Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“Excuse me,” a man called quietly from the doorway. “Are you Mrs. Crowder’s granddaughter?”
I stood from the bed as he stepped inside the room.
“Yes,” I said as Charlie took a step closer to me.
“I’m Dr. Lehay,” he said, reaching out to shake my hand. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course,” I replied.
“I’m not sure how much you’ve been told,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.
“Not much,” Charlie said, putting his hand on my back in support.
“We think Mrs. Crowder fell and hit her head,” he said, glancing at Charlie and back at me. “The damage is extensive. The swelling was very bad and we tried to alleviate it, but—” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing we can do, there’s no brain activity.”
I closed my eyes and felt that blow everywhere. Gran was gone. Her body might be just a foot away, but Gran was somewhere else.
“The paperwork has been signed already to take her off the breathing tube,” the doctor said kindly. “There isn’t anything you need to do or any decisions for you to make.”
“Who signed the papers?” Charlie asked.
“Her daughter in law,” the doctor replied. “Your mother?” he asked me.
“Why would she sign anything?” I asked in confusion. “Why didn’t my dad do it?”
I was pretty sure the last thing my mom had signed her name to was the fancy marriage certificate she had framed on the wall. She didn’t even write checks.
The doctor’s face paled a little as he stared at me. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said. “When our candy striper Veronica said you were on your way and convinced us to wait I just assumed the police had spoken to you.”
“The police?” I said, my voice going high from anxiety.
Charlie’s hand gripped my hip.
“Would you like to sit down somewhere?” the doctor asked.
“Get to it, Doc,” Charlie said firmly.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking between us. “Your father died early this afternoon.”
“What?” I breathed. Confusion and relief warred for supremacy inside me.
The doctor looked over his shoulder, then spoke softly. “He was shot,” Dr. Lehay said. “It seems—well, the police believe that your grandmother may have shot him and when he fell, he knocked her down the stairs.”
“Holy shit,” Charlie blurted.
“She shot him?” I asked dumbly.
“I don’t know that particulars,” Dr. Lehay replied. “This is just what I overheard when they brought your father and grandmother in.”
“Tough old broad,” Charlie muttered. “Guess he won’t be spreadin’ the word of God to any South Americans.”
“I’m sorry,” Dr. Lehay said sincerely, sending a questioning look at Charlie. “I thought you knew.”
“Thanks for telling us,” I said, feeling numb. I glanced toward my Gran, laying so frail and tiny in the hospital bed. What had my father done that she’d had to shoot her own son?
“I’ll give you a few minutes,” Dr. Lehay said.
“No,” I cut in, shaking my head. “Don’t make her wait any longer.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and took a deep breath through my nose.
“She’s tired,” I said, looking at Gran’s face. “And I don’t—” a short sob escaped my lips. “I don’t want her to be in any more pain.”
“She can’t feel anything,” the doctor replied gently.
“She had to shoot her own son,” I replied sharply. “I don’t think you have any idea what she’s feeling.”
“Okay,” Dr. Lehay said contritely. “I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he’d left the room, I walked back over to Gran.
“What were you thinking?” I asked, crawling into bed beside her. I put my head against her chest and listened to the comforting beat of her heart. “I’m so sorry you had to do that, Gran.”
“You did what you had to,” Charlie said to her, his hand covering hers for a moment. “No one who knows you would think any different.”
“You are the best person I’ve ever met,” I whispered, ignoring the tears that wet the front of her hospital gown. “You were the only thing that kept me sane. I hope you know that. The only place I felt safe. I love you so much.”
Dr. Lehay didn’t speak as he came in and unhooked Gran from the machines keeping her alive.
It didn’t take long before I couldn’t hear her heart anymore.
“Come on, baby,” Charlie said gently, picking me up. “She ain’t here anymore.”
I pressed my face into his neck as he carried me out of the room.
“We’ll just sit here for a bit, yeah?” he asked, sitting down on a bench outside. “Got nowhere to be.”
I nodded and let him hold me.
* * *
“You sure you want to do this now?” he asked an hour later as we pulled up in front of my Gran’s house.
“Yes,” I said, my face finally dry. My eyes hurt and my head ached from crying, but I didn’t want to wait. I needed to see where it all went down and I wanted a few of Gran’s things before anyone started going through her stuff.