Page 175 of The Sweetest Obsession

I need to talk to Grant about this.

I know he’s trying his best—so am I—but I wonder if Nell’s a little too curious for her age. Maybe she needs a good counselor as much as she needs a family.

She clutches at me, though, her tiny body shaking.

“My point is, Isaw,Miss Philia. If I saw that, I can see your mom no matter what she looks like,” she whispers against my chest. “I want to see Miss Angela because she’s still alive. Even if she looks sick or scary... she’shere with us. So I just wanna see her in case she—you know.”

She won’t say it.

Even at her age, she knows not to tempt death out loud.

But I know exactly what she means, what she isn’t saying with that precocious little mouth.

In case she isn’t alive anymore, soon.

I get it.

She couldn’t say goodbye to her folks.

And since she cares about Ros and my mom, about me...

It means something for Nell to be able to say goodbye to our mom before she’s gone, instead of waiting for the grim aftermath.

“Okay, Nelly. I gotcha.” I whisper into her hair and squeeze her tight. “But you hold on to my hand, okay? If you want to leave, just say it and we’ll go.”

With a sniffle, she nods, huddling against me before pulling away with the dignity of a tiny duchess and rubbing at her eyes. “O-okay.”

I offer her a brave smile of my own, then get out of the car and round the passenger side to let her out.

Her hand feels warm and small in mine as we head inside.

I still feel a little uncertain about this, but Nell seems steady enough.

I’mthe one who’s unsteady—even more so when, on the way down the hall to my mother’s room, we pass Mason Law’s room.

I almost stop dead in my tracks.

I’m not expecting a familiar broad shape sitting in the chair at his bedside, hands steepled, brooding stare locked on Law’s sleeping face.

Grant.

He must feel my eyes drilling into him somehow because he breaks away from studying the unconscious man and glances up.

We lock eyes and he offers me a guarded smile.

The whisper of a smile I beam back feels just as unsteady and full of aching confusion. Then his gaze shifts as Nell leans around me and waves.

“Look who’s here! Hi, Uncle Grant!” she whispers loudly.

Behave, he mouths, raising a hand to her.

Pinky promise, she mouths back, holding up a hand with her little finger outstretched.

We linger a moment longer before we make the rest of the trek to my mother’s room.

I stall for a second before we come to the window that feels like gazing straight into hell. It’s little Nell I’m watching, not my mother, as she comes into view.

Thankfully, Nell doesn’t look bothered at all, though her eyes are a little wide as we stop in the doorway.

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