“Your nana is okay.They stopped her bleeding and began a blood transfusion.He wants to order x-rays to make certain she didn’t break anything when she fell.Is that okay?”
Her plain English cuts through my overwhelm.I nod and address the doctor with an emphatic, “Yes, whatever you think is best.”
When my ma’s shoulders slump in relief, I gather her to my chest and pat her back.A few minutes later, she sighs, lifts her head, and smiles at my sweet pea.
“I would’ve never understood that man.Thank you, Penelope,” she says.
“Dr.Anglewood has deplorable people skills, but he’s a great doctor,” she responds.
“You know him?”my mother asks.
Penelope shrugs.
“My father worked at the steel mill.He had an accident when I was in high school.He’s been in and out of the hospital ever since, so I’ve met most of the doctors here.”
Before I fully digest the information, a nurse calls us into the back and leads us to my grandmother’s bed.Sectioned off by curtains, she lies with her eyes closed and a half-empty bag of blood dripping into her IV.I’ve never seen her so pale.A ball of ice forms in my stomach.Terror steals my voice.
When my mom calls my nana’s name and her eyes open, I breathe a sigh of relief and relax the death grip I didn’t realize I had on Penelope’s hand.Horror races through me as I realize I could’ve crushed my sweet pea’s bones, but she gives my arm a reassuring pat when I bring her knuckles to my lips for an apologetic kiss.She smiles up at me before nudging me closer to Nana’s bedside.
Despite her begrudging act, the relief pouring from my nana’s eyes as she accepts our greetings and hugs releases the worry banded around my ribcage.
“Who is this?”Nana asks as she eyes Penelope.
I introduce them and end with a lame, “I was taking her to dinner when I got Ma’s call, so she came with me.”
The sharpness in Nana’s gaze as she narrows her focus on Penelope’s face fills me with indescribable relief even as Penelope’s awkwardness triggers my protective nature.Knowing my nana’s mental functions aren’t compromised after hitting her head is an amazing blessing, but I vow to do anything to make Penelope feel more comfortable, even if it means lying to the two women who raised me.
“Is she a friend or a date?”
Penelope and I respond at the same time.
“Friend—”
“Date—”
I stare at her.She stares at me.
My brain struggles to process the moment.She called herself my date.
Nana’s chuckle ends with a wince.My mom pats the back of her hand.
“Alright, Nana, don’t give them a hard time.You scared the hell out of usandinterrupted my son’s first date.”
When I open my mouth to argue, certain Penelope said date only because she felt pressured, my mother gives methe lookonly mother’s know how to give and tilts her chin toward Penelope.
“According to our soon-to-be daughter-in-law, you owe her a meal, so go on.We’re fine here now.”
Penelope’s fingers twitch in mine as she blinks startled eyes at my mom, but my nana’s small, pale face in a hospital bed steals my attention.
“But Nana needs—”
“Get out of here,” Nana interrupts.“I won’t be able to rest with the three of you hovering over me.One is enough.We’ll call you back tomorrow, if they haven’t discharged me already.”
“Speaking of calls, did you get an alert from the house security system?I almost didn’t call you because I thought you’d have known already,” my ma says.
Fresh fury washes over me.
“No, I didn’t, and the technicians are worthless,” I growl.
