Page 12 of The Dangers of Daydreaming

“Lots of risks with a broken hip, too,” I replied. This was just like my grandpa. Loved the man, but jeez, he dragged his feet on everything. He called it a “farmer’s pace,” and said he couldn’t afford to go too fast or he would miss something important—the exact opposite of my Gram.

“I’m not saying I won’t get the surgery,” Pops hedged. “I’d just prefer to read through all the information.”

“Yeah, okay,” I said, shaking my head.

“Don’t look at me like that, I get enough of those looks from your Gram.”

I swept aside my annoyance. Pops would get there on his own, just not as fast as the rest of us would like. And hopefully it wouldn’t cause any long-term medical issues—if the doctor was really worried, he’d probably insist on surgery ASAP, not just recommend it within twenty-four hours. “Sorry, Pops,” I said, leaning back and feigning nonchalance even though every one of my muscles was tense and begging to get up and pace. “It's a hard life when you marry a woman who’s always right.”

Both my grandparents laughed at that.

“I always knew you were my favorite grandson,” Gram crossed the room to pat my head like I was an obedient pup.

“He's your only grandson,” Pops grumbled with a light grunt as he tried again to get comfortable. He leaned his head back against the flat hospital pillow.

Gram ignored him, looking down at me in my chair. “How did the tour go today?” she asked.

I stood, nudging her into my chair and crossing my arms as I thought over the day. “Same as usual. Booked an additional guest at the B&B this morning, too, so there's only one empty room right now. I talked to Stephanie’s mom about coming in for breakfasts in the next couple of days, so you don't have to worry about them, too.” It was out of character for me to take over those planning needs, but I tried to channel Gram for the afternoon so she wouldn't need to do it all. Plus, it had been nice to fill the time while the Hastings family explored the beach town we'd visited after the museum. If I hadn't done it, I might have had too much time to worry.

Gram nodded distractedly, eyes shifting to Pops. With surprise, I noticed that he'd fallen asleep. My mouth turned down. “He needs to get the surgery,” I said in an undertone.

“Yes.” She sounded so tired.

I laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing, trying to infuse the action with support. “How can I help? What do you need?”

Her hand came up to grasp mine, her eyes not leaving her husband's sleeping form. “You're already doing a lot. Just knowing you've got the tour group handled is a weight off. But.” she glanced up, meeting my eyes. Hers were dark like my own. “Would you mind staying in our owner's suite tonight in case one of the guests needs something?”

“Sure, of course.” I had a little house, not a quarter mile from the main house, but it would be easy enough to stay at the B&B.

“Thanks, hon.” She squeezed my hand again, then released it. I shifted my weight, crossing my arms.

Silence blanketed the room except for Pops' heavy breathing and the beeping of the machines. It was uncomfortable—gave me the same itchy feeling as a wool sweater. To think, I'd actually wanted to work in a hospital once upon a time. It had been my dream growing up to be a doctor. It was still supposed to be my dream, just on a hiatus. A two-year hiatus so far.

“Finn?”

I looked at Gram, happy to abandon my thoughts.

“I think we may have to sell."

My brows flew up. “Pops is going to be fine.” Did it sound like I was convincing myself with that statement?

She nodded, but it didn't seem like she was overly confident. “I know, but we need to be realistic here. Even with your grandpa healing, it could be months. A year maybe, till he's back to normal, and we're not getting any younger.” She clasped her hands together and dipped her chin; something about the action looked embarrassed. “To be honest, we’d thought about this before everything. It’s just getting to be too much for us. All the company's overhead, along with the upkeep of the farm… it’s more than we can handle.”

A hailstorm of disagreements filled my mind, but I closed my mouth against them. It was harder to tamp down the sensation of frustration that they’d been discussing this without me. I wanted them to do whatever was best for them… I just wish it wasn’t this. I honestly didn’t think itneededto be this. Life was good. They’d been running the farm and bed-and-breakfast for as long as I could remember. The last couple of years, we’d fallen into a great rhythm with the addition of the tours. Gram and Pops ran the small tour company along with their B&B. We had a few employees. I took the tours out and helped with odd jobs around the place, and Stephanie handled the reception desk—her mom came in and helped with breakfast when needed. Wes saw to the upkeep of the farm with Pops’ help. Gram even ran a little social media page for it all, with help from Stephanie, because none of us really knew what we were doing with that stuff. We weren’t one of the bigger groups around, but we had a lot of referrals, and things had really started to grow and take off.

Maybe that was the problem. If things weren’t going so well, it would have been more manageable for them.

“We won’t make any major decisions till we have more answers about your grandpa,” Gram whispered. “I just wanted you to know it was a possibility.”

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. It wasn’t so much that I was sad or upset as I was… worried. I liked knowing what each day would bring and living in the moment without fear for the basics of life. Just like I didn’t have to worry about the sun rising each day, I didn’t have to worry about Gram and Pops, my job, or my living situation.

And now I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to me if the business shut down.

I scoffed. Way to be self-centered, Finn.

“You just let me know what you need from me, Gram. I’m happy to take on more if that would help.” Whatever she needed, so long as they kept things the way they were.

She smiled, but her eyes seemed pained. Or pitying. Probably pitying me for thinking I could change their minds. Or that I could be more help.

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