Page 48 of Take This Heart
“That’s probably a good call. When will they be here?”
He checks his phone. “I expect them sometime within the hour.”
“Okay, good.”
I tap away on my phone to my brothers, getting more annoyed with them by the second.
I like eating too, you know. Where’s the loyalty?
No answer.
Grandma Nancy and Grandma Donna are punctual, arriving forty-five minutes later. My dad goes out to meet them, despite the reporters jumping to attention when he walks out, and I do my best to block them from getting a shot of him. It requires quick footwork because these people are not messing around—they’re the only ones who stuck around, so they’re serious about finding out what’s going on. It’s sad if it’s such a slow news day that they’d consider this newsworthy.
I reach the car first and get hugs from Grandma Nancy before rushing around to Grandma Donna.
“You said there’d possibly be activity out front, but I didn’t believe they’d still be here nearly an hour later,” Grandma Nancy fusses.
She hugs Dad and then studies him, a crease forming between her brows. “You look tired, honey. Are you not sleeping?” She loops her arm through his, holding onto him even while Grandma Donna hugs him. “You can take a nap while I make some soup and popovers…”
“You don’t have to—” he starts.
“I most certainly do. It’s been too long since I’ve seen yaand it shows!” She smooths down his shirt and smiles up at him.
“I should’ve brought that sweater I’ve been knitting for ya,” Grandma Donna adds. She looks at me and grins. “Ididbring that knitted toaster cover I’ve been telling you about.”
“Great,” I say, with all the enthusiasm I can muster.
We get inside and Dad asks them to sit down with him before rushing off to make food. He has to swear that he’s not hungry right now before Grandma Nancy will let it go. They reluctantly sit down and I look at my dad, silently asking if he wants me to stay. He nods slightly and I sit on the couch next to Grandma Donna. Grandma Nancy is in the chair closest to Dad.
“I need to talk to you about something,” he says. “I haven’t wanted you to worry and I still don’t, but I want you to hear this from me.” He reaches out and takes his mom’s hand and she goes still, as if she already knows she needs steadying.
I take Grandma Donna’s hand and she pats the top of it. The energy in the room intensifies and I press my nails in the palm of my free hand, trying to hold back tears.
“I have a very positive prognosis and I feel really good about my chances of recovery, but I have cancer,” he says, and they both gasp. “I’ve started chemo, and it’s not been too bad so far.”
Grandma Nancy’s face crumbles immediately and he reaches out for both of her hands, holding them on her knees.
I put my arm around Grandma Donna when her shoulders begin to shake with her tears.
My dad’s eyes are glassy as he looks over at me and Grandma Donna.
“I’m so sorry for this news,” he says. “But please…we have to trust that I’m going to be okay. And if not…then it was my time to go, right?”
“I can’t lose you,” Grandma Nancy cries.“I cannot lose you.”
He gets up and hugs her and we’re all sobbing by now. We all gather around him, hugging hard.
Finally, he clears his throat and wipes his face. “Okay, enough of that. Goldie has been a godsend. She’s taken care of me…more care than I need.” He gives me a pointed look, and I giggle and hiccup. “We have to be positive.”
Grandma Donna pulls one of the many tissues out of her pocket and blows her nose. “Okay, we can do that. Right, honey?” She goes to Grandma Nancy and they look at each other for a long moment before Grandma Nancy finally nods.
“Yes,” she says softly and then a little stronger, “Yes.” She turns to look at my dad and points her finger at him. “I’ll be positive, but you are not getting rid of me. I hate to tell ya, but I am gonna be apain in your wazoo. You think our girl here has been too motherly?” She reaches out and squeezes my hand then taps her chest, all while staring Dad down. “Your mother here will not back down. I am going to make sure you are fed and looked after and I won’t hear another word about it.”
“She’s not the only one,” Grandma Donna says. “When you married my girl, you became my son too,” her voice cracks, “and you need all the family you can get right now.”
Dad exhales and his lip trembles as he nods. “Okay. You know there’s room for you here. I don’t think it’s necessary, but you’re welcome to stay.” He looks at me and sighs.
“It’ll be like a party,” I tell him.
