Page 101 of Totally Shipped
“According to Brandi, she’s awake, and sometimes lucid.”
I can’t keep biting my tongue. “And when were you last at the hospital?”
He hears the accusation in my voice. “I don’t see that’s your concern. I have called the hospital every day though.”
???
Twenty minutes later, Keyara, Nanda, and Nikau watch us leave from their position on the stoop. I see them waving in the rear view mirror until we are out of sight.
Leaving Key is hard, but not as hard as I thought it might be. She is so obviously in the right place, and not countries away like we feared. I will miss the little noodle, though; we’ll have to figure out a regular visiting schedule.
Daisy spends a lot of the journey on the phone, talking to her folks. We will be going down to see them after spending time with Meemaw. Not sure if Rex will go there or stay here. Everything is up in the air.
“My parents are making a fuss,” Daisy says as she hangs up. “And they don’t even know about Thea yet! Dad is bent out of shape because I came here before coming home.”
“You OK?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’ve finally let go of my need to please them. I’m a grown woman with a large and loving family of my own. These days, I make decisions for myself and not based on them.”
That’s my girl.
The drive goes by quickly, and we soon arrive at Jefferson City General Hospital. Pulling into the parking lot, I circle looking for somewhere to park. It takes me twenty frustrating minutes to find an empty slot, but soon enough we tumble out and head to the main visitors’ desk.
Rex learns where he can find Meemaw, and we all decide he should go ahead on his own first. Before he enters the elevator for the fourth floor, I fling my arms around him.
“Love you, brother.”
He rests his head on my shoulder for a moment, then disappears up to find his Meemaw.
REX
She’s so tiny.
When I arrive at the room, Meemaw is awake and hooked to an IV, and various monitors. Her face is still pale and sunken, and she doesn’t move to look as I enter, just focuses on the view from her window.
I take the seat beside her bed and pick up her hands. It takes a moment for her eyes to register me. Finally, she gives a tired smile.
“I’ve missed you, Rexie-boy,” she says, her voice soft. “But I knew I’d see you again, in one life or another.”
Her eyes glisten as I stroke her fingers.
“Have I passed over?” she asks. I’m startled for a moment, and take a second before answering.
“Is your grandpa here too?” She scans my face.
“Meemaw, you’re still on the living side of heaven," I tell her. “I’ve been trapped on an island for a year, but finally got rescued. I didn’t die.”
She widens her eyes. “So Gray—is he alive too?” Her fingers twitch. “Please tell me he’s safe.”
“He is, Meemaw. And he wants to see you. Can I tell him to come in?”
“I’ll be cross if you don’t. I don’t have any time to waste, my love.”
Gray comes in and pulls another chair close to the bed so we can talk. This is when I tell her about Daisy, but while she nods, I can see she is drifting off and not taking in what I’m saying. She finally dozes off completely.
“I’ll ask Leander to get us an Airbnb nearby,” Gray says, not needing to be told that we will not be leaving Jefferson for a while.
“Thanks, Gray. Y’all should go rest up, I’m going to stay here.”
