Page 77 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
My mouth drops. “How is that even possible with what’s on the board?”
“That’s what we callunicornwords.” Warren rests back, crossing his arms.
Betty swipes a shaky hand down her face. “Twenty-five goddamn points.”
Proud of herself, Lina is beaming. Then I catch my grandma high-fiving her under the table.
They’re working together. I’m annoyed that Lina is starting the game off so strong, but I also enjoy seeing them bond.
“Okay, your turn, Betty,” I say, tallying Lina’s points on the scorecard.
“THUNKED. Fifteen points,” she states proudly.
Suddenly, I get a light pat on my leg. “I’m getting tired, Carter. I’m sorry but I’m going to go back up to my room.”
“Are you alright, Iris?” Warren asks, concerned.
She nods. “Yes, fine. Just tired.”
Lina and I exchange glances. “Why don’t you walk her up, and I’ll stay down here and keep playing until you come back.”
She read my mind.
“Okay.” I get up from my chair, then wrap an arm around her frail body to help her up.
“It was nice meeting you, dear.” She smiles.
Lina gives her the same warm smile and reaches her hand out to give my grandmother a quick squeeze. “The pleasure was all mine. I hope you’ll let me come back again soon.”
Lina wants to come back?
“Anytime.”
I brace her as we walk to the elevator with a nurse following close behind us. As soon as we get to her room on the second floor, she asks me to put her in bed. Once she’s comfortable, I take a quick inventory of the area. Her bed is positioned in front of the TV, and the bookcase I bought her last Christmas is to the side. A small table and chairs are in the corner of the room, with the flowers I sent her the other day blooming nicely in a vase full of water.
Once I see everything is clean and in order, I sit on the side of her bed. “What can I get for you?”
She rests her cold hand on top of mine. “Lina is wonderful, honey.”
“I know. But we’re just friends.”
Her half smile tells me she doesn’t believe that one bit. I sigh, running my palms on the tops of my thighs. “Okay, so we’re sort of—”
“Messing around?” she interjects.
This is uncomfortable. “You could say that.”
“I don’t think it will be that simple for much longer. I saw the way you two looked at each other,” she replies.
“I think you might be right.”
Her eyelids blink slowly like she’s ready to fall asleep. “I always am.”
I rub my thumb across her hand. “I’m going to let you sleep. I’ll call you soon.”
“Okay,” she answers with her eyes closed.
“I love you, Grandma,” I say before quietly closing her door.
