Eric frowned, then spoke plainly. “Elissa was with him for a check-up this morning. But then they ran into Linda.”

Linda?

Hadley understood at once. No one knew better than she did just how malicious that woman could be.

“Let’s go.” Eric felt her tense up and tightened his grip on her hand. “We’ll head to the hospital first.”

“Okay.”

When they arrived, Elissa was propped up in bed, her breaths slow and shallow behind the oxygen mask.

Beside her, Ernest held a glass of water in both hands. “Just one more sip?”

Elissa didn’t say a word. She turned her head and pushed the glass aside. Ernest sighed and set it down on the bedside table. When he looked up, he spotted Eric and Hadley at the door.

“You’re here.” He stood and nodded toward Hadley. “You’re close to her, Hadley. Please stay and keep her company.”

“I will,” Hadley said, already moving toward the bed.

Ernest and Eric shared a brief look before stepping out, leaving the two women alone.

Inside the room, Hadley eased herself onto the edge of the bed. She reached for Elissa’s hand and held it. “Elissa… it’s me.”

Elissa slowly turned her head. Her movements were sluggish and heavy with sorrow. When her eyes landed on Hadley, the dam broke.

“Hadley…” she cried out, tears pouring down. “My grandfather… he’s gone. The doctors said he was improving… they said he was going to get better…”

Her sobs grew harder, her words choked by grief. “But Linda said those horrible things to him… and now he’s gone! Gone! No…”

Hadley stood at once and wrapped her arms around her. Raised by her own grandmother, Clare, she knew exactly what Elissa was feeling. That kind of unconditional love only came once.

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Now, with their grandparents gone, the ones who had loved them the most were gone too.

“What am I going to do without him…” Elissa leaned into Hadley’s arms and finally let the tears fall.

Outside the room, Ernest stood still, listening.

When he heard Elissa crying, the tension in his brow eased just a little. She was finally letting it out. That was a good sign. His real worry had been that she’d keep it all buried inside, where it would fester.

After some time, Hadley stepped out of the room.

Ernest and Eric were still there, both unwilling to leave just yet.

“Ernest,” Hadley gestured toward the room. “Elissa’s asleep now.”

“Alright.” Ernest nodded, his gratitude evident. “Thank you. If you have time, please come by often to keep her company.”

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