Page 72 of The Closed Off Captain

“You worry too much.”

Her response makes me even more worried. “I’m starving because your granddaughter only fed me a banana for breakfast,” Gunner says. “So, I’m making an order. What do you want?”

“Chloe, this man needs calories; you know that,” Grandma May scowls.

“I gave him a bananaanda yogurt parfait. And in my defense, that’s all they had to offer.” He doesn’t say anything about our stop for lunch, and I don’t either. I mentally kick myself for not bringing her something to eat.

“I like soup,” Grandma May says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I was hoping she wasn’t going through one of her stages where she refuses to eat.

“Soup it is,” Gunner says. “Chloe?”

“I’ll do soup as well.” I’m sure he knows I’m not hungry, but neither of us are telling Grandma May that.

“Make sure it doesn’t have wheat or dairy in it,” Grandma May points out.

“Got it,” Gunner says easily.

“It’s because she’s so stressed all the time.”

“Grandma May,” I say in warning.

“It is, and you know it,” she argues.

Gunner finishes placing the order and pockets his phone. “Why she has stomach issues?”

Grandma May nods. “Yes. She works too hard and doesn’t take care of herself. She rarely takes time to eat and that affects your digestive system. Add to that her load of stress, and she’s a mess.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly.

“You know it’s true,” she says with a challenge in her eye.

“I’ve been making sure she eats lunch every day,” Gunner tells her.

“Well, good. Somebody has to take care of her.”

Gunner nods, like he totally agrees. I throw my hands up in the air. “I don’t need anybody to take care of me.”

Grandma May looks at Gunner. “Stubborn one, that grandchild of mine.”

“Oh, I know,” he agrees.

“Excuse me, could you not have a conversation about me like I’m not in the room?” I ask.

“Chloe’s always been the caretaker,” Grandma May continues on, as if I said nothing. “Even from a young age, she took on too much responsibility. We wanted her to have a normal childhood—go to sleepovers, play sports, attend parties, but she never did. She always turned down invitations and opportunities to stay home with us. We always thought it was because she was too shy.” She snorts out a laugh. “Yeah, we were wrong about that.”

“Hey,” I interject with a frown.

“But we let her stay home. By the time we caught on, it was too late; she was this stubborn woman that you see before you today.” Grandma May shakes her head. “She missed herchildhood because she was taking care of two old people. I hate that for her.” Shock keeps me quiet. “Even now, years later, it hasn’t changed. She doesn’t date, doesn’t go out, and doesn’t have fun. She works too hard, and you know why, young man?”

“Why?” Gunner asks softly.

“Because she’s paying for my care.” Grandma’s words are so soft and filled with sorrow.

“Grandma May,” I say sharply.

I watch in horror as a tear drips from her eyes; Grandma May never cries. “It’s true, my Chloe; and I love you for it. But I also hate it for you. Sometimes, I think it would have been better for me to pass on at the same time as Grandpa Jim.”

A gasp sounds from my throat, and I drop to my knees next to her chair. “Grandma May! Don’t say that.”

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