Page 65 of Chosen Road

“Is okay, koukla. I forgot about my arm. Go ask the nurse for something for my head, koritzi mou.”

The nurse opened the door to check Yiayia’s vitals. By the time she finished, Yiayia was asleep, and the nurse reassured us she would be back in an hour to check on her again.

“I’m sorry, Ruby,” I murmured. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

“It’s okay, Amber. I understand.”

It didn’t seem like she understood, but I didn’t pursue it.

We took turns giving Vander and Gus updates. Thankfully, Ruby called Minty hours ago to pick up the boys, so we checked in with her as well. After several hours, the doctor admitted Yiayia into a ward and I breathed a sigh of relief that she’d be monitored overnight at the hospital. They confirmed that she had a concussion but hoped to release her in the morning.

I closed my eyes in relief. A one-night stay was not so bad. It would even give us time to move her into my house, which suddenly seemed like the best idea Gus ever had.

There was nothing left for us to do, and Yiayia needed sleep, so we headed home.

Chapter 21: Just Me

Gus

Amber and I drove together to pick up Alex from Minty’s.

Thank God for Minty.

She came to see me a couple of months after Amber moved into the condo. When I opened the front door to find her on the front step, my first thought was that something happened to Amber. She immediately read me.

She reached out her hand and lay it gently on my arm. “No, Gus, Amber and Alex are fine.” She dropped her hand again and smiled softly. “May I come in?”

I gave my head a small shake. “Of course.” I cleared my throat. “Of course,” I said again, stepping back. “Come in.”

I led the way to the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No,” she replied. “No, thank you. I’m not going to stay long. I just wanted to know if you love her.”

I hung my head. “She’s my everything.”

“Don’t give up on her, Gus,” she whispered fervently.

I looked up at her in surprise.

“Over the past two years she has shut down more and more. She was always private, but not like she is now. She’s going through something. I know she is.”

I swallowed. “Did she tell you what happened between us?”

“No. And she won’t. She’ll protect you.”

“I…”

“Don’t say anything, Gus. It’s not my place or my business. I know your heart. Don’t give up on her.”

I nodded, momentarily at a loss for words. “I won’t,” I replied softly, then said again, much more firmly. “I won’t.” I studied her face but read no judgement there. “Will you let me know if she needs me?”

“She needs you,” she said immediately, smiling. “But I’ll call you if there’s an emergency.”

She never once called me or brought it up again over the past year, but knowing she was watching over things in my absence gave me a sense of peace I would not have otherwise had.

Unlike usual, Alex plodded to the car quietly, the bounce missing from his step.

“You want us to pick you up something from the drive-thru, agori mou?”

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