Caleb grinned and bowed. He really enjoyed performing. Xavier knew there was a part of his brother that still sought out the accolades and the spotlight. Xavier didn’t think that particular desire had been snuffed out. Or ever would be.
Shortly after Caleb put away his saxophone, Xavier found a moment to sit quietly with Hattie. In all likelihood, this would be the last birthday she celebrated. Just acknowledging that fact rocked him to his core. The loss of his grandmother was going to hit like a land mine.
“Thank you for all this,” Hattie said, smiling as she looked around the room at the balloons and celebratory banners.
Xavier had that feeling humming around in his chest, the one he always had when he’d done something good for somebody. “It’s well deserved, Grandmother,” he told her.
Hattie let out a gasp. “That’s the first time you’ve called me that since you’ve come back to Moose Falls.”
Xavier nodded. “It is. I had to warm up to it. Hope that’s okay.”
“It’s more than okay. That’s the best birthday present you could ever give me.” She held his hand, but her grip wasn’t her usual tight squeeze. She looked tired. Hattie hated people asking her all the time about her health, so he usually didn’t inquire. But, at the moment, it was a question he couldn’t avoid.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, looking into her eyes for an honest answer.
Hattie sat up tall. “Right as rain. Why? Don’t I look good?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
“You always look beautiful, but your color is a bit pale. How about a glass of water?”
She raised a hand to her throat. “I’d like that. It is a bit warm in here.” She fanned herself. Just as he stood to get the glass of water, Hattie began to sway in her chair.
“Hattie!” he called out, catching her before she could slump to the floor.
The next half hour passed in a chaotic blur. He shouted for someone to call 911 while he tried to revive her. Hattie came to after a few minutes, but she was clearly in distress.
Everything happened fast, with Red insisting that Xavier ride with Hattie in the ambulance. His father’s face was strained and full of fear. Xavier agreed, with Jacques, True, and his brothers all promising to meet him at the hospital.
On the way to the hospital, Xavier held tightly to his grandmother’s hand and spoke to her in a soothing voice. She murmured a few words to him, but she appeared disoriented. Hattie looked pale and weak.
The ride in the back of the ambulance was terrifying for Xavier. For the first time, it truly hit him that they were losing her. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but her life was ebbing away. Months. Weeks. Not even Hattie’s doctors knew for sure.
When they arrived, Hattie was whisked away to an examination area where he couldn’t accompany her. Instead, he was led to a family members’ waiting room where he paced back and forth, filled with nervousness and a heavy weight on his chest. Hattie had to make it through this. He wasn’t ready to lose her, especially since they had just reunited.
Ten minutes later True rushed in, her cheeks tearstained, her hair windswept. She raced toward him, her expression frantic.
“Your brothers and Jacques are right behind me,” she said. “Red too, I think.”
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. True was exactly what he needed in this moment of uncertainty. She was giving him strength just by being here. When he finally let her go, she asked him, “What’s going on? How is she?”
“They took her in the back and said they’ll come out to give an update as soon as they can,” he explained.
True’s face crumpled, and she let out a moan. “She looked so still at first, as if she wasn’t breathing. I’m so worried, Xavier.” Tears began to stream down her face.
“Everything’s going to be all right.” He placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. With True being so upset, it gave Xavier something to focus on other than Hattie’s condition. He wasn’t the only one who adored his grandmother. True’s connection with her was deep and meaningful.
“How do you know that?” she asked, wiping away tears from her cheeks. “I want so badly to believe she’s going to pull through, but life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to.” Xavier understood her fears. She’d lost so much in her life. More than most people, True knew that sometimes life went haywire and bad things happened. And she had no control over it. Xavier knew a little about that as well.
“I don’t know for certain,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. People used to say that to me all the time after my injury, and I hated it.”
“Because everything wasn’t all right?” she asked, peeping up at him from under wet lashes.
“Not by a long shot,” he said. “But mostly I hated it because they had no clue if everything would work out, but they kept telling me it would.”
True let out a snort. “Some comfort you are!”
He laced his fingers through hers. “I’m right here with you, True. So whatever you need, just tell me. I know Hattie’s my grandmother, but she’s the closest thing to a mother you have. I understand how this must feel.”
“Xavier, I’m scared of losing her. Just the thought of losing someone close to me is unbearable. And I know she’s terminally ill, but this is all happening so fast. I’m not ready to say goodbye.”
