Page 16 of Wrong Number, Right Unicorn

“But then I’d owe you more than just money.” He avoided my gaze, and Grams called out, saying she couldn’t find her toothbrush.

“That damned dog must have stolen it.”

I grabbed my phone, ready to say I was leaving, but Errol said he’d walk me out. Me avoiding a disaster in the kitchen wasn’t something that needed a payback.

Though if he wanted to, I could think of a few things he could do.

Chapter 8

Davien

“I’ll be back soon to say good night, Grams.” Errol closed the bedroom door and followed me outside.

The temperature had dropped, and there was a bite to the air, which was nice, as it had been hot during the day.

I dithered over what to say to Errol about Grams. She was a sweetheart, one who loved life. Maybe a tad eccentric, but there was nothing wrong with that. Much better than being bland and boring.

But she needed help.

Errol and I had met in an unusual way, and I shouldn’t be butting into his home life. But if I didn’t, who would? Maybe people were flocking to assist him, but what I’d witnessed at the police station suggested otherwise.

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?”

His head shot up, and his eyes were wary. He was thinking we were a one-date-and-done couple. That was what I saw in his expression.

“Look, I know you were thrown into my life by that phone call.” He brushed his fingers through his hair. “Though it was more I yanked you into my world by phoning the wrong number, but?—”

I silenced him with a finger to his lips. But as we stood, studying one another, not saying anything, I was struck by the thought that maybe he’d been going to tell me to back off. Hmmm. But he hadn’t flung my hand away or stomped off yelling, so there was that.

“Does Grams take meds?”

Errol rolled his eyes. “She has a pharmacy in the kitchen drawer, more than she had even a month ago.”

It was a heavy load for a young guy to carry, but she had looked after him growing up, and now it was his turn.

“Were they all prescribed by the same doctor?”

He sighed. “No, some were, but others were from the ER at the nearest hospital, and Grams took herself to another doctor one day.” He’d given that doctor his grandmother’s history the next day, but her meds were a hodgepodge of different physicians prescribing drugs for different ailments.

Bingo. I was sure that some of the meds were contraindicated.

“When you have time, maybe make a list of everything she’s been prescribed and take that to your doctor.”

“Errol, time for your bedtime story.” Grams’s voice echoed onto the street.

“Be right there.” His shoulders sagged, the exhaustion evident in his body and face.

I made a decision, maybe the wrong one, but I was being bold. What was that famous quote? Fortune favors the bold. Yeah, that was me.

“I don’t have to go just yet. Maybe once Grams is asleep, we can watch TV.”

He grinned, his eyes crinkling adorably.

We traipsed back inside, and I made tea and found some store-bought cookies while Errol tended to his grandmother.

“She’s asleep.” He tiptoed out and closed the door, before sinking onto the couch beside me.

“You sure this is okay?” Maybe I should have left and let him go to bed.

---