Good luck with that, Landon thought to himself. Keeping Hattie from doing anything she was determined to do would be like telling the sun not to rise in the morning.
“Okay, loop me in, but in the meantime, I’m going to bring Hattie some scrambled eggs, toast, and tea,” Landon said, popping two pieces of whole wheat bread in the toaster. He took out her favorite colorful teacup and began preparing a hot cup of green tea.
Jacques slapped him on the back. “If there’s anyone who can coax Hattie into eating a little something, it’s one of her precious boys. I’m not sure if you realize what your returnhas done for her. She wasn’t even supposed to last this long, but having the three of you back in Moose Falls has given her something to live for.”
Whoa! Landon hadn’t known that having him and his brothers around had been such a lifeline for Hattie.
“I’m sure your love has sustained her as well,” Landon told him. Jacques had shown nothing but unconditional love to Hattie. He was as devoted and loving as they came.
“It’s not the same. When she recited her bucket list last night, it was obvious to me that she had already checked off the biggest one. Being reunited with her grandsons.”
Landon turned away from Jacques, busying himself with the toast preparation. He didn’t want him to see the raw emotion his words had evoked. “I appreciate you saying that, Jacques,” he said in a voice clogged with emotion.
“It needed to be said,” Jacques replied.
By the time Landon had made Hattie’s plate and turned back around, Jacques was gone. With a deep breath he ascended the grand staircase, carefully balancing a breakfast tray. When he reached Hattie’s bedroom, he gently knocked before opening the door with one hand and balancing the tray with the other.
“Rise and shine, Hattie,” he called out in a singsong voice. She was sitting in her bed, propped up by pillows. Dressed in a pale-pink peignoir and with reading glasses hanging off her nose, Hattie looked bright and alert.
“Come in, Landon. Don’t stand on ceremony.”
Landon made his way over, depositing the tray on her bedside table.
“Oh, you sweet boy. I keep asking myself how I was everso lucky as to have such sweet grandsons. Your father can be sweet, but not like the three of you. Daisy raised you right.”
Landon sat down at the end of her queen-size bed.
“Well, it’s my job to see that you get something in your stomach and get hydrated. If I fail at this mission, Jacques is going to be very upset.” He pretend scowled at her.
Hattie smiled at him. “Well, we can’t have that. Can we? Especially since he’s supposed to take me to Vegas tomorrow. There’s a holiday blackjack tournament that’s calling my name.”
Landon didn’t know what to say. He knew his grandmother well enough to know that if he objected to her going, she would be all the more determined to go. He needed to play along with her and keep her calm.
“That sounds really fascinating. I’m sure the two of you will have a great time.”
“Oh, it’s so much fun. You wouldn’t believe it, so many people swirling around the casinos. Everyone is decked out in their finest outfits, lots of glitter and glamour. And if you’re a high roller like me, you get lots of perks.” She waved her hand around. “Free hotel rooms, complimentary drinks. It’s wonderful.”
Landon had never been to Vegas, but he’d heard that those casinos were full of smoke, so he was certain that it wouldn’t be good for Hattie’s health.
“If you weren’t doing so much work on that holiday line for next year, I would invite you to come along with us. But I don’t want to distract you from your deadline.”
Landon breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted to do was take a risky trip to Las Vegas with his illgrandmother. The thought of it was enough to make him break out in hives.
“What a shame,” he murmured. “But on the bright side, we’re making really great progress with the holiday line. I know we’re going to make a presentation soon, but, hint hint, there are a lot of great flavors in the mix.”
Hattie had begun to eat small bites of the scrambled eggs. She was taking small sips of the tea. “I can’t wait to hear what flavor profiles you’ve come up with. I have a feeling that this is going to be our best holiday line ever. Do you know why?”
“Not a clue,” Landon said. “I just hope you’re not disappointed in my work.”
“Impossible,” she said in a robust voice. “You and Bailey are pure magic together, and I know this line is going to follow suit. I have a really good feeling about it.” Her voice softened. “I just wish that I was going to be around to see it roll out.”
“Maybe you will be,” Landon said. A part of him truly believed that Hattie, a woman who had moved mountains in her lifetime, could outlast her diagnosis. But a part of him wasn’t so sure anymore. According to Jacques, Hattie had been holding on for her grandsons. Did that mean she was living on borrowed time?
Hattie shook her head. “Don’t you do that, Landon. We need to be realistic. Holding out hope like that is a surefire way to get your heart broken.” She reached for his hand and held it as tightly as she could muster. Landon could tell that she was using all her strength to appear strong. “I don’t want to break your heart.”
“Well, if you don’t finish that breakfast, that’s exactlywhat’s going to happen,” Landon told her. He wasn’t ready to have this conversation with Hattie. Even though he knew that he couldn’t cure Hattie with a magic wand, he didn’t want to face it at the moment. When he, Xavier, and Caleb had first come to Moose Falls, their grandmother had been nothing more than a faded memory. But she had quickly nestled her way into all their lives and hearts. Losing her would be devastating.
Hattie made a big point of eating everything on her plate. “Done,” she announced, pushing the tray to the side of her bed. “So any plans with Bailey today?” Hattie asked. “A walk down Main Street or a movie date?”
