Chapter 24 Pet
I’d barely been able to catch my breath after leaving the house. Every step forward seemed like it came at a cost, as if I were leaving pieces of myself in my wake. But I needed this visit, a final goodbye to a man who had been my steady light after Dad was gone, someone who’d taught me how to balance accounts, how to shoulder the weight of a business, how to find myself.
As I walked into the familiar corridors of the nursing home, the antiseptic smell stung my nose, reminding me of every visit, of the faint warmth in my grandfather’s gaze that always soothed the worst parts of my day. I found him in his favorite armchair by the window, light streaming onto his face, making him look. every bit the strong, quiet force he’d always been for me. He looked up
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and smiled as I approached, but there was a question in his eyes, as if he already knew why I’d come today.
“Grandpa,” I managed, my voice soft, barely audible as I sat beside him. “I… I wanted to thank you. For everything.”
He placed a gentle, weathered hand over mine. “I’m proud of you, Cynthia. You’ve come so far.”
I felt the familiar burn in my eyes, and before I knew it, tears slid down my cheeks, uninvited and impossible to stop.
“I’ll keep making you proud. Even if it’s from a little further away.”
His gaze softened, and he gave a small nod, swallowing his own emotions. “That’s all I ask, sweetheart.”
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in, but my voice came out shakier than I’d like. “You know, you’re just saying that because you’re my grandpa. Bound by the law of unconditional love and all that.”
He chuckled, the sound rich and familiar, like a soft blanket on a cold day. “Ah, but I’m also a retired lawyer, remember? I know a thing or two about judgment.”
“Oh, I know.” I smiled, rolling my eyes. “You’re like the master of judgment.”
“Master of judgment?” he raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “Don’t forget–I’m also the master of checkers, Scrabble, and–let’s not forget–pancake–flipping. Who taught you those skills, young lady?”
“You didn’t teach me, you just cheated less
when I got older.” I nudged his shoulder lightly, letting out a small laugh as he raised both hands as if conceding. “Besides, I think I was flipping pancakes better than you by age twelve.
“Ah,” he said, nodding with a wise, exaggerated look. “That’s called a legacy, Cynthia. A master leaves the apprentice his skills, and then watches them thrive.”
“Oh, is that what it’s called?” I teased, feeling lighter, the tension between us melting away. “And here I thought it was just you letting me ‘accidentally‘ win so I’d want to make you breakfast every Sunday!””
He grinned, his eyes sparkling with the warmth of countless Sunday mornings.
“Now that,” he said, lowering his voice to a mock–conspiratorial tone, “was just good
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strategy.
I laughed, shaking my head. “You know, Grandpa, you’re lucky you’re cute. Otherwise, you’d be in trouble for admitting you used me to get free pancakes.”
“Used you?” He put a hand to his chest, pretending to be wounded. “You wound me, child. I was merely a humble old man, teaching his granddaughter the fine art of the griddle.”
I let out a snort, swiping at a stray tear.
“Okay, Grandpa,” I said, smiling. “We’ll pretend that s the truth. Just for today.”
Ne squeered my hand, leaning in a little closer. “You were always smarter than me, Cynthia. That’s why I never needed to worry about you.”
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“Even now?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He nodded, giving my hand a little shake. “Especially now. You have your father’strength and your mother’s kindness, Cynthia. That’s what makes you special, not the house or the company. I know you re doing what you need to do.”
A quiet settled over us, one of those moments where neither of us had to say anything because we understood. And I knew that even though I’d be leaving. part of me would always be here with him.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, not wanting him to hear the worry creeping in.
“I’ve got my crossword puzzles, my nosy
Chapter 24 Pet
neighbors, and the nurses who pretend I’m not actually doing well,” he replied with a dash of humor. “And you know, the animal visits. They’ll make sure I’m… entertained.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just don’t get too bold with the nurses. I’m not ready to hear your…
tales.”
He winked at me. “They like a little trouble–it keeps life interesting.”
I shook my head, laughing. “I can’t believe this is real life. You’re incorrigible.”
“Don’t pretend you’re not proud of it,” he said, giving my hand a reassuring pat. “Go out there and make your own rules”
I wanted to stay in that moment, wanted to cling to every word and store it in a corner of my mind I could revisit anytime. But the
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goodbye was looming, and no amount of WITEIT Words could erase that. He must have felt it too, because his expression softened, and he took my hand, folding it between both of his.
“You’ll come back and visit me, won’t you?” he asked, a bit of that rare vulnerability slipping through.
“Of course, Grandpa,” I whispered, my voice tight as I fought back a fresh wave of tears. “You’ll always be my favorite. person to make pancakes for.”
“Well,” he said, his voice lowering to a gravelly whisper, as if he were revealing a great secret. “Then I guess you’d better bring syrup when you come. The good stuff.”
“Deal,” I said, laughing, even though my heart felt like it was breaking. “None of that
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imitation nonsense. Only the best for you.
He leaned back, satisfied, his eyes misty as he looked at me. “Good girl. Now, off you go before I get soft on you and start crying too.”
For a moment, it was just us. No heaviness of past decisions or the ache of lingering disappointments. But just as I was about to say my goodbyes, footsteps sounded down the hall, and my heart sank as Noel and Adrian appeared, followed by Avery.
Of all times.
They were smiling as they walked in, Avery. chattering into her phone. Her voice bubbled over, “Oh, Mina, I’m sad you couldn’t join us today! And I know Noel and Ade are missing our little pup, too!”
My eyes flickered to Noel and Adrian,
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standing at her sides like pillars, so involved in her life it was hard to remember when they d felt that way about me. A hollow pang settled in my stomach. How many times had I begged them to get a pet together? Something that would feel like it was ours, a little commitment. But they d both brushed it off, saying they didn’t have time for childish things, that a pot was something people with real commitments like marriage made together.
Marriage. What was so hard about marrying me? To have a family, children m. loving husband, I swallowed, and that was why I had to leave. They couldn’t give me these things.
No, they didn’t want to.
I forced a smile, pushing the jealousy down. “Hey, guys.” I greeted them, trying to keep
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things light, even as I felt my heart tugging at the sight of Avery between them. so at ease in a space that had once been ours.
Noel’s gaze drifted over me, taking in the redness of my eyes. “You okay, Cynthia?” he asked, a hint of concern there, but tempered by a faint distance. Adrian looked between me and my grandfather, clearly noticing the tears.
laughed it off, shrugging. “Just saying goodbye. You know how Grandpa is, he always gets a little emotional.” I squeezed my grandfather’s hand, and he smiled, knowing full well why I’d chosen to brush off their questions.
Avery, still on her phone, laughed suddenly at something Mina had said. She turned, glancing at me with a smirk. “Oh, you know, Cynthia,” she began, as if we were friends,
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“we were just talking about how nice it would be if Mina could come visit. She’s dying to meet Noel and Ade’s dog. It s just so cute!”
My throat tightened, and I kept my gaze locked on my grandfather, even as the words cut deeper than I’d expected.
“Sounds…nice,” I managed to say, forcing another smile as I straightened, brushing off my blouse. “Well, I should get going. I don’t want to intrude on your visit.
I
But as turned to leave, Noel reached out,
catching my arm. His grip was firm, like he wasn’t ready to let me walk out. just yet. “Wait, Cynthia. We hardly got to see you. Can’t you stay a bit longer?”
I looked up at him, feeling the familiar pull of his presence, that soft ache that always felt like home but never seemed to be mine
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alone anymore. Adrian stepped closer, his eyes scanning my face, searching, as if he were trying to understand something he hadn’t considered before.
And yet, all I could feel was the weight of Avery’s gaze on me, the girl who had somehow, inexplicably, become a center in their lives that I couldn’t seem to break through.
I could still feel Noel’s and Adrian’s pleading eyes on me as I left the nursing home, their voices asking me to stay, to join them for just one meal. But I had no more time to spend on their empty gestures. “Sorry, I have to be at the jewelry show, I’d said, and I could see the confusion ripple across their faces. They didn’t get it–how could they? They still thought I was theirs to hold onto when convenient, never expecting I might want more.
