Chapter Fourteen #2
Uh-oh. Landon’s heart sank into his stomach.
Red wasn’t one to exaggerate. If he said something was urgent, he meant it.
Instinct told Landon that it involved Hattie.
She hadn’t looked well earlier, and the visit to Yukon Cider had clearly strained her last reserves.
He didn’t want to think negatively, but this didn’t bode well.
They had all known for a while that Hattie was slipping away, however, this message still took his breath away.
I’ll be there, he typed back.
Bring Bailey for
moral support.
Landon let out a sigh. This was all the confirmation he needed that Red knew something they didn’t. His brothers began chiming in on the text chain, responding that they, too, would be at the family meeting.
Rather than disrupt Bailey at her workstation, Landon texted her from across the room.
Red has called an urgent family meeting. Tonight at 7. Can you make it?
Seconds later three dots appeared, followed by her reply.
Of course. What’s up?
Is it about Hattie?
He didn’t say, but my gut says yes.
Sorry about our tree plans. Raincheck?
Don’t be silly. Hattie comes first.
He put a smiley face emoji along with his dad’s address, warmed by her comment.
It felt so nice to be with someone who also cared about his grandmother and what was happening to her.
He hadn’t needed to explain anything to Bailey.
She knew that Hattie was critically ill and living on borrowed time.
She’d also seen Hattie this morning. Nothing could change the fact that she was fading away before their eyes.
That evening Landon arrived at Red’s house at ten minutes to seven.
After work he’d made a quick trip to the house to switch up his clothes.
Judging by the fact that he didn’t see any other vehicles other than Red’s in the driveway, he figured that he was the first to arrive.
Bailey had also swung by her house to check up on Foxy Brown.
It had made sense to drive to Red’s house separately.
He burst out laughing at the sight of the lit-up reindeer perched on the roof of the ranch-style home.
It served as a pick-me-up from the somber circumstances of tonight’s meeting.
Blinking candy canes led the way to the front door.
Although his memories of this house were hazy, his brothers remembered growing up as kids in this same home.
Red had purchased it a few years ago and renovated the inside.
Once he stepped inside the house, Landon smelled the familiar aroma of corn bread. He followed his nose to the kitchen, finding his father at the stove. He had a pan of salmon with rosemary and lemon in his hands.
“Hey, Dad,” Landon said. He was still testing out the D word after years of only calling him Red. It had never been malicious on his part. Calling him Dad hadn’t felt right until recently. It was a title one had to earn.
“Hey, you snuck up on me,” Red said, placing the pan down on top of the stove. He turned to Landon and hugged him, a gesture Landon could never get enough of. He still had a long way to go to make up for all the hugs he’d missed out on over the years.
“I could smell the corn bread from outside,” he teased.
“I figured we could talk and share a meal. Could you take the salad out of the fridge for me?”
Landon took the salad out and placed it on the kitchen counter while Red sliced up the corn bread. A few moments later they heard footsteps that announced the arrival of Caleb, Sophia, and Lily. Caleb came rushing into the kitchen.
“Is that smell what I think it is?” he shouted. Red and Landon laughed at his excitement. Red’s corn bread was legendary.
The doorbell rang, and Landon had the feeling it was Bailey. Everyone else would’ve just opened the door and walked into the house.
“I’ll get it,” Sophia said, turning and walking toward the front door.
Before he even saw her, he heard Bailey’s voice.
He couldn’t describe how good it felt to have someone here for him to lean on.
He was grateful that his father had suggested that he invite Bailey.
Yet he knew what it meant. They were about to hear sobering news about Hattie.
Bailey quickly made her way over to him after greeting everyone. “Hey, you,” she said.
“Hey,” he said back, pressing a quick kiss on her lips. It felt amazing to not have to pretend anymore. Both of them were fully engaged and open. There was nothing to hide anymore. Their feelings were real and genuine.
Last to arrive was Xavier, who showed up solo. “True is a little under the weather, so I just told her to stay home and get some rest. Jaylen is watching over her.”
“The first trimester is pretty rough,” Sophia said. “Morning sickness isn’t just mornings. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
“Tell me about it,” Xavier said. “We’re stocking up on saltines and ginger ale.”
“Why doesn’t everyone gather around and fill up a plate?” Red suggested. “Salmon, corn bread, and salad. Help yourselves. We can head to the dining room so we can eat and talk at the same time.”
Red stacked plates on the kitchen counter, along with napkins and utensils.
Everybody gathered around and took a plate, then proceeded to fill it up with the food Red had prepared.
Within minutes they were all seated at the dining room table.
Lily had her own special table, a plastic Barbie-themed one that she loved sitting at all by herself.
Grandpa Red had bought it for her for when she came over.
Everyone dug into the food, offering praise for Red’s delicious corn bread and salmon.
Red clearly was an amazing cook, and he seemed to enjoy feeding people.
It was one of his talents, even though Landon didn’t remember him cooking for them much as kids.
Then again, he’d been so young when they’d left Moose Falls, he barely remembered anything.
“So I suppose you’re all wondering why I called you over here tonight. I’ve talked a bit with Jacques, and he decided that it was better for him to stay with Hattie tonight in case she needed him. I think we’ve all known for a while that she’s slowing down, and the illness is taking over.”
His father wasn’t saying anything he didn’t already know, but Landon felt a sense of dread creep over him.
“Honestly, there’s a difference between knowing and seeing it with your own eyes,” Red continued.
“The last few weeks have been difficult, to say the least. Hattie had a doctor’s appointment yesterday because she really wasn’t feeling well.
Her ability to walk has been compromised, and she’s lost even more weight because her appetite just isn’t where it should be.
Dr. Benjy acknowledged that it will only be a few more weeks, maybe a month, if something extraordinary happens. ”
No one said a word. There was just an eerie silence that settled in at the table. Landon knew that he didn’t have any words to convey his sorrow, and he imagined everyone else felt the same way. It was unimaginable. And there was not a single thing that they could do to change what was coming.
“What can we do to help?” Landon asked. “There’s got to be something.”
Red shrugged. “I think all we can do at this point is just be there for her. Shower her with love. Surround her with the love she’s always given us.”
“What about her bucket list?” Xavier asked. “Can we try to make that happen?”
“Bailey had a great idea about bringing Vegas to her and maybe hosting something for her at Northern Exposure,” Landon said.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Red said, “but I don’t think she’s up to that.”
Landon turned to Bailey. She’d tried her best to help Hattie complete her bucket list. He knew that she only wanted to help out. Her Vegas idea had been a great one.
“Sorry,” he said in a low voice.
“That’s okay,” she said. She looked around the table. “I know one item we can definitely help out with.” She paused before saying, “We can host a chili cheese dinner for her at the house.”
“Now that’s a great idea,” Sophia gushed. “She would love that!”
“And it would be easy to pull off,” Xavier said. “True can help with the food. And if it’s at the house, it won’t be too taxing on her.”
“Great idea, Bailey,” Caleb said. “We need to focus on the things we can do to enhance this final chapter of her life.”
Landon reached over and squeezed Bailey’s hand underneath the table.
“Thanks, Bailey,” Red said. “I don’t think we should wait, if I’m being honest. If we all work together, we can ensure that Hattie’s last days and weeks are joyful. There’s no way of knowing the time or the hour, but there’s power in knowing it’s quickly approaching.”
Nobody disagreed with Red’s opinion. He had laid everything out succinctly.
“I think we’re on the same page,” Landon said, looking around the room.
Caleb nodded. His brother appeared more somber than he’d ever seen him. “All hands on deck.”
“Operation Hattie,” Bailey said, clutching Landon’s hand.
It was evident that there would be no last-minute miracles. No reprieves. They all seemed to understand that time was running out.
Bailey understood the assignment. She had been tasked with picking up the decorations for Hattie’s bucket list party. Since Hattie loved festive decorations, Bailey had leaned in to the assignment. Anything for Hattie!
She had gone all out with a red-and-yellow theme, bright colors that she knew Hattie would adore.
Napkins. Plates. Funky little cups. For fun she bought a huge pinata and stuffed it with candy, especially the one she knew Hattie loved—Tootsie Rolls.
A huge red-and-yellow banner with the words “Party Animal” printed on it.
Just looking at the banner made her smile.
She also picked up some party favors. Glow-in-the-dark bracelets in bright colors.