Page 14 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
This is all too good to be true.
I didn’t have time to read the documents straight away. A little while after I arrived home, Monica called to say that Grandma was ready to be collected a couple of hours later. I rushed around and batch cooked some soup, made as many easy to eat dishes as I could and filled the freezer. That and my microwave were the only things I needed in my kitchen. Grandma couldn’t eatmost foods. It was as if she’d forgotten how to chew, and swallowing was also becoming a problem. I was an expert at making soups, self-taught, of course. I would cram as much goodness as I could in, but still had to rely on protein shakes for her.
I was wiping down the countertop when I heard a car pull up outside. I rushed to the door and smiled broadly. Monica was helping Grandma from the car. Although very frail, she looked rosy-cheeked. She was chatting away, mostly about Louis, and then when she saw me, she paused.
“Who is that?” she asked Monica, and my heart broke a little more.
“It’s your granddaughter, Ruby.”
“I don’t have a granddaughter.” Grandma started to get agitated.
It wasn’t the first time she hadn’t recognised me, but the first she’d shown fear. I wasn’t sure what to do. Yet again, I cursed her dementia.
“I want to go home,” Grandma said.
“You are home, Grandma,” I replied, hoping the sound of my voice might settle her. It didn’t.
“I want to go home!” Grandma screeched. Tears formed in her eyes.
I looked at Monica who smiled kindly at me. “How about we have a nice cup of tea, shall we?”
Grandma nodded and I stepped into the house andout of the way. I swallowed back the tears.
“Hello, Grandma. How are you today?” I heard that chocolaty smooth voice and I sighed.
“Oh, Louis, I’m so glad you’re here,” Grandma replied, and I sighed some more. It wasn’tLouis,nor was it the nurse at the respite care centre she called Louis.
“Let me help you in,” Sebastian said.
I watched as she smiled up at him. She allowed him to take her arm and gently lead her into the house, past me without a glance, and then to the living room.
“Smooth, isn’t he?” Monica said. I nodded and frowned.
“Grandma letshimin the house, but freaks out about me.” I knew what I said wasn’t fair or entirely accurate considering I was already in the house, but my heart was hurting, and someone had to be the outlet for that.
“Come on now, Ruby. You know how this is,” Monica said, gently.
I sighed once more and pushed my shoulders back. I walked into the living room and smiled.
“Hi, Grandma. I’m so glad that you’re home.”
“So am I. She tried to kill me,” she said, pointing to Monica and I chuckled. I was off the hook. Now it was Monica’s turn.
“Here, let’s tuck this around you,” Sebastian said as he placed a blanket over Grandma’s lap.
“He’s a good boy, is my Louis,” Grandma said, as she placed her palm on the side of his face.
He smiled at me. I scowled at him.
“I’ll make her a cup of tea,” I said, more mumbled than actually spoken.
I was standing with my back to the kitchen door when he came in. “Why do you keep turning up here?” I asked, spinning around to face him.
“Keep?”
“Yes, keep.”
“I came to see how you’d gotten on with Mike.”
