Page 14 of An Island Summer
He shook his head. “I’m okay,” he replied with a heavy sigh. “It’s just been a lot.” He pulled into a parking space at the front of Rosewood Manor.
“So you’re his only family member?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“That has to be hard. What about you? What about your job—what do you do when you have to stop to take care of him?”
“I can manage,” he said, not elaborating.
“I understand,” she said, hoping it would help him if she were to open up a little. Maybe she could help in some way. “I lost both my parents at fifteen.”
He turned to her, his eyes wide. “Fifteen? I can’t imagine that.”
“My grandfather helped me through it,” she said. “Maybe it’s my turn now to help someone else.” She took the bag of truffles and opened the car door. “Shall we?”
They got out of the car and walked up to the facility together, checking in at the front desk, and then made their way down the sterile tiled hallway toward Rupert’s room. When they got to his door, a nurse sat in a chair just outside, on guard duty.
“He’s been a handful today, bless his heart,” she said to Toby.
His chest filled with breath as he nodded in understanding. “This is Meghan Gray. Gramps called her Hester Quinn the other night, so we’re going to see if he still thinks that’s who she is. Maybe Hester Quinn can convince him to stay put.”
“You are a lifesaver,” the nurse said, throwing a hand to her chest. “Let’s pray it works.” She opened the door and called in. “Mr. Meyers? Your grandson is here with a friend.”
Toby and Meghan walked in to find Rupert pacing, Hollywood memorabilia covering every surface of the room. Movie posters hung on the walls of the small hospital-style bedroom, piles of books about cinema and old Hollywood filled bookshelves, and a small TV in the corner was dwarfed by massive stacks of old DVDs.
Rupert stopped wandering as soon as he saw her, moving over to her and wrapping her up in his arms, his unique scent of old age mixed with cotton and basil hitting her. “My dear,” he said with palpable relief. He pulled back to look at her, yearning and happiness spreading over his face. “How long was the trip from California? I’ll bet you’re exhausted,” he said, patting for her to sit on the hospital bed that had been contorted into the shape of a sun lounger.
“It wasn’t bad,” she replied, glancing over at Toby, who’d sat down in the corner chair, for guidance. He gave her a look of encouragement.
“You’re doing your hair differently these days,” Rupert said. “More natural. And you’re quite casual.”
“Yes,” she said, holding the bag of truffles in her lap.
“I’m surprised. You usually like to spend so much time getting ready.” He sat down next to her, his earlier distress melting away. “Remember the time when we went to the premiere of that movie… What was it?” He trailed off, his gaze moving to the wall. “Was itPretty Girls?”
“I think so, yes,” she said, playing the part.
“You spent so long making yourself beautiful that we almost missed the beginning.” He laughed, his old eyes dancing. “But you didn’t need to worry so much about how you looked, because you were stunning before you’d done a thing, just as you are now.”
She smiled, not knowing what else to say for fear she might offer up some detail that wasn’t in his fictional story and send him into a panic. “I brought you some chocolate truffles,” she said, holding out the bag as she looked over at Toby in the corner.
“Oh, my dear, that’s lovely. Thank you.” He took the bag and held it to his chest. “Later. We’ll indulge in these another time. Right now, I just want to get a good look at you.” He sucked in a breath of excitement as if he could inhale her right into himself. “How I’ve missed you.”
“I’m glad I could come,” she said honestly. Even though he clearly wasn’t in reality, he was so delightful, and she could tell by the sweetness in his eyes that he’d been a wonderfully kind man. “So how have you been?” she asked, inching her way toward the conversation about staying at Rosewood Manor.
“Not too bad… Missing Elise and Matthew,” he said, his words breaking on their names.
Meghan shot Toby a glance for confirmation and he gave her a quick nod before looking down at the floor, his forearms on his knees.
“It must have been a shock,” she said, glad that he was at least remembering Toby’s parents and didn’t have to go through the pain of learning about their death again.
His cloudy eyes filled with tears. “It was. I needed you to help me through it. Where were you?”
“I didn’t know, I’m so sorry,” she said, grasping for an acceptable answer. “I came as quickly as I could.”
He took her hand. “Well, you’re here now.”
“Yes.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “I liveherenow.”
