Page 62 of Roommating

“We’ve got this. Just relax,” I say.

She shrugs and sits back down while I make her a cup of tea and Adam fills her plate with food.

When we’re all seated again, she stabs her fork into a piece of penne. “So what did you two do last night?”

“We didn’t do anything!” I rush to say, my voice loud and squeaky. I sound guiltier than a shoplifter caught in the act.

Adam side-eyes me quickly before turning back to Marcia. “We watched TV and worried about you.”

Her brows furrow. “I’m sorry I worried you over nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing, Grams.”

She plops a grape in her mouth and her eyes widen with pleasure. “These are so sweet. Much better than last week’s batch.”

I vault from my chair. “I’ll get you more.”

Adam stands too. “Do you want more tea? Or water?”

“Sit down. Both of you.”

I freeze with my hand inside the refrigerator.

She gestures at our empty chairs. “Go on. We need to talk.”

We do as she says.

I choke on a nervous laugh. “Why does it feel like I’ve been sent to the principal’s office?”

“You’re not in trouble.” She looks affectionately between the two of us. “I appreciate you both taking such good care of me, and I willallow it for today, but starting tomorrow, all this doting needs to stop.”

I open my mouth to argue.

Marcia raises a hand. “I’m notthatold, and although Idoneed your help for certain things, making a cup of tea, putting grapes in a bowl, and ‘drawing a bath’ are not among them.” Her eyes twinkle at that last one. “This is not an assisted-living situation, and I will not allow it to turn into one.”

I frown. “I want to be the considerate roommate you deserve is all.” It is, of course, so much more than that.

“But it’s notis allto me. It makes me feel old and useless.” She registers my dejected face and her eyes soften. “If my doctor says otherwise at my follow-up next week, I’ll let you know, but in the meantime, please just treat me like your friend and roommate. And you,” she says, looking at Adam, “I’m supposed to dote on you, not the other way around. Be my grandson, not my caretaker.” Her eyes slide between us again. “Can you both do that?”

“Whatever you say, Grams,” Adam mumbles rather unconvincingly.

I kick him under the table. “As you wish.”

“So what do you want to do for the rest of the day? Let me guess, train for a marathon?” Adam teases.

I laugh.

Marcia rolls her eyes. “I was thinking of scrolling OurTime.”

Adam chokes on a bite of his hero. “Seriously? You think maybe you should ask your doctor about that too?”

She levels him with her eyes. “I’m just swiping, Grandson. I’ll ask my doctor about more rigorous activities next week.” She raises and lowers her eyebrows.

Adam’s mouth opens and closes.

She winks at me.

I chuckle.

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