Page 62 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
“What if I do, and he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“You won’t be able to control that, either. But you’ll deal with it. Stop overthinking, Ruby.”
“I fell in love once,” I heard. I turned to see Grandma looking at me. “If you have a chance, Ruby, you take it with both hands. I’m off soon.”
Both Monica and I stared at her. There had been times where she’d been totally with it, but those times were few and far between.
“It’s me, Grandma, Ruby.”
“I know, dear.” She turned back to the television.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. Monica took my other hand and stood. “Time to go,” she said.
I let her lead me into the kitchen.
“What’s happened?” Sebastian said, concern lacing his voice.
“Grandma just spoke to me. Like, to me, Ruby. Not a carer.”
He frowned.
“Her dementia is such that she doesn’t really know who Ruby is. However, every now and again, she’ll remember. She just did,” Monica explained.
“What did she say?” Sebastian asked.
“She told me that if I have a chance, I’m to grab it with both hands and that she’ll be off soon,” I replied. My voice hitched with emotion.
“Oh, baby,” he said, and wrapped me in his arms.
I felt secure, safe, and warm. The most comfort I’dever felt in that position. My heart cracked just a little knowing it probably wouldn’t be forever.
I packed an overnight bag with some clothes, and we left. Monica waved me off with a promise to call me regularly. She refused to do so hourly.
I fretted the whole journey.
“Sit still, will you? You’re making me twitchy!”
“You leave your only family member alone for the weekend and see if you sit still,” I snapped back.
“She’s not alone. She has twenty-four-hour care.”
I snorted and turned to face the window, ignoring him. He reached over and took my hand in his. I let him.
We arrived at his house and once again, I marvelled at the outside. It was Georgian in design, but not of the period. It was sympathetically done with a grand entrance and circular drive. I hadn’t taken much notice when I’d been there before, so as I exited the car, I stood and looked.
“I designed this myself,” he said, coming to stand beside me.
“You did a good job. It’s very symmetrical,” I replied.
“I didn’t want ultra-modern, but not period either. Somewhere in between. Come on, let me show you around.”
He led me inside to the cool marble hallway. “I know this room,” I said, chuckling.
He left my bag at the bottom of the stairs and then showed me around. There was a sitting room, which doubled up as a library. I remembered him telling me he liked to read. It looked a lovely place to chill out with large sofas and footstools, a cuddle chair, and fluffy rug in front of an open fire.
“This room is gorgeous, and very tidy!”
“I’m a tidy person,” he said, chuckling.
