Our eyes meet over the tops of several old lady heads like no time has passed, and my nervous system goes haywire. Sparklers fizz and fireworks burst, and this is a moment I’d gladly pitch a tent in and stay for a while.
Wanda’s voice raises above the din. “Can you believe Noah tried to make us eat cafeteria foo—Mia Bobina! You’re here!”
She tosses her bounty on an empty chair to pull me into her arms, not bothering to wait until I’ve wholly turned her way. I’m fairly sure my spine’s not supposed to twist sidewise like that, but it feels so good to be hugged, I let her squeeze for all she’s worth.
“I recognized the signs Dr. Vasquez taught us right away,” Wanda sobs in my ear, “and I was fast as I could be when I ran to the phone.” Sorrow creases her features as she pulls back and looks at me like she wants forgiveness, the noise she makes in the back of her throat akin to the wail I released mere minutes ago. God it hurts—even as amazing as it is to be together again—so fucking much my lungs forget how to work in intervals.
“It’s okay,” I tell her as we attempt to get our sobbing under control. “You did a great job getting her here, don’t give it another minute, okay?”
Wanda gives me a teary nod, and we exchange I love yous, then I straighten and turn, opening my arms wide to embrace the rest of the gang.
“They’re going to come kick us out again if they find out how many of us are in here,” Noah says, and the Cronies roll their eyes at him the way they used to roll them at me.
Poor guy. With this horde of grandmas, it honestly takestwosensible grandchildren to manage.
“At this point, I’ll tell that crabby nurse to go ahead and call security,” Bette adds with a huff. “It’s been a while since a beefy man carried me away.”
“Whatever, it hasn’t been that long,” I retort. “That bouncer carried you up and down that stage at the comedy club.”
She tsks. “That wasagesago. Leave it to Mia to consider going months without the touch of a man a short stretch.”
Perfect.Don’t look at Noah, don’t look at Noah.
I look at Noah.
He’s gazing back at me, not bothering to hide the longing in his features. There’s also a mischievous twinkle that says if we were anywhere but here, he’d be breaking my no-touching streak.
Everything within me reaches for him, but then Ruth shouts “Incoming” and half of the Cronies dart into the bathroom like they’ve definitely done this before.
I’m stifling my giggle, and then my heart is soaring as Noah shuffles past Wanda and Rita, almost to me at long last.
I take a few steps, unable to wait.
My heart soars as he encircles me in his arms, being held by him after months away such a glorious relief. It’s all I can do not to burst into tears, but I pivot toward the nurse who’s stepped fully into the room, lacing my fingers with Noah’s. Assuring myself he’s here and he’s real, and damn do I need a hand to squeeze.
The tingly butterflies die one by one as the nurse relays a slightly more detailed prognosis than Wanda gave me. They can’t stop the bleeding in the brain or repair the damage with surgery due to its location. Some patients go on like this for about a month, but for most it’s a matter of days.
Days.
As in Grandma Helen won’t be in very many more of mine.
Despite hearing the direness of the situation before, I think there was a tiny part of me that thought I’d get here and somehow be able to fix it.
And I can’t, not even close.
Reality sinks in and it sinks in hard.
“What do we do?” I ask, my voice strangled as my broken heart struggles to beat.
“Just talk with her, hold her hand.” As the nurse relays the likely changes in her breathing and responsiveness, everything feels like I’m hearing it underwater. Muted but cataclysmic, details that leave me gripping Noah’s hand like a lifeline as more tears stream down my face.
Rita hands me a box of tissues, bless her, and I wipe my cheeks and then my nose, sniffing loudly and digging for another.
“We’ve adjusted her medications to make sure she isn’t in any pain,” the nurse assures me as she finishes checking vitals. “Right now, our focus is on keeping your grandmother as comfortable as possible during the transition.”
Transition?
Anger rises at the stupid word that’s so far from what’s happening it just pisses me off. “Transition” implies there will be something at the end; a place where I can visit.
