When the good Lord is ready to take her home, Isabella. None of us know when.”
I nod and thank him for coming.
The rest of the afternoon, I sit with G. The guys all come and hang out, each of them speaking in hushed tones. They all take turns talking to G, each of them making her laugh. By late afternoon, after her meal, she seems to have perked up a bit.
She points to the white box sitting on the chair across the room.
I look at it. “Uh, I don’t know what that is.”
Lucas interrupts. “That’s a dress for Bella. Tonight’s the wounded hero fundraiser, but we can have someone else attend in our place. We’re going to stay home with you.”
She takes the oxygen mask off and gives Lucas a determined look. “No you’re not. Now look, I know Ford has to go be with Ollie.”
Ford interrupts and mentions his assistant’s name. “No, Lilian is picking up Ollie. I’m going to hang here tonight.”
She looks at Beau with her forehead creased. “Beau, what about Natalie?”
He shrugs. “Natalie didn’t want to go tonight anyway. She’s going to stop by here for a little bit.”
“See, Ford, Beau, and Austin–you know he didn’t have a date for tonight–can stay here with me. Plus, Betsy is here,” she says, pointing to the night nurse in the corner.
Austin laughs. “I don’t know if I should be offended or not at that statement.”
In true G fashion, she looks at him. “Well, did you have a date?”
He shakes his head sheepishly. “Noooo. But it’s only because the woman I asked turned me down.”
Lucas and his brothers all start to laugh. “What? Mr. Romeo himself got turned down? Who is this girl?”
Granny shakes her head. “Now, boys, leave your brother alone. All players settle down at some point. Look at Lucas.”
She turns back to Lucas and me. “See, you and Issi should go. You need to go show off your wife and have a good time.”
I can’t tell by the look on Lucas’ face exactly what he’s thinking, but he tells his granny plainly, “I don’t want to leave you.”
She waves her hand for him to come over to her. I get out my phone and start taking pictures and videos of her with her grandsons. I wish Hudson was here, but I know he would be if he could.
I can’t hear what she says to him, but they hug, and he holds her for a long time. When he finally releases her, he turns to me. “What do you say? Feel like dancing with me tonight?”
I look uneasily at G because honestly, I don’t feel right leaving her either. I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “If that’s what you think we should do.”