2

The smell told her it was a sickroom, so much so that Cady flinched when she saw her grandmother nestled in the mounds of pillows and comforters, her night table laden with pill bottles and a portable oxygen tank next to the little table. “You lied to me, Lola,” she said, fear ringing in her voice. “Why didn’t you let me know sooner how serious your condition is? I would have dropped everything and been here in a heartbeat. Why? Why did you keep sending me those upbeat, cheerful letters, telling me everything was all right? These last ten days you’ve knocked yourself out trying to convince me you’re just under the weather. I can see now what a toll that effort has taken on you. Damn it, Lola, I need to know. I hate secrets, I really do. I’ve had enough of them to last me a lifetime.”

“Dying is a dreadful business, sweetie. I didn’t want to put you through that the moment you got here. I did, however, want to put my son through it. For some crazy reason I thought your parents would come here if for nothing else, to wait for the death rattle so they could collect. My little scheme backfired. What’s a has-been movie star to do? I have good and bad days. Today is a bad day. Tomorrow I might be able to jump rope. We take it one day at a time around here.”

“Whatever it is I can do to help, I’ll do it. I’m here now, and I’m staying.”

“I take great comfort in that, Cady. All I really want is for you to get some guts and stiffen that backbone of yours. Get your memory back and start to live, child. Stop hiding. The world is a magical place, and life is wonderful. I’ve been fearful a time or two in my life, but out of necessity I had to learn how to harness that fear. You let it consume you, and Asa and Agnes allowed you to do that. For their own reasons, I’m sure. I’m sorry I couldn’t have done more for you. God knows I tried.”

Cady sat down on the edge of the bed. “I have lived without the memory of that accident for a lot of years. All I know is what other people told me. It doesn’t matter at this stage of the game. The truth now, Lola, how bad is your condition?”

“It’s iffy. The doctors say I could live another twenty years if I take care of myself. Or, it might not be twenty years. It isn’t just this bone thing, my heart is…well, let’s just say it loved one time too many. The old fool suggested I develop some interesting hobbies. Let’s not talk about any of this. I want to talk about the important things in life. Mandy will help you, but for now, I want you to hear all this from me. I have a will that probably needs to be updated. Mandy’s on top of that. Where’s your dog?”