Page 36 of Game Changer
“I love it too.If you ever come visit, look me up.I’ll give you one of my cards.”
“Sure.”I’ll never do that, but I play along, smiling at him.
Jax
Grandpa’s not having the greatest day, I learn when I arrive at his place.Chelsea tells me he’s probably tired from the family gathering.I sit with him and try to have a conversation, but it’s frustrating because he keeps repeating the same things over and over.
I meet Chelsea’s eyes at one point and hers are brimming with sadness.
I follow her into the kitchen when she goes to make coffee.“I gather he’s like this a lot now?”
She nods, busying herself with the coffeemaker and not looking at me.“There are good days and bad days, but yes.More and more like this.”
“He said he was going to go into the office today.”
“Yes.I still take him there because he loves it, but he doesn’t do much anymore.”
“You drive him.”
“Yes.I drive everywhere now.It’s safer.”
“I saw you encouraging him to eat last night.”
“Yes.He forgets if I don’t remind him.He’s lost a lot of volition.Sometimes I have to remind him to get dressed.I make sure he wears a jacket when it’s cold.He misplaces things.”A smile touches her lips.“One day I found the TV remote in the fridge.”
“Ha.I’ve done that.Well, not the remote, but I once put the milk in the cupboard.”
“We all have our moments.But his are a lot.”
I’m silent for a moment, struggling with emotion.“It fucking sucks,” I growl out.
“It does.”She bows her head as the coffee brews.
What she describes sounds like looking after a child.Not a husband.I feel like a band is wrapped around my chest, squeezing.
She’s still here.
She loves him, no matter what.
“What does he do at the office?”I finally ask.
“Not much, anymore.He can’t really make decisions.Luckily Théo is there, and I’ve been helping.”
“So I hear.”
She gives me a sharp look.
“Everly tells me you’ve been more involved,” I say.“It’s good.”
“Do you really think that?”She faces me, challenging me in a way she’s never done.In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with Chelsea alone before.
Might as well get it out in the open.“I had my doubts,” I admit quietly.
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”Honesty is best.
“And?”She arches a brow.
