Page 91 of Feuds and Interludes
“She wasn’t kind to Shane on the phone either. Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course. A little tired, but I’ll rest later when they let him come home.”
I gave her another hug and sighed. “At least he’s going to be all right.”
Gran burst into tears, and it was as if a five-alarm fire had just broken out. My grandmotherneversobbed like this.
“What’s wrong, Gran?”
“I don’t think I can do this,” she whispered. “I was so terrified! I cannot bear the thought of losing him like I lost John. I don’t think I could take it.”
“Oh, Gran, but the doctors said he was all right. I know this is scary, but you two are so happy.” I couldn’t believe I was encouraging her to stay with him when two months ago, I was determined she would not become involved with the man. “Atyour age, he may just need to take it a little easy, that’s all. But he loves you, Gran. You deserve to be happy together.”
She nodded and wiped at her eyes with a tissue she’d pulled from her coat pocket. “I’m afraid I’ll be worried about him every second, that if he so much as sniffles, I’ll have him carted off to the laboratory for blood tests. Why am I like this?”
“Because losing Papa was hard, and it took a long time until you were ready to get close to another person. But you are now?—”
“I never thought I’d survive losing your mother. I don’t know what I would have done without John by my side. I was so lost. I didn’t know how I would take care of you. I was distraught. But he was so determined, so sure we could give you the life you deserved…”
“And you did.” I smiled and brushed her hair back that had come loose from her bun. “Gran, you and Papa gave me a wonderful life. Everything I could ever dream of. You deserve to be happy, and I knowBrucemakes you happy. You’ve been glowing ever since the Rock Hall show. Sure, there are going to be tough times, but I’ll be here, and Shane, and we’ll make sure you’re both able to enjoy the time you have.”
“Bless you, my dear boy. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Not many young people would have come running when a silly old woman panics.”
“You are neither silly, nor are you panicking. You had every reason to be concerned. Bruce is up there, Gran, and you’re a lot of woman for a man at any age to keep up with.”
She shushed me, and I kissed her cheek.
“It’s going to be all right, okay? Now, can I get you some water? Some tea while we wait?”
“I’m all right, dear. Just sit with me, please?”
So we did. I pulled up the video of our performance from the night before and we watched it together, sharing my earbuds I’d happened to shove in my pocket on the plane.
“It’s like listening to the two of them as young men,” Gran said when Shane and I sang together. “That Shane is a wonderful performer.”
“He’s pretty wonderful period,” I said with a sigh.
She elbowed me. “I’m glad you two found each other.”
“We didn’t have much of a choice! Who was going to keep an eye on you two?”
She chuckled, wrapped her hands around my arm, and rested her head on my shoulder.
I’d gone from being a complete disaster who couldn’t take care of my own damn self to this place, a few months later, where I was beginning to get a handle on my illness, I managed to prove myself worthy of man like Shane, and I was able to be there for my Gran when she needed me to be strong for her.
Maybe I had a little of that determination Papa had. Maybe he really was with me, channeling a bit of that gumption that kept him on top of the world for a long, long time. For the first time since my diagnosis, I felt like I could handle what was thrown at me, and that felt like a pretty big accomplishment.
I hoped Shane was faring all right. I wished I could be with him right then.
Thirty-One
Shane
Man, I wished Boone was with me. He helped me keep my cool, and right now, with the hospital staff as witnesses, I really needed to do just that.
“Dad, this is ridiculous. You need someone looking out for you. Vera Jean Collins is a high-maintenance harlot who?—”
“Mom, come on. Don’t speak badly about her. You don’t even know?—”
