23. Vivian
VIVIAN
The room has that steady, mechanical beat to it, in the way hospitals do. Soft beeps. Air shifting through vents. The quiet rhythm of machines doing their job.
I sit beside my grandmother’s bed, fingers wrapped loosely around hers, careful of the IV taped to the back of her hand. Her skin is warm. Warm is good. Breathing is steady.
The doctor said she’s going to get better, and I’m holding on to that like it’s the only thing that matters.
She stirs slightly, her eyes opening just enough to find me.
“There you are,” she murmurs, her voice thin but familiar.
“I’m here,” I whisper, leaning closer. “I’m not going anywhere.”
A smile touches her mouth—small, but real as her fingers tighten around mine, giving me a gentle squeeze.
“I’m so glad I have you,” she adds. “I’m very lucky.”
“Shhh, you’re being overly sentimental.” I shake my head immediately, ignoring the tightness in my throat. “You need to be quiet. You’re supposed to be resting.”
She gives me a look and crosses her eyes. So much for a chill recuperation.
“I can rest when I’m dead. I can’t believe you’re not at the store,” she says, teasing.
“The store is closed until further notice,” I respond. “So, get better soon or no income.”
“I see you, you know.” She looks at me with a twinkle in her eye.
“I see all the things you’re doing with the store, honey,” she says, ignoring my words completely, reaching out to pat my hand.
“I feel like it’s become so much more. And life—” She pauses, a cough catching her off guard.
She catches her breath before continuing, “Life is so much more than just that store. More than just that space.”
Her eyes find mine again, sharper now. “I think you’re starting to figure that out, aren’t you?”
“Well,” I say, deflecting like I always do, “you’re the most important thing in front of me right now.”
She hums softly, like she expected that. “There’s also Ty.”
I snort, shaking my head. “I could say the same thing about you and Larry.”
That earns me a small, amused smile.
“Well,” she says, her tone shifting just slightly, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
Something in me straightens. “What do you mean?”
She lets out a small, breathy laugh. “I think I’m going to move into the retirement village, sweetie.”
“What?”
“After this little slip up, Larry and I have been talking.” Her hand shifts in mine, calm, steady. “I think it’s time.”
“But, you have the house,” I say, the words coming out faster now. “You love the house.”
“The house is wonderful,” she says gently. “It’s served its purpose for us. But it’s also a lot. And if I’m somewhere with more support…” She gives a small shrug. “Things get easier.”
I shake my head slightly, still trying to catch up.
“And for you,” she continues, watching me closely, “life could be starting soon.”
“This is my life,” I say immediately. “It has started. I’m in the middle of it.”
She smiles again. “No, honey. What I mean is, let’s take today out of it. Normally, you’d be teaching a workshop, wouldn’t you?”
I hesitate. “Yes, but Ty stepped in for me so I could be here.”
“And the other day,” she goes on, “when Larry called. You told me you ran out of the store and Lucy closed up for you.”
I let out a small breath. “Yeah.”
“Well. Look at you.” She raises her brows just slightly. “Letting people help. Not jumping in to fix everything yourself.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Grandma, I don’t know what you think you’re doing trying to call me out like this.”
She smiles, completely unbothered. “It’s who you’ve always been. And that’s okay.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she keeps going.
“We all do things to protect ourselves,” she says gently. “But I’d have to be a bit daft to not notice that my sweet granddaughter has always been the first one to raise her hand and say she’ll take care of something in an effort to make sure no one leaves.”
Well, that hits its target, exactly as she intended it to. I look down at our hands, blinking back a tear.
“I really feel like you shouldn’t be talking anymore,” I say quietly. “You’re supposed to rest.”
She lets out a tiny laugh. “I’m onto something, and you know it.”
I shake my head, but I don’t argue.
“Vivian,” she says, her voice softer now, but more certain. “I’m about to give you a gift. Huge one.”
I glance up at her.
“I don’t want you to take care of me anymore,” she says. “I just want you to love me. And you can come love me at the retirement village,” she adds gently.
I stare at her. “You’re serious?”
“I am, and I want you to figure out what you want to do with the store,” she continues. “Sullivan’s Fine Jewelry is more than ‘fine’ in your hands.”
My breath catches slightly.
“And the house…” She gives a small shrug. “We can keep it. We can sell it. You can decide what feels right.”
“Grandma—”
“Those things were always going to be yours,” she says, cutting me off gently. “So why not do something with them now? Together. While I’m still here. While I can see it. Be part of it.” Her hand squeezes mine again. “While I still have skin in the game and I’m standing on this earth.”
I let out a shaky breath, my eyes stinging now. This is not the conversation I thought we were having today.
And somehow, it’s exactly the one we needed to have.