They didn’t need the money. When the city surrounded his property, he worked out a deal, donating twenty acres to the city for a park, and selling another sixty or so to developers, when the city put a road through his property. His house stood on the remaining twenty-seven acres, but his property taxes were waived for twenty years, and he still had a boat load of money left when he put two hundred grand into each of the children’s college funds.
We were family, and we’d take care of each other. I had learned that from them, and took it to heart. I provided for my wife and family to the best of my ability, and always made time for her parents and grandparents. I never begrudged a minute of it. The few times I got irritated at having to change plans for their sakes,
I remembered those months before I got married, and how they’d spent all their free time with me, while I toiled on our bed, under their watchful and supportive eyes. I might have been an asshole when she met me, but I like to believe I grew out of it.
The life changing call came from my mother-in-law, Hailey. She was good to me, but we never talked on the phone, other than for me to get Kate, or for her to summon Adam. I was surprised to get the call mid-day, Kate was at work.
“Glover?”
“Hi Mom, what’s up?”
“D-d-d-daddy’s dead,” she said, and I could hear the tears in her words. “Momma’s at home alone with him. Can you go over? You’re the closest; I’m on my way.”
“I’m leaving now. I’ll be there in less than five minutes. I’m so sorry, Mom.”
She was sobbing by this time. “I know, Honey. Take care of Momma, please.”
I was the first to arrive, even before the ambulance, calling work and letting them know I’d be unavailable on the drive over. He had died in his shop, lying on the floor next to an unfinished chair he’d been working on. Grandma was sitting on the floor next to him, rocking back and forth, holding his hand. It broke my heart.
I opened the door to the garage, so the emergency people could come straight in. Then I sat down beside her, at a loss for what to do. I mean, seriously, what can you do? Her husband of 50 plus years was dead, growing cold at our feet. I put my arm around her waist, and sat with her.
Grandma had her good days, and her bad days. There was no doubt she knew exactly what was going on. “What am I gonna do, Glover?” she whispered. On her bad days, she never knew who I was. She was polite and would smile at me, but I’d hear her asking the others who the nice young man was. That day she looked into my eyes, hers brimming over with tears. “He’s gone. My Bob is gone. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, Glover. What am I gonna do?”
“I … I don’t know, Grandma. He’s the only Grandpa I ever had. I can’t believe—”
The ambulance rolling up the driving way interrupted our thoughts. I pulled Grandma up and out of their way, to give the guys room. Then things got hectic. Adam came running through the yard, calling out for Grandma. Kate was only a couple of minutes behind him, and I had to start explaining things all over again.
The police arrived, followed by Hailey, then Alice. Amidst the crying, talking, and carting Grandpa off, it became too much. I found a corner to sit quietly, and mourn the loss of a great man, who’d had almost as big an influence in my life as Kate. When Kate found me, she gave me a hug, and I was sent to pick up the kids and bring them back to the homestead.
The coroner said it was a massive heart attack. We had no idea he had any issues, hell, he seemed healthier than me. It struck me hard. I’d never had anyone I loved die, and I was pretty useless. Adam was not much better off, even though it was his wife’s father. Lot of good we were, real men, who fell apart when most needed.
Our women were better, and my kids were troopers. They handled all the details. Grandma Kate couldn’t do much, the shock seemed to have hit her hard, and her memory was going. Half the time she didn’t recognize any of us, and when she was lucid, she was heartbroken. It pained us all to see her that way.
At seventy-four years old, she looked like she was still in her early sixties. She was fit, and healthy, no blood-pressure issues, minimal arthritis, no problems other than she couldn’t remember most of the last fifty years much of the time.
The funeral was held three days later, and I was happy to see what an effect the old man had on the community. There must have been over two hundred people there. A memorial was set up at the park they donated, with the children from the elementary school across the street let out for half a day.
My mother-in-law spoke to them about grandpa’s life, and his love for his friends and family, which led him to provide a park for the community’s children. She talked about them being one of the oldest families in the area, and how Grandma’s family built the old house, and kept goats and chickens, and grew crops. Even Grandma Kate was lucid enough to speak for a bit, about the importance of family, the best man she ever knew, and the best father and husband that could ever be.
I’ll admit it. I cried like a baby.
To look at her, wearing a simple black dress, standing tall, her hair still mostly blonde and full, you’d never guess her age, or her problems. She was a testament to the adage of love keeping you young.
We were gathered in the living room, the day after the funeral, talking over what to do about Grandma.
It was obvious she couldn’t live on her own, and nobody wanted to put her in a home. She’d lived in that house her entire life. It was her parent’s before she married Grandpa. We couldn’t take that from her.
We talked about hiring help, a nurse, a housekeeper, and a landscaping company. But how would she handle all those people around her she didn’t know?
I knew what the solution was, and wondered when they’d get around to mentioning it. After an hour or so, I realized nobody was going to put me on the spot like that.
I looked over at my wife, and took her hand. “We should move in. We can take care of her. I’m home most of the time. We could hire a little help, but it wouldn’t have to be full time. She knows us, and she loves the kids. The kids will be out of school shortly, and we can use the summer to settle in. The answer seems obvious.”
Kate squeezed my hand, tears in her eyes. “It’s a lot to ask,” she said softly.
“It’s nothing. They’ve done so much for us, it’s the least we can do for her. I want to do it.”
It was Hailey who brought up the big question. “For how long? She’s healthy as can be. She probably won’t get better. You could be talking ten, fifteen, even twenty years. And what if she gets worse?”
They were all looking at me. We knew it was the right decision. Everyone there did. But I was the outsider, even after all those years. They were eager to have me argue their side, but none of them would push me. It was my decision.
I looked at Kate. “You want this don’t you?”
She was quiet. “I don’t want to force you—”
“No, Kate. For once, don’t think of me. Tell me if you want this.”
She nodded. “I do, but only—”
“Hush,” I said, kissing her. “They’re the only family I’ve ever had. I want to do anything I can for her. For him. I feel I have to. For his sake. I learned a lot from your father and grandfather, most importantly a man takes care of his family, first and foremost. She’s my grandmother, the only one I ever knew. I want this very much. I … I need to do this.”
I looked up at the rest of the adults gathered. “I don’t care how long it takes. She will never do without me if I can help it. I would do the same for any of you, and I know you’d do the same for Kate and the kids. It’s the obvious solution.”
My sister-in-law Alice half-heartedly offered to take over, but it wasn’t what we needed. She worked, and traveled. She was only thirty-two, and after two failed marriages was having trouble settling down. She lived an hour away, and would have either had to quit her job, or commute well over an hour each way during rush hour.
Adam and Hailey’s issues were similar. Kate worked downtown, well over an hour from the property during rush hour. They lived twenty miles away. Kate couldn’t do anything about her job; she was two years away from a pension. Adam had officially retired, but was still working part-time, also downtown. They could do it, but Grandma would still be alone during the day, and Hailey’s commute would be over three hours a day.
Kate worked nearby. I worked from home. The kids would go to the same high school and middle school. Only the elementary school was different, and if we kept our house, then even that wouldn’t have to change. It was the ideal solution.
Now we just had to explain it to Grandma. We had the kids watching over her, and they were baking. I pulled Bob to the side, and asked how she was.
“Good. She knows who we are, and she’s sad about Grandpa. We’re making his favorite oatmeal cookies.” I felt a pride in my boy that filled my heart.
The timing was right. When the cookies went in the oven we brought her into the living room. Kate explained it.
“Grandma, Glover wants us to move in here with you. You have the space, and the kids love the big yard. They wouldn’t even have to change school districts. We want to be here for you.”
She looked at me. “You want this?”
I nodded. “More than anything. Like you said, Grandpa was the best man I ever knew, and if he can’t be here for you. I will. As long as you’ll have us. We love you. I want the kids to see you every day while they’re growing up. Please say you’ll take us in.”
She looked around at her daughter, Adam, and Alice. “You don’t have to do this,” she said nervously. “I’ll be fine. I can—”
“Nonna, the timer went off,” my little one came barreling in. “Can I take the cookies out of the oven? Bob says I’m too young but I’m not!”
Grandma grinned. “Let Bob do this one, alright? You and I, we’ll make the sugar cookies.”
Hailey pouted and stomped her foot. “It’s not fair! I’ll be careful.”
Grandma pulled her close. “Of course you can do it. But sometimes we let the boys think they’re in charge. It makes them feel important. You and me, we’ll bake lots more, alright? And you make sure they do it right. Check the bottoms to make sure they’re done.”
Hailey nodded quickly, and tore off running to the kitchen. “Nonna says I need to check …”
The quiet in the room afterward was short lived. Grandma looked at Kate smiling. “So much like her mother,” she said. Then she looked over at me. “When?”
“Immediately. We’ll start tomorrow, making space. We’ll use part of Grandpa’s workshop to store whatever won’t go in the house that we want to keep. I think if we clear out the attic space we can make a bedroom for Bob so all the kids have their own room. You’ll stay in your room, and Kate and I will take the room at the end of the hall. If that’s alright with you.”