“’Tis no such thing. And they can say what they will. Edith invited me to a meeting.”
“It’s her word against yours.”
Becky frowned. “After her outburst on the telephone and kidnapping her granddaughter, no judge will let her look after a child.”
He stood in front of Becky, hoping she realized the importance of what she was doing. “You’re probably right, but I still don’t think you should be going anywhere near her.”
“Whichever way I turn, someone won’t be happy.” She sent him a scorching look. “I thought you would be glad I’m finding some resolution to this mess.”
“Resolution doesn’t have to involve visiting Edith and listening to her side of what happened.” The first day after Mary returned, Becky was furious at what Edith had done. But, by the next night, something changed and she wasn’t so angry. When Edith asked her to meet her at the hospital, Becky had thought it was a good thing.
The last thing Edith deserved was for anyone to listen to her. She’d taken Mary without Becky’s permission and could have killed her if the accident had been worse.
“You’ll not be changing my mind.”
Sometimes, Becky could be incredibly stubborn. “I don’t want to change your mind. I just want you to think this meeting through properly.”
“And to see your way of thinking?” Her turned-up nose told him exactly what she thought of that idea. “A granny is one of the most important people in a child’s life. Even if she has issues, and we know there are a lot of them, Edith deserves to have her story listened to.”
“You’re biased because of the relationship you had with your gran.”
“What of it? Did you not have a loving relationship with your gran?”
Sean thought of the wonderful times he’d spent with both his grandmas. They always had cookies and cake waiting for him when he visited and never stopped giving him lots of hugs and kisses. “My grandmas were amazing, but they weren’t addicted to drugs and alcohol. Edith’s brain will be a mess after years of substance abuse. She isn’t the type of person you should want Mary to have a relationship with.”
Becky’s eyebrows nearly lifted off her face. “You’d be telling me now who Mary should love?”
“I want to look after you and Mary.”
Becky sighed. “We don’t need looking after. What everyone needs is to be more compassionate and understanding of people who are worse off than them. And it starts inside our hearts for the people who are closest to us. I’m not a silly teenager who doesn’t know the ins and outs of the world. I would never put Mary in harm’s way, but I cannot forbid her to see her grandma. It will only be for a few minutes and only after I’ve spoken to Edith.”
Sean crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Promise me you’ll be careful. I wouldn’t trust one word that comes out of her mouth.”
“I need to see her. If not for Mary, then for Jamie. She meant something to him and, for that, I’ll listen to what she has to say.”
Even though he wanted to stop Becky from seeing Edith, he opened his arms. “I think you’re wrong, but I love you beyond words. If this is what you want, I’ll be waiting here with Mary. If you’d like her to see Edith after you’ve spoken to her, call me. I’ll drive her straight to the hospital.”
Becky hugged him tight. “I don’t know if this is the right thing to do, but I can only go with my heart. And my heart is telling me love is stronger than what Edith has done.”
For Becky and Mary’s sake, Sean hoped she was right.
Chapter21
Becky stood outside the door to Edith’s room. In the corridor, nurses moved with ease between each room, checking on patients who were suffering from the same ailment as Mary’s grandmother. But it wasn’t the head trauma that had sent her to this ward.
In one of the many tests the doctors had ordered, they’d discovered two large tumors on Edith’s lungs. A biopsy had delivered the news that brought Becky to her side. Edith had terminal cancer.
“Can I help you?”
Becky turned to the nurse who’d stopped beside her. “I’m here to see Edith O’Rourke.”
“You can go in, but the doctor’s increased her pain medication. She might be a little sleepy.”
“That’s fine. I’ll not be here for long.”
“If you need anything while you’re visiting Edith, push the red button beside the bed.”
“Thanks. I will.” Taking a deep breath, Becky opened the door.
