Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen

Author:Amanda Wen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

TENSION KNOTTED GARRETT’S shoulders as he crunched across the gravel to his grandmother’s kitchen door early that Saturday afternoon. In the aftermath of Wednesday’s argument, he and Lauren had been civil enough, so long as they stuck to bland, nondescript conversations about work, the weather, and the Royals’ four-game winning streak.

But thanks to his morning tour of Plaza de Paz, the second of three retirement communities he’d see this weekend, that fragile truce could remain in place no longer. They had to discuss Grandma’s future. And he wasn’t looking forward to it in the least.

He squeaked open the screen door to a warm, delicious-smelling kitchen. Cherry pie? Turnovers maybe? What would Lauren’s versions of those things taste like anyway?

Didn’t matter. The aroma alone made his mouth water.

“So how awful was it?” Lauren’s back was to him, though whether that was intentional or because she was reaching into the cupboard, he couldn’t tell.

“Actually, not awful at all.” He placed Plaza de Paz’s informational brochure on the counter beside her and beat a hasty retreat to the table.

Lauren set down a stack of small plates and glanced at the brochure with the same wrinkled-nose expression as if he’d put an insect there instead. “Looks like flipping Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

“That’s the new memory care unit.” Pulling out a chair, Garrett prayed for the right words. “Lots of bright colors and pictograms to help residents find their way around, plus all kinds of special therapies and activities to help them maintain quality of life for as long as possible. It’s very state of the art.”

“Sounds expensive.”

“Looks like I’m rubbing off on you.”

If she looked disgusted before, it paled in comparison to the face she made now. “Ew, you’re right.”

At the teasing glint in her eyes, some of the tightness across his shoulders gave way.

Despite this mountain of a disagreement they faced, they’d be all right. Like always.

He cleared his throat. “As far as cost, it’s pretty brilliant. Residents are required to have a certain amount in the bank when they move in. It’s not a small amount, but if that ever runs out, Plaza de Paz guarantees care for the rest of their life, rent free. No charity, no government aid. They consider the care bought and paid for.”

“Huh.” Lauren picked up the brochure and flipped through it. “Grandma might get on board with that.”

A timer dinged, and Lauren opened the oven to retrieve a pan of—yup, cherry turnovers. “But I’m guessing she doesn’t have that required amount.”

“She does not.”

Lauren slammed the oven shut. “And we’re back to the elephant in the room.”

“You said we’d talk about it this weekend.”

“I said maybe we’d talk.”

“You knew I was taking some tours.”

“All right, fine.” Lauren tossed her oven mitts onto the counter, right on top of the brochure. “Let’s talk. Where else did you go?”

He blinked at her sudden shift. “Sunset Manor. It’s a little older, not quite as nice, but it could be adequate.”

“Adequate.” Coffeepot poised over a ceramic mug, she spat out the word as though it tasted bad.

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