Page 66 of Healing Fate
I smiled. “They do when they get into a big bag of candy and eat it all. Apparently, Vada and the Shay triplets are a bit of trouble together.”
He laughed. “Poor kids. Is she okay now?” he asked, addressing Lucy instead of me this time.
“I think so. She only puked once since we picked her up and did manage to eat a little bit of dinner last night before bed.”
“Good. Good. You’re keeping her on a BRAT diet?”
“Yes, sir.”
I laughed. “Dad, relax. I can handle this.”
“I know, son. But I’m allowed to be worried about my only grandpup, aren’t I?”
Lucy stiffened next to me.
Instinctively, I reached over and rubbed her back to calm her nerves.
“Can I hold her?” he finally asked, taking Lucy by surprise.
“Um.” She looked up at me for direction.
I nodded.
“Okay,” she said as she carefully handed her off.
“It’s Vada, right?”
“I Vada,” she told him proudly, stealing his heart in an instant.
“Hi Vada. I’m your grandad.”
The child reacted to the title and looked hesitantly over to her mother.
“It’s okay, sweetie. He’s nice,” she assured her, though I could still sense uncertainty wafting off her.
“Vada, this is my daddy,” I explained.
“Oh. Doc’s daddy?”
“Boy do I have someone who’s going to be excited to meet you.”
“Who?” she asked.
“Your grandma.”
Vada pulled away from him and shook her head.
I reached out and took her from him, wanting to shield her from all of this.
“I’m sorry,” Lucy said. “Grandma was what I referred to my mom as. Let’s just say, things didn’t go well.”
I sensed her embarrassment at the admittance.
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, but well…”
“You know what? How about we come up with better names instead then?” Dad suggested.
