“They took her to the hospital and ran some tests. The cancer’s spreading. They said she’s stable now. It could be months, weeks, days... no way to tell.”
I close my eyes, silently praying for her to have more time.
As I fill with sadness, Ryder fills with anger.
“How in the hell am I supposed to tell Amelia about this? How in the hell is she going to handle whatever happens next? I mean, Christ, Dorothy was like a mother to her. She’s the only family that Amelia ever had. Not to mention it’s her only connection to her biological mother, absent as she is.”
Rising to my feet, I walk to him and cup his face.
“That’s not true, not anymore. She has you. You’re a wonderful father, Ryder. You don’t give yourself enough credit. That little girl adores you, and she will get through this because you’ll be there for her.”
“And you. Don’t downplay how important you are to her. To us.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “We could talk to her together.”
“You would do that?”
“Of course, I would. I would do anything for the two of you. Maybe we should go for a visit today. Spend as much time with her as possible. Maybe bring her some flowers.”
“You’re amazing, you know that?” He squeezes me tighter, his lips trailing soft kisses along my neck.
“And don’t you forget it,” I tease.
Hand in hand, we walk up to Amelia’s room and do our best to gently explain Dorothy is getting worse.
“So, Grandma feels worse.” Amelia’s voice is soft, her usual joy absent.
“Yeah, baby, she does.”
“Is she going to go to heaven?”
My heart breaks at the question no child her age should have to understand.
Ryder looks at me.
“The truth is, sweetie, none of us know when we’re going to heaven, but, when the time comes, I know that’s where your grandma will go.” Tears fill her eyes, and I wonder if what I said was the right answer. Is there even a right answer?
Amelia tightens her hold on Ryder. “Can we go see her?”
“Of course, we can,” Ryder says.
A while later, we pull up in front of the hospital. All things considered, her room is surprisingly cheery, and so is she. Her arm is in a cast, and she has a few bruises on her face, but she’s smiling and ecstatic to see her granddaughter. Ryder went to get an update from the nurses, but Amelia was too impatient to wait, so I offered to bring her in.
“Grandma,” Amelia shouts when she sees her. She runs to her grandmother and throws her arms around her.
“Gentle, Amelia,” I say.
“Do not tell my daughter what to do.” It isn’t until I hear the words I notice the woman sitting in the chair beside Dorothy’s bed.
Norah.
Amelia immediately snuggles into Dorothy, her mother’s presence her bad dream come true.
Norah stands and walks toward me. “I don’t know who you think you are, but…”
“She’s my girlfriend.” Ryder’s voice fills the room.
Norah’s smile falls from her face. “You have to be kidding.”