Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Enjoy your day,” he says. “If you need anything, just text me. I can get to you in less than fifteen minutes.”
“Good to know.” I kiss his cheek. “But I’ll be okay. I really do need to get some work done. Thanks for breakfast.”
“You’re welcome. And thank you for being you.”
We walk outside, hand in hand, and Gray waits while I get into my car and start the engine. I follow them out of the driveway and onto the highway toward town. I turn off before them and follow the road to the resort on the lake.
I’m glad I came, and I can’t wait to see Gray later this afternoon.
Chapter 8
Gray
“So, did Gray tell you the news?” Sidney asks our mom. We’re all sitting in the hospital room, chatting, with Dad stopping in periodically between seeing his own patients.
“What news?” Mom asks, looking over at me. She’s sitting up today, her arm in a sling. Her blond hair is tidy and pulled back from her face, and she even put her red lipstick on today.
She always says she wears the red when she’s feeling sassy.
“Nothing,” I reply, shaking my head.
“Not nothing,” Maya corrects me. “He brought home a girl.”
“A real one. Like, she breathes and everything,” Sidney confirms with a satisfied smile. “And she’s pretty.”
Mom’s eyes narrow on me. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“Well, to be fair, you were pretty preoccupied yesterday,” I remind her.
“I’m never too busy to hear about a potential love interest,” Mom says with a sniff. “What’s her name? Where’s she from? What does she do? Is she from a good family?”
“You really are feeling better today,” I reply with a grin. “And the answers are…Stella, Seattle, interior design, and yes.”
Mom purses her lips. “You’ve always been a little shit.”
Maya and Sidney laugh with glee, and I just shrug, happy to see Mom feeling good enough to give me a hard time.
“I need coffee,” Sidney declares. “Maya and I are going to the cafeteria. Do you guys want anything?”
“I’m good,” I reply.
“I would love a fruit cup. Thank you, honey.”
When my sisters are gone, I cross to Mom’s bed and gingerly sit on the side, taking her uninjured hand in mine.
“You scared me,” I admit soberly.
“I didn’t much care for it, either,” she says and pats my cheek, then brushes my hair off my forehead. “You need a haircut, Grayson.”
“I never seem to make time for it,” I confess. “So, I spoke with Dad last night, but, honestly, he always downplays everything. He’s one of the best doctors in the country, and I can’t get an honest answer from him regarding my own mother’s health.”
“He doesn’t want to worry you,” she insists softly. “You have enough on your plate, Gray.”
“You’re my mom. I need to know what’s going on. You said yesterday that you’ve been dizzy a lot, and that’s not okay.”
“It doesn’t feel good, either,” she agrees. “I’m bad at remembering to take my medicine a lot of the time. But I’ve set reminders on my phone, and I have a pillbox sitting in the kitchen with everything laid out for me. Your dad and I fill it together on Sunday evenings.”
“How romantic.”
That makes Mom laugh, and then she sobers and looks down at her lap for a moment. “The truth is, there is something that I wanted to talk to you about. I was hoping to discuss it with all three of you together, but I can share it with you first.”
She grips my hand, holding on tightly.
“I have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, Gray.”
I blink at her slowly and then shake my head.
“No. Absolutely, not.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Look at me, baby.”
My heart’s thudding quickly, and I feel like someone stole the breath from my lungs.
“I’m fine. For now, I’m fine. I forget little things here and there, like taking my medicine in the morning, but I’m okay.”
“But you’re going to forget,” I manage to say around the lump in my throat. “You’re going to forget us.”
“No, honey.”
“That’s what the disease is,” I remind her softly.
“I may forget your name or your voice, but you’ll always be my child in my heart. All three of you are as important and dear to me as anyone ever could be. I’ll always know, in my heart and soul, that you’re my children.”
“How fast will this progress?” I ask her.
“Well, it’s unpredictable. I could be fine, just the way I am, for years.”
“Or?”
“Or it could happen quickly. Your father has consulted with some of the best physicians in the field, and I’m on medication that should help. I have no intention of going quietly into that dark night, my boy. I’m entirely too stubborn for that. I have weddings to attend, babies to meet, and a whole retirement to enjoy with the love of my life. I won’t be robbed of that.”