Anna had originally worked for Grandma Cecilia as ahousekeeper, keeping the house tidy. As Grandma Cecilia got older, Anna took on moreresponsibility, like taking hergrandmotherto her doctorappointmentsand making her meals.
Elana gave Anna a hug. “How’s she doing?”
Anna’s brow furrowed. “Physically? Strong as an ox. But she is getting forgetful.”
Elana swallowed. “I heard about the keys in the fridge.”
Anna gave her a worried look. “That’s what I told your father.”
Elana blinked. “Did something else happen?”
Anna bit her lip. “She let Winston out in the backyard to potty last night. When he didn’t come back within a few minutes, she went outside to retrieve him. She comes walking through the door. She’s holding something, but it’s not Winston. It was a raccoon. I have no idea how she caught it, but the dang thing nearly bit my hand when I tried to take it from her.”
Elana gaped. “Is she okay?”
Anna nodded. “She’s fine. I made her throw the raccoon out the door, and then I found Winston.”She sighed heavily. “Come on into the kitchen and I’ll make some tea.”
Elana put her hand on the woman’s arm. “I’m afraid I’m not here to socialize. My father sent me.”
Anna nodded slowly. “He wants to put yourgrandmotherin a nursing home. He told me that after he gave me my six-week notice.”
Elana shifted her weight and swallowed the lump of emotion rising in the back of her throat. “It’s assisted living. Not a nursing home.”
Anna shook her headvehemently. “I don’t care what you call it. It’s not right. Cecilia needs someone to stay with her overnightpermanently. I would, but since my daughter, Gail, had her baby, I must help her at night.”
Elana nodded. Gail’s husband Marcus was in the military and stationed overseas. “How much longer is Marcus’s military tour?”
Anna’s brows furrowed. “Four more months until he can come home. I can’t image how hard it’s been on Gail. Having a baby while her husband is always deployed.”
Elana reached over and squeezed her hand. “It won’t be that much longer. Gail is lucky to have a mother like you to help her.”
Anna gave her a grateful smile. “That’s kind of you to say, Elana. Come on. I’ll take you to Cecilia.”
Elana followed the woman into the living room. Every available inch of space held a plant. When Grandma Cecilia wasn’t digging around in her garden, she was tending to herhouseplants.
Anna opened the back door and called out. “Cecilia. Elana is here to see you.”
Grandma Cecilia’s head popped up from the flower bed. She gave a wave and got to her feet.
Anna turned back to Elana. “I’ll bring you both some tea.”
Elana forced a smile before Anna headed into the kitchen. She wasn’t in the mood for tea, but she didn’t want to be rude to Anna.
“Elana! What a wonderful surprise!”Grandma Cecilia walked in the back door. She gave Elana a warm hug.
“Hi, Grandma.”Elana pulled back and studied the older woman’s face for any signs of change. It had been about three weeks since she last saw her.
Her white hair was windblown from being outside, but other than a few more wrinkles around her eyes, she looked the same.
“Come sit. I’m worn out from planting.”
Elana frowned. “But it’s fall. What are you planting that will bloom this late in the season?”
Grandma Cecilia barked out a laugh. “It’s tulip bulbs. And you plant them now so they will bloom in the spring.”
Elana laughed. “So much for my gardening skills. I’m not a master gardener like you.”
Grandmabrightenedwhen Anna walked into the room with a tray holding a pot of tea and teacups. “Ah, Anna. Thank you, dear.”
