Zach’s grandmother took a seat in the living room, opting for an armchair over the couch. Cael practically sprinted down the hall to their bedroom, somewhat thankful he hadn’t gotten Taylor up and dressed yet. As Cael reached their bedroom door, Zach came out, almost crashing right into him.
Cael’s brain stuttered. “Whoa,” he whispered. Zach wore his new black button-down with its patterned white and plum colored cuffs folded up to his elbows coupled with slim but not skinny gray jeans.
“What?” Zach asked, looking down as he smoothed his hands over his shirt. “Does it look okay?”
“Definitely better than okay.”
Zach smiled and pecked his lips. “Is Taylor up yet?”
“No, but before she is, you should know that Abuela is sitting in the living room.”
Zach furrowed his brow. “What?”
“Yeah. She said she wouldn’t stay long but wanted to talk with both of us. Apparently your grandfather is waiting out in the van.”
“Fuck,” Zach muttered under his breath. “At least she had the decency to say goodbye before never speaking to me ever again.”
With his lips pressed into a thin line, Zach put his hands on his hips and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through his nose and letting the air out slowly. He opened his eyes and looked up at Cael.
“Sorry,” Cael said, his lips twisting and brow wrinkling.
Zach shook his head. “Don’t be sorry. None of this is your fault.” Zach clasped Cael’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
Hands linked, Cael and Zach walked into the living room and sat on the couch together. Cael tried to slip his hand out of Zach’s, but Zach only tightened his grip.
“Cael said you wanted to speak with us,” Zach said, his tone impassive.
“Yes.” She paused, looking between them. “When I first brought your grandfather home to meet my parents and grandparents, not one of them approved of him. He was a farmer with little money to his name, and I was the governor’s daughter. My mother and father forbid me to see him again, more concerned about public embarrassment than their daughter’s happiness. Do you know what I did?”
“No,” Zach answered. “You’ve never told me that story.”
“I ran away. In my heart, I did not care. I loved him.”
“Abuela, why are you telling me this?”
“This man makes you happy, does he not?”
Zach gave Cael a heartfelt glance. “More than you know.”
Abuela smiled, keeping her lips pressed together. “I lost my family when I left to be with Alejandro. I do not want that for you, mijo.”
Zach straightened. “Cael and I are getting married, Abuela. I’m not changing my mind on that.”
“I know, and perhaps you and Cael are not so much different from me and your grandfather. You did not choose to fall in love with a man just as I did not choose to fall in love with a poor farmer.” Abuela smiled knowingly at Cael. “I imagine I am in my grandmother’s shoes now, but in praying for God’s guidance, I was reminded that God does not choose who to love either. God loves and accept all his children. It was wrong of me to judge you and Cael, and I apologize. I do not wish to treat you the way my grandmother treated me, and that is a choice I can make. I believe, in time, your grandfather will make the same choice.”
“So, this isn’t goodbye?”
“Only until next time.” Zach’s grandmother pushed to her feet. “I should be going. We are driving back to El Paso today.”
Zach stood and hugged her.
She hugged him back.
***
It turned out Abbey had to learn how to do a lot of normal things again. Mostly physical things—gross and fine motor movements. Things like how to hold a pencil, how to write… how to walk. She had a lot of strength to rebuild too, her muscles having weakened over the last few months.
Her memory had remained intact with the exception of the day of the accident. The doctor said she’d likely never regain any memory of that day simply because her brain never had the chance to move it from short term to long term memory. That was likely a good thing.
