Page 144 of Delivery After Dark
“It’s Alex, and Paul is with me, Mom. We’re here, and we love you. If you’re ready to go see Dad, we understand.”
“You must be so tired after everything you’ve been through,” Paul added. “It’s okay to go now if you’re ready.”
They shared old family memories and updated her on what was going on with the business she’d founded with her husband, George.
“Martinez Lawn and Garden is in good hands with us, Mom,” Paul said. “We hired McKenzie to keep the books the way you used to. She’s told us a bunch of times how meticulous your books were. No one can ever take your place, but we think you’d be happy with how things are going.”
“We’re almost sold out of Christmas trees,” Alex said, “and soon we’ll close for the long winter’s nap. Remember how much you and Dad used to look forward to that? Now we do, too.”
“We’re going to take the kids to Disney this winter,” Paul told her. “We’re going together before have the new babies in the spring. You’ll have five grandchildren soon, Mom. Can you believe it?”
Hope and Ethan arrived a few minutes later with baby Scarlett, who was handed off to her daddy so they could give kisses to Marion. Paul had met Hope, who was a nurse, when she’d come to the island with her son, Ethan, to help take care of Marion.
Jenny and George arrived fifteen minutes later.
Alex wondered if they were doing the right thing letting him see his grandmother on her deathbed, but the little guy needed closure, too.
“Grandma sick,” George said as Alex held his lookalike son.
“Yes, she is, and she’s going to go to heaven to be with Grandpa George. That will make her so happy to be with him again.”
“But we miss her.”
“We sure will.”
Normally, George would be trying to break free to run around, but he put his head on Alex’s shoulder, as if he knew his daddy needed his love and comfort.
Daisy came rushing in a few minutes later, seeming relieved to have arrived in time. They made room for her to come in and kiss Marion and whisper some final words to the woman who’d become her friend when she’d ended up on Daisy’s porch in town after she wandered off.
After she had the chance to see Marion, Daisy hugged her husband, David, while she cried softly, and he did his best to comfort her.
All the people Marion loved best were by her side when she took her last breath at two fifteen that afternoon.
“She’s with Dad now,” Paul said through his tears.
“They’re having one hell of a reunion.” Alex couldn’t believe how heartbroken he felt to realize they were both gone.
Jenny was right there to provide love and comfort while Mallory and Victoria entertained George and Scarlett in the room next door.
“Grandma was ready to go,” Ethan said as he stared at Marion. “She told me she was ready.”
“When?” Alex asked.
“Last week. She said it was time.”
Alex would never get over the way Marion had taken to Hope’s son. Their bond had been immediate and deep. Long after she stopped speaking to anyone else, she still had something to say to Ethan any time she saw him.
“She loved you very much,” Paul said.
“I loved her, too. I’ll miss her.” He glanced at Paul, who was now his dad. “She’s the reason we’re here, that we’re part of this family and get to live on Gansett.”
Alex had noticed that his nephew had gotten taller in recent months, and his voice was starting to get deeper. “We’ll always be thankful for the joy you brought to her final years.”
“I won’t forget her,” Ethan said, his chin quivering as his parents hugged him.
“We’ll take care of calling the funeral home on the mainland,” David said. “They’ll be in touch with you about arrangements.”
“Thank you all for everything,” Paul said. “I know I speak for my brother when I say we never would’ve survived these challenging years without all of you. David, for your never-ending care and compassion as Mom’s condition came on. Mallory and Quinn, for making her final years so peaceful and for helping us to keep her close to home.”
