A Home by the Sea by Christina Skye

Author:Christina Skye
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN
Published: 2011-08-26T04:00:00+00:00

“YOU’RE HIS GRANDDAUGHTER, correct?”

Grace nodded, gripping Jilly’s arm.

“I’m glad you’re here. I’m afraid you can only have five minutes with him. He may not be conscious.”

“I understand. But my grandfather didn’t have a history of high blood pressure or heart disease. I don’t understand what happened.”

“We’re still doing tests to see if there is evidence of a stroke. Meanwhile, he has a punctured lung and two broken ribs. They have to heal completely before he is mobile again.”

“How long will that take?”

“Time predictions are always tricky, Ms. Lindstrom. If everything goes well and if he responds to our treatment, it could be a month or it could be three months. That will be up to his body and his will to recover.”

Grace nodded slowly. It was going to be a long process. This changes everything, she thought. He needs me right here beside him.

She waited impatiently for the nurse to finish inside. “Remember. Five minutes and no more,” the doctor reminded her. “We can talk when you’re done.” Then he strode off to answer a page.

Grace took a breath and walked inside the small room.

Equipment beeped. An IV line hung from a pole near the bed. Her heart squeezed when she saw her grandfather. He had always been the healthiest man she knew, tall and tanned, outdoors every moment he could find.

Now Peter Lindstrom was pale, his eyes closed, and Grace realized she had never seen him at rest. Her grandfather had always been busy working at the shelter or tending the roses that he loved or helping a neighbor in need.

Never like this, spread out beneath white sheets, motionless and pale.

Another nurse gave her an encouraging smile and then moved outside, pulling the curtain closed behind her to give them some privacy.

“Grandpa, it’s Grace. I’m here. Caro called me in D.C. and told me you were hurt.”

There was no answering sound. No flutter of his eyelids.

No sign of life.

Grace sat down slowly beside the bed and took his cool hand in hers. She stroked the callused fingers, fighting tears. “I’m not going away. I’ll keep an eye on the clinic, so don’t worry about anything. Just rest. All you have to do is get well again. You have to get well.” Her voice broke, despite all efforts to stay calm. “We—we all need you, Grandpa.”

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