“Herself said that now, did she?” The woman and man seemed evidently pleased with Cady’s compliment. Mandy seemed to be debating something with herself before she finally spoke. “You haven’t seen Lola in over a year. She’s not doing all that well. She lies and says she’s fit as a fiddle. She can walk, but mostly she stays in her wheelchair. Part of it is pure stubbornness and to some extent laziness. She has osteoporosis. I saw her X rays. And she has a heart condition. Neither is life-threatening at this time. She claims to be ready to die, but that’s a lie, too. What’s the dog’s name?”

“Atlas. They have medicine for osteoporosis. The wife of one of my professors had it, and I remember him mentioning it to me.”

“You’ll have to talk to Herself about that. She’s in the sunroom. I told her you were here, and she’s excited. I haven’t seen her this excited since we moved here ten years ago. Please try to be cheerful, and don’t be shocked by her appearance.”

A feeling of dread settled over Cady as she led Atlas forward.

She knew the sunroom was beautiful because Lola liked beautiful things. Later, when she wasn’t in such shock, she would peruse the entire house. Right now, all she could see was her once beautiful grandmother huddled in her wheelchair, an outlandish Dolly Parton wig on her small head. She was made-up, but then she was always made-up, and often boasted that none of her six husbands had ever seen her without her makeup. Now, though, the expensive, theatrical makeup only made her look more gaunt and haggard. Her green eyes were bright and alert when she smiled at her granddaughter. “What a lovely surprise! How are you, precious? If you had called to tell me you were coming, I would have rolled out the red carpet for you. It’s wonderful to see you, Cady.”

“I’m fine, Lola,” Cady said, hugging her grandmother. “Are you saying you didn’t know I was coming? Mom told me someone from the hospital called her and said you needed your family. Dad’s not well, and Mom has her hands full with him. I decided to come instead. I up and sold my house, got myself this dog, then drove cross-country. I still can’t believe I did that. But I’m here, and that’s all that matters.”

“What you’re saying is Asa couldn’t be bothered to come or even call me, is that it?”

Cady shrugged. The bad blood between her father and her grandmother was legendary.

“I cut him out of my will. He doesn’t deserve to have me as a mother. That poor excuse of a mother of yours isn’t much better. I still can’t figure out how you turned out so well. If you discount that little episode when you were a child. I’m delighted that you’re here, child. I truly am, but to answer your question, no, I did not know you were coming. Hospitals call family because they feel…well, whatever it is they feel. I told them not to call, but obviously they didn’t listen to me.”