see me.
“Could you get my necklace out of the drawer there?”
She angled her head to the bedside table. I pulled out a necklace I was very familiar with. Gran’s and Grandad’s wedding set hung on it.
“I want you to have this.”
It took me by surprise. “I couldn’t.”
“You can,” she said. “The vultures are circling, and I want someone that will appreciate it to have it. If I leave it for when I die, who knows. I imagine lawyers will be fighting over my will before my body is cold.”
I’d heard the love story of my grandparents. Gran had come from money, but Grandad hadn’t. He’d come home from the war and fallen for her at a chance meeting. Being a decorated veteran, her parents had accepted him. He saved to buy her the modest one carat diamond engagement ring. Their simple wedding bands said a lot about Gran and how money didn’t rule her life.
“Don’t say that.” In my heart I didn’t want to believe that was true until I thought about the things my sister and Aunt Tasha had said about me not having an inheritance.
She gave me a pointed look. “I’m not deaf or dumb. I hear them talking like they think I’m somehow not in the room.”
“It’s a good thing you’re not dying yet,” I said, grinning and needing to see her smile.
She curled my fingers around the necklace and rings. “If there’s anything I learned the past few days, it’s that life is truly short. I’m not afraid of dying. I’ve had a good life. These rings meant so much to your grandad and me, more than money. I know he would be pleased I’m giving them to you.”
I moved in and gave her a fierce hug. “I love you, Gran.”
“I love you, my sweet Jo.”
It didn’t go unnoticed by me that she seemed to be breathing easier. The antibiotics they had given her had to be doing a good job. Whatever other medications they were giving her, she was drowsy and quickly fell back asleep.
When my phone buzzed, I reluctantly gave up my seat and stepped out into the hall, leaving my dad and aunt to watch over Gran. My older half-brothers had made a brief visit. At least they had acknowledged me and not in a totally dismissive way.
“Hello,” I said, accepting the call once I was clear of the room.
“Hey Jo, it’s Suzanne.”
I was surprised to get a call from her, even though she was a coworker. We weren’t exactly friends, especially since she, like other flight attendants, hadn’t been happy I’d been coupled up with Captain Carter Clynes for almost two months.
“Hi,” I said, hesitatingly unsure what she could possibly want.
“I’m calling to see if you could switch with me and take a flight for me tomorrow.”
That’s when I heard it. Her voice sounded somewhat different.
“Why?” I asked, though I had a clue.
“I’m sick.”
“Are you out of leave?” Because that excuse seemed a flimsy reason to call me.
“Not exactly. I’ve been out all week. I’m afraid if I call out again, it could hurt my position. I just thought if I made arrangements for my spot to be covered, I’ll have less problems with HR.”
I didn’t dislike her, even though she and her cohorts had made a point to exclude me just because of Carter.
“I hope the thing with Tripp won’t stop us from being civil,” she said.
I rolled my eyes over her use of Carter’s nickname and, of course, she would say that. I’d gotten serious pie in the face over that failed relationship.
“Tripp plays no bearing on my decision. The thing is, my grandmother is in the hospital. I just can’t leave her right now. I’m really sorry. Can’t you ask someone else?”
I did feel bad because she sounded awful.
“I have and the only people available are already on the roster.”
It made sense I would be her Hail Mary call.
“I’m really sorry,” I said again.
“It’s fine. I’ll take some cold medicine and go in.”
She ended the call pretty quickly. When I returned to the room, Gran was sitting up, looking stronger than she had when I first arrived.
“I’m not dead. And if you presume to make choices for me, be aware I’m of sound mind and body. I can make changes to my will at any point.”
Gran eyed a man in the corner who hadn’t been there when I left. He must have slipped in when I was on the phone.
Aunt Tasha gave me a scathing glare before exiting the