Page 4 of The Journey That Never Ends

Anna poured them each a cup before heading out of the room to give them some privacy.

Grandma Cecilia sat in one of the floral wingback chairs and sipped her tea. “I suppose you are here to talk me into going to a nursing home.”

Elana nearly choked on her tea. She set the teacup down on the side table and looked at hergrandmother. “Did Dad tell you?”

Hergrandmotherbarked out a laugh. “Absolutelynot. He doesn’t want the cat out of the bag so quickly. I eavesdropped on the landline when he was giving Anna her notice.”She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not crazy.”

Elana bobbed her head. “I know that, Grandma. I’m here to find out your side of the story.”

She lifted her chin. “I’m going to tell you something, and I don’t want you to tell your father or anyone else.”

Elana frowned. “Okay.”

Grandma Cecilia studied her. “Promise me.”

Elana sighed. “I promise.”

A slow smile grew on hergrandmother’sthin lips. “I have someone that I’ve been talking to. Someone special.”

Elana’s stomach sank. Those were not the words she wanted to hear from hergrandmother.

“We’ve been talking online.”She giggled.

“Grandma, sometimes people pretend to be someone they are not. Talking to someone online without seeing them is dangerous.”She clasped her hands in her lap.

Grandma Cecilia snorted. “I know him better than my family. He truly loves me.”

Elana shifted in her seat. She didn’t like the way thisconversationwas going.

“Grandma, have you been sending this person money?”

Hergrandmothergave her a surprised look. “Why, yes. How did you know?”

Elana cleared her throat.

Suddenly, Grandma Cecilia stood from her chair. “Your father. Your father has been looking into my personal account.”She fisted her hands at her side. “The nerve!”

Elana stood and gently squeezed hergrandmother’sarm. “He only wants to protect you.”

Grandma Cecilia glared at her. “Get your head out of the clouds, Elana. Your father wants control of my money.”

Elana swallowed back the lump in her throat. She hatedconfrontation. Avoided it at all costs. That’s why she preferred to stay out of family business.

Hergrandmothercocked her head and studied her. “I tell you what. You come with me on a road trip to see my true love. If we arrivethere and he’s not who he says he is, then I’ll sign power of attorney over to your father. And I’ll go to the nursing home without raising a ruckus.”

Elana narrowed her eyes. “It’s assisted living.”

Grandma Cecilia shrugged. “Same thing. So, what do you say? Feel up for a road trip?”

She worried her lip with her teeth. “What’s the catch?”

Grandma Cecilia snorted. “The only catch is it must be a road trip. In my old VW van.”

Elana’s shoulders sank. “Grandma, that thing is old as dirt. I don’t think it’s going to get us where we need to go without breaking down on the side of the road.”

Grandma let out a roll of laughter. “Of course it will. I have my retired neighbor come over once a month to crank it up and check all the fluids. She is solid. It will get us where we need to go.”She beamed.

Elana didn’t really see a downside. She stuck out her hand. “Deal. Now, do you mind telling me where we are going?”

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