Page 76 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
“The residents are going to be so happy to see a cheery face like yours this afternoon.” Sue smiles. “I’ll need your ID to check you in, and then you both can head back.”
When Lina and I get to the recreation room, it’s packed with people. A volunteer is calling out bingo numbers in the far left corner, a chess match is going on to my right, and other small groups are playing various games throughout.
I drag my eyes across the room with large bay windows and circular tables, searching for my grandmother. I spoke with her this morning, and she seemed to be feeling well enough to come down today, so I panic when I don’t immediately see her.
“Carter!” I hear Warren’s raspy voice call out. Turning in that direction, I spot him, Betty, and my grandma in the middle of a game of Scrabble.
I wave at them. “This way.” I place my hand on Lina’s lower back. She leans into it, and I swell with pride as I walk in with her. I’m ready to show off this incredible woman and probably get peppered with a million questions.
“Hi, Grandma,” I say as we approach the table. She starts to lift out of her seat, but I lower to hug her before she has the chance to. “No, don’t get up.”
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.” Her voice is weak and quieter than normal. I push aside my initial concern.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come last week. I ended up having another flight.” I gesture toward Lina. “This is my friend, Lina. She wanted to play games with us today.”
“I hope that’s alright?” Lina’s sweet voice is low.
Her eyes light up. “Yes, yes. Of course.”
Lina gives her a warm smile and then bends, allowing them to embrace each other. “It’s so nice to meet you,”
“She’s beautiful. How much did you have to pay to get her to hang out with a bunch of old folks all day?” Warren comments.
Lina giggles. “He brought me because someone needed to help him kick your butts at these games,” she teases.
I laugh at her wit. She’s comfortable in any situation, and these people are going to eat it up like everyone else.
“Well then, pull up a chair, hun, and let’s start a new game,” Betty says, gesturing to the chair on her opposite side.
Lina turns to me and winks before sitting down. I pull an extra seat from the table behind us.
Betty starts counting out seven tiles to disperse amongst the players when my grandmother turns to Lina.
“What do you do, dear?” she asks.
Lina straightens her posture. “I’m a flight attendant.”
“Oh honey, that sounds amazing.” Betty wiggles in her seat. “In my day, people who worked for the airline were like rockstars.”
“Is that where you two met?” Her voice sounds strained. I wonder if she’s feeling alright.
I answer this time. “Yeah, Lina and I work for the same airline.”
“You’re a lucky bastard to get to spend so much time with a woman like that,” Warren comments as if Lina’s not in the room. I chuckle because this group does the same thing to me all the time.
Lina raises her eyebrows as she glances at me from across the table. I shrug my shoulders in agreement with what she's thinking. We share a quiet laugh.
“I appreciate the compliment, Warren.” Lina clasps her hands together under her chin with her elbows bent on the table. “But are we going to get this game started or what?”
Betty laughs. “Let’s go!”
We’re only fifteen minutes into the game, and Lina is already ahead. Five sets of eyes dart around the table at one another. Lina is taking her time. She does this every turn. I’m not sure if she’s messing with us or if she really is as competitive as she says she is. Sometimes, I think she does things just to get under my skin. She’s a spitfire and constantly keeps me on my toes.
I know she has a good word because of her terrible poker face. With each turn, she expresses excitement and disappointment.
She pitches three tiles with her fingers and adds them to the board.
“SQUEEZE. Twenty-five points,” she screeches and bounces in her chair.
