Read Online Winter's Tide by Lisa Williams Kline - Free Book Online Page A

Grammy said. “Oh, Norm, I was so sick.” She shook her head, remembering.
    â€œYou’re going to be okay now, Mom. I know it,” Daddy said.
    I could feel a sob building up inside my throat.
    â€œGrammy!” I ran across the room and leaned in to hug her.
    â€œStephanie, watch it! Don’t get tangled in the IV!” Daddy said.
    â€œHi, sweetie,” came Grammy’s voice, weak and thready. “Sorry to say it, but I’m not doing so well.”
    I stood beside Grammy’s bed, holding her hand, which felt cold and limp and bony. Lynn and Diana came in and stood at the foot of the bed.
    Grammy licked her dry lips slowly and carefully. “I guess they have to wait for the inflammation around my pancreas to go down, and they’re giving me antibiotics to help. And some anti-nausea medication. I was so sick. I’ve never felt so sick.”
    â€œOh, Angela, we’re so sorry,” Lynn said. “I know you’ll be better soon.”
    Grammy closed her eyes again. Daddy patted her hand. “Listen, we don’t want to tire you out. We can’t stay too long anyway because visiting hours are going to be over soon. We’ll come back tomorrow, and maybe you’ll be feeling better. We’ll just head over to your place.”
    â€œOh yes. And Jelly,” she said. “I’m so worried about him! My neighbor has him. You need to take good care of Jelly and tell him I’m going to be back in just a few days, okay?” Grammy lifted her arm and waved vaguely at Diana. “Diana, are you going to take care of Jelly for me?”
    I felt my heart speed up, and my cheeks grew warm. Why wasn’t Grammy asking me to take care of Jelly? Why was she asking Diana to do it? Diana had never even met Jelly.
I
was her real granddaughter!
    I stared at Diana. She had made such a big deal about not coming and seeing Grammy, even though it was obvious that Grammy really cared about her. She was staring at the floor, but now she nodded. “Okay.”
    At that moment, an energetic dark-skinned woman in scrubs with short hair and glasses came in, pushing a cart that held a thermometer and other equipment. “Hi, I’m Candace. I’ve been taking care of Mrs. Verra.”
    â€œHi, Candace,” said Daddy, stepping away so Candace could stand next to Grammy’s bed. She lookedat Grammy’s monitor and wrote down some numbers. Then she used an electronic thermometer to take Grammy’s temperature.
    With the thermometer in her mouth, Grammy closed her eyes for a second and squeezed my hand. I put my other hand on top of hers and leaned against the bed.
    â€œSo how’s my mother doing?” Daddy asked Candace.
    â€œStill a little feverish,” said Candace, making a note. “She came in with a lot of pain. We’re hoping that the pancreatitis will resolve itself quickly, and we can get her feeling better soon.”
    â€œOn the phone, the doctor told me she may have to have surgery,” Daddy said.
    Candace measured Grammy’s heart rate, holding her fingertips over Grammy’s wrist and looking at her watch. “You can talk to the doctors all about that tomorrow.”
    â€œMom, we should probably go,” Daddy said.
    â€œYou need your rest,” Lynn added.
    Daddy patted Grammy’s arm and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “We’ll see you first thing in the morning, Mom.”
    I leaned across the bed and laid my head on Grammy’s chest for a few seconds. I could hear her heart beating slowly. I could tell she didn’t like us seeing her weak like this. Grammy was strong.
    â€œSee you in the morning.” She squeezed my hand.
    â€œSee you tomorrow,” Lynn said.
    I waved at her, as she lay there in the bed and we headed out of the room.
    We were quiet in the hall and the elevator, each of us thinking our own thoughts. As the elevator moved down, I started feeling afraid that Grammy