Rachel shook her head in disbelief. She reached out and took her grandmothers hand as she had done so many times as a child, as a teenager, and even as they danced slightly inebriated at her wedding reception.

Its okay, Rachel. Really. Im at peace with it.

Rachels own conflicting feelings waged war in her mind. She knew she would not tell her, but the bravery her Grandma Tate was showing made her wonder if she should tell her family. Should she tell Peter and Paige when she returned home, or would it be too much all at once?

I appreciate you not telling me on the phone, Rachel said. But at the same time, I just drove seven and a half hours and now this…this is going to hover over the entire visit.

Well, youre staying until tomorrow, right?

Yes.

Then nothing changes. I say we finish our tea, head out for dinner, and go bowl a few frames.

Rachel couldnt help but laugh. Youre still bowling?

Hell yes. My team was second in the spring tournament. Remind me to show you the trophy when we head back inside.

And just like that, the bomb had been dropped. They remained on Florence Tates patio, drinking tea and swatting at mosquitoes while Rachel shared stories of Paiges adventures and triumphs from school, and how she was growing up far too fast. They spoke in the heat and finished the pitcher of tea in about half an hour. The entire time, Rachel felt her own news storming around in her head, stomping at the ground of her thoughts like a rodeo bull anxious to be released from its gate.

She knew then, swatting at mosquitos and trying to wrap her mind around bowling with her cancer-stricken grandmother, that she needed to eventually let it out or it was going to tear her apart inside.

***

Rachel woke up the following morning with the sound of pins clanging musically together and stared at the ceiling for several minutes before getting out of bed. At some point during the night, she dreamed that Paige, her daughter, had been at the bowling alley with her and Grandma Tate that night. And every time Paige asked a question about Grandma Tates diagnosis, Rachel would throw a ball down the lane and bowl a very loud strike. The questions went unheard and when it was clear shed get no answers from the adults, Paige walked away in disappointment.

Rachels phone was on the nightstand and when she checked it, she saw that it was 5:15. Figuring there was no way she was going to get back to sleep, she quietly made her way into the kitchen.