Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“He loves you.”
“He’s all the family I have left.”
Faith gives me a weak smile. She knows he’s not technically the only family I have left, but I don’t keep in contact with anyone else in the family. I didn’t just move away from Telluride, I escaped.
My grandfather made so many sacrifices for me growing up after my mom left. He never talked bad about his daughter, and not once did I feel like I was missing someone who should’ve been important to me. He attended every softball game, celebrated every birthday, and was the one to encourage me to stay away after graduating from college. He came to see me regularly when I moved to Farmington, afraid I’d fall back into old habits, pick the wrong man if I went back to my hometown.
It wasn’t a hard task leaving or staying gone. I’d wanted to leave town long before I was old enough. It felt too small for my dreams.
“Come on,” Faith urges as she opens her car door. “I haven’t been flirted with since lunch. I need a fix.”
I’m grinning when I step out of the car, but my heart is still heavy as we make our way to the entrance. I know I’m lucky, having had my grandfather as long as I have. So many people don’t even get to meet their grandparents or they lose them at a young age. I’ve been blessed with the years I’ve been given.
I also know he won’t live forever. The chemicals he was subjected to in Vietnam made sure of it. There is no amount of preparations I can make that will make his loss easier.
Faith’s warm hand spans my back as we approach his door, and it gives me the strength to open it without hesitation after a quick knock.
“Hey there, handsome,” Faith says as she walks around me. “I’ve missed you.”
“I bet you tell all the guys that,” Big Daddy says, doing his best to hold his good arm up to give my friend a hug.
“Only the best-looking ones,” my friend teases.
His color is better, and he’s in his wheelchair rather than still in the bed, which is how I’ve seen him each day since he returned from the hospital.
It settles a little of the stress I’ve been feeling.
A quiet knock pushes the door open a little further.
“Are these pretty girls bothering you, Mr. Davis?” Sunshine winks at me as she passes by me with a dinner tray.
“Never,” Big Daddy answers with another wide smile for Sunshine. “What sort of gourmet mush are you serving me today?”
“You’re up to mechanical soft.” Sunshine lifts the plate cover with flair. “No more purée for you.”
Big Daddy grins like his day has been made, and I wish I had more ability to control my face.
His smile fades a little but doesn’t disappear completely when he looks down at the bland-looking food.
“I love pudding, and I promise not to eat it if you finish everything else on your plate,” Faith says.
Big Daddy looks at her, the same level of love for her that shines in his eyes when he looks at me. “You got yourself a deal, young lady.”
My eyes sting with unshed tears as I watch my friend unwrap his silverware, the entire time carrying on a conversation with the man who raised me as she prepares his meal.
“He’s getting stronger,” Sunshine whispers in my ear before leaving the room. “You have no idea how much it helps him that you’re here every day.”
I don’t think Sunshine has a damn clue just how much her words mean to me as I watch my grandfather eat his entire meal with a smile on his face.
“I think you’re going to need to come with me every day,” I joke with Faith after kissing Big Daddy goodbye.
She stops me with her hand on my arm, a serious look on her face. “If that’s what it takes, you know I’m here.”
My eyes threaten to well with tears of appreciation.
“Ms. Davis?”
“I’ll wait for you in the car,” Faith says when I hand her the keys.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, turning in Susan’s direction.
The facility administrator gives me a soft smile, but the paperwork in her hands doesn’t give me the warmest feeling.
“I wanted to chat with you about the unpaid bills.”
“Unpaid?” I immediately start to shake my head. “His care from the hospital is supposed to be covered by the Veteran’s Hospital. The lady there told me—”
“Those bills are still active, Ms. Davis, and they will be covered once we get all the forms submitted. I’m talking about his bills here.”
“I was told those bills are covered under Medicare once his personal savings is depleted.”
“If the resident doesn’t own property,” she clarifies.
My gut starts to turn, and I have a feeling I already know what she’s going to say before the words leave her mouth.