Aye Aye

Three hours later Winona and I sit in the waiting room of the Emergency Department of Haven Point General Hospital. I am leaned forward, my elbows on my knees to try to keep them from shaking with nerves, while Winona sat back and lightly rubbed my back. We could actually see the doorway down the hall where they’d taken Grandpa and over the past few hours I’d watched doctors and nurses stream in and out and seen Grandpa appear twice as they wheeled him out and back again probably for some kind of tests. Winona was comforted by the fact that we often heard laughter echo down from his room but I knew that was just Grandpa being Grandpa. Even here, even now, even with this, he was lightening hearts and putting people’s minds at ease. The man simply could not stand to see a frown if he had the power to change it.

After what felt like an eternity a nurse finally comes to fetch us. “We’ll be moving your Grandpa to Oncology soon. He wanted to talk to you before we did.”

“Is it b-bad?”

The smile that Grandpa had put on her face fades as she says. “He wanted to tell you. This way please.”

“There’s my Buttercup!” Grandpa says from his bed. He was sitting up and looking as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as ever. Had it not been for the gown and all the tubes and wires sticking out of him you never would have known anything was wrong. When he reaches out for me I was already in his arms.

“So this is the legendary grandkid we’ve heard so much about.” The doctor says brightly as we hug.

“And his legendary fiance.” Grandpa quips. “Ey, Winnie. Sorry I kept ya waiting so long.”

“As if I had anything better to do.” Winona comes in for a hug of her own.

The doctor and nurse quietly excuse themselves and slip from the room.

“The n-nurse said they are t-transferring you to another r-r-room?” Standing beside his bed I hold his hand with both of mine.

“Yeah.” He says. “They’re keepin me overnight as they finish with all the pokin and proddin.” He grips my hand tight. “Seems that pesky ol’ cancer been busy in there. From what they can tell I’m in what they call Stage 4.”

“Ohhh Grandpa.” Closing my eyes I wilt under the weight of the news I’d been dreading. From the research I’d done since finding out the grim news I knew that the fourth stage was the final one. At this point, even with aggressive treatment, his fate was all but sealed. Grandpa pulls me in for another hug. Burying my face in his neck I begin to cry, like I’d done so many times before. “I’m s-sorry.” I sob. “I’m t-tryin to be strong.”

“Cryin don’t make you weak, Avery.” He whispers as he hugs me tight.

“I love you, G-Grandpa!”

“I love you too.”

After a few minutes I am able to quell my emotions enough to actually function again. “Sorry.” I sniffle, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“Nothin to be sorry for.” Grandpa pats my hand, the love of an overflowing heart beaming from his eyes.

Holding his hand again I look to him. “How long?”

He shrugs. “Weeks. An outside chance at a few months.”

With a shuddering sigh I nod. “Okay.”

“Well that’s good.” Winona says from the foot of the bed. “We were worrying you’d skip out before the vows.”

“Ha ha! Atta girl.” Grandpa reaches his other hand out for her. Coming around to the other side of the bed Winona takes it and gives it a supportive squeeze. “If I got one breath left in this old pile o’ bones you better believe I’ll be there.”

She leans in to kiss his cheek. “You need anything from the Bella?”

“Nah.” He says. “I’m just stayin the night.”

“Okay.” She grins. “Thank you, Mike. For this weekend.” She glances my way. “For everything.” Leaning closer she says in a low voice. “I won’t ever forget what you told me last night.”

“Hey.” He says. “When you get a gift of sacred tobacco you better make it good!”

“That ya did.” She laughs and pats his arm. Looking across to me she nods to the door. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”

“Thank y-you.”

Winona exits leaving me alone with my grandpa. The room falls silent as the door swings closed behind her.

“Are you in p-pain?”

“Ah, I’ve been hurtin a long time. I’m used to it. Sure could use a ciggy though.”

“Grandpa!”

“Heh! Sorry.”

“D-Do you want me to stay the n-night? I don’t mind.”

“No, Avery.” He pats my cheek. “Go home. Sleep in your own warm bed. Hold that woman of yours tight. I’ll call ya tomorrow once I’m back on the Bella.”

“Okay.” I nod. “If there’s anything I c-can do…”

“Buttercup. You’ve already done it. That trip…” He nods with a warm smile. “It meant more to me than I got words to say. I can see now, everything’s gonna be okay. You’re gonna be okay. I can go to Anna with my whole heart.”

“She’ll be so h-happy to see you again.” I kiss his hand. “W-Want me to tell Mom?”

“I got that.” He says. “She and I have a long talk in front of us, if she’ll hear me.”

“She won’t l-listen. She n-never listens.”

“Maybe.” He says. “But I gotta try. She might be all grown up but…she’s still my little girl. That never changes.” Sitting up taller he pats my shoulder. “Alright. I need to get some shuteye. And so do you.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n.”

He chuckles. After another hug and kiss I slip from his arms and out into the arms of my lover.

“We ready?” Winona asks.

“Mm.” I nod. “Let’s g-go home.”