Page 33 of Skipping Stones
“Ms. McDonnell, let me be frank,” said the doctor, putting down his file. “I know neither you nor your brother live close. And your grandmother is a fiercely proud woman. But her blood pressure has been high since I first started treating her several years ago, and since her first bout of angina—” Linney’s head snapped up. Jake had mentioned heart concerns, but angina sounded serious.
The doctor sought to reassure her as best he could. “We’re treating it, so there’s no imminent threat as long as she takes her medication regularly. But it will only get worse.” He folded his hands on his desk and looked at Linney seriously. “Your grandmother is over ninety. She doesn’t like to complain, but her health is in decline.”
“What do we do?” Linney asked, ashen-faced.
“I’ve been suggesting it for a couple of years now, but it’s time that you and your brother convince your grandmother she needs to accept more support. Maybe she could move in with him?” Linney shook her head. Gran would never leave Silver Lake. “Or perhaps she’d consider Graceful Care? In any event, she needs more care than she can get living on her own.”
Linney stood. “You’ve given me a lot to think about, and I know Jake agrees with you. I’m home for a while longer. I’ll see what I can do.” She left the hospital, not even looking for Kirsten, mulling over all she’d learned.
Linney suggested Graceful Care to Gran, but she wanted no part of it.
“I do not need to see that place,” she insisted, referring to the long-term care home. I am not leaving my house. I’m just fine here.” And no matter how gently Linney brought it up, or how many suggestions she made that Gran would have more company, would have better meals, would have all her friends visit, nothing would change the old woman’s mind.
“I don’t know what to do,” she complained to Anna and Kirsten. Gran slept most afternoons, and Linney had met them at the renovated tea house that seemed to be the new meeting place. “She needs more help, but she’s stubborn.” She threw her hands up. “It’s so hard being so far away.”
“Danny’s grandparents were at Graceful Care in their last years and we visited a lot. They took care of them really well,” Anna said, sipping her tea.
Kirsten nodded. “Their reputation is well-deserved,” she said. “Everyone at the hospital says Silver Lake is lucky to have such a good facility.”
“That’s all very well and good,” Linney said. “But she won’t even consider it.”
“You could consider hiring someone to live with her,” suggested Anna. “There’s room at your house. It’s expensive, but it’s another option.”
Linney licked her finger to pick up the cookie crumbs on her plate as she contemplated that idea. “I’ll look into that.” A live-in caretaker. It was a good idea.
After saying goodbye to Anna and Kirsten, Linney stopped at Page Turners and was surprised to find herself the only customer. She bought a novel to support the store and read the first few chapters in the autumn sun in the park across the road. She hoped things would turn around for Page Turners. It was an institution in Silver Lake and she couldn’t imagine the town without it.
13
Two weeks of kayaking every afternoon of the glorious Indian summer that had settled in had given Linney’s arm muscles better definition, and they no longer screamed at her when she pulled the double-edged paddle through the still water. Today, she’d been out a little longer than usual, paddling over to the island she and Derek would take a picnic to back in high school, and she’d found a pretty pink granite rock to add to her collection.
Gran always said the lake healed people, and while Linney had laughed at her as a teenager, now she was sure she was right. The distance from the UK and time with her friends was closing the wound and giving her the strength to advocate for the next step for her career.
As Linney pulled her beloved boat up to the dock, she could see Gran on the porch, as usual, waiting for her to come back. Giving a quick wave as pulled the kayak up onto the shore, Linney opened the boathouse and hung up her paddle before shrugging out of her life jacket. Closing the door, she was surprised to see Gran still sitting in her chair. Usually, her grandmother made the effort—and Linney knew it was an effort—to come down the stairs and shuffle partway down the path to greet her and give her a kiss.
But today, something was different. As Linney approached the house, she somehow knew Gran had slipped away quietly, at her beloved lake house, watching the water and waiting for her granddaughter to come home. She stood there for a moment, trying to process the scene. Suddenly it all made sense. Gran had desperately wanted her home for this visit. She’d told all of the old stories. She refused to consider leaving. She’d known.
She’d known this would be her last visit with her Linney. It was her time.
Putting emotions to one side, and taking a deep breath, Linney called an ambulance. It seemed like an eternity before it arrived, so while she waited, Linney put an afghan over her grandmother’s lap. It was pointless, she knew, but she felt she had to do something. She sat down beside her and numbly, held Gran’s hand, rubbing it gently.
She stood aside silently, watching the paramedics work when they arrived. She understood they had to do it, but she knew in her heart that Gran was long gone. She followed the ambulance, and when the news was official, she called Jake from the hospital. Gran had been lucky. She hadn’t been seriously ill, and she’d been able to stay in the house right to the end. She’d passed peacefully, and they were all grateful for it. Jake kept clearing his throat gruffly as he offered to get in the car right now if she needed him to, but she told him she’d be fine until he and the family came the next day.
When she got back to the house, she walked across to the yellow house next door. Mrs. Blake had seen the ambulance and the look on Linney’s face told her all she needed to know. “She was a wonderful lady, Linney, and a good friend. More than you probably know. Your grandmother was very good to us when Derek’s father left.” Linney nodded. For the first time, she realized that maybe Mrs. Blake and she had more in common than she’d thought. “Let me know how I can help.” Linney nodded again, not quite trusting her voice.
In a moment, she pushed her glasses up her nose and said quietly, “I think I’m okay for now, but thank you. You were a good friend to Gran too, and I know you’ve helped a lot since I left. I can’t thank you enough.” After another hug, she headed back home. There was a lot to do. Her Gran, her rock, was gone.
* * *
“Hi, Mum. What’s up?” Derek picked up the phone quickly when he saw his mother’s ID pop up. She didn’t often call, and she knew he was away. “What?! How is she?” Derek raked his hands through his curly hair. Linney’s world must be shattered. “Why didn’t she call me?” This was the second big blow for her in a few months. His colleagues looked at him, surprised at the strident tone of voice.
“Everything alright at home?” a grey-haired paralegal asked. “Your wife?”
“What? No, no. It’s not Olivia. It’s my best friend.” He strode out of the conference room and leaned on the glass wall outside before turning his attention back to his mother. “I can’t believe she thought I’d be too busy for this. I’ll text her right away. Thanks for calling.”
Mrs. Blake hung up, knowing she’d done the right thing. She looked out the window, and when she didn’t see cars in the driveway except for Linney’s rental, she texted her son. She didn’t think Linney had called Anna or Kirsten either.
Back in Calgary, Derek messaged Linney right away.