The Railroad Magnate (Colter Sons Book 3) by Karen Baney

Author:Karen Baney [Baney, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Author Services International, LLC
Published: 2022-12-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Keri

The week after Grandpa’s stroke, neither Mama nor I worked at the office. We coordinated the effort to move them into Papa’s den. We tried to make it feel like their home and their space.

On Thursday, Uncle Adam brought Deacon Colter, Grady Thatcher, and a few cowboys from the ranch with a wagon load full of furniture and belongings.

“How is he?” Uncle Adam asked Mama when he arrived.

“About the same. He’s more alert but struggles to communicate. He can’t move most of his right side. We’ve purchased a wheeled chair for him so Mama or one of us can move him around easily.”

Mama’s words hit my heart. Grandpa was no longer independent. I couldn’t picture it in my mind. Grandpa was always full of energy and life.

Deacon and Grady carried my grandparents’ bed back to the den. Mama issued orders about the placement. The cowboys positioned the nightstands on each side of the bed. A dresser went along the wall under the large window. I stood on a chair and hung Grandma’s curtains on the window. It was so large that I had to use two sets of matching curtains to cover its length.

The men stacked crates full of their belongings and trunks of their clothing. Mama purchased a wardrobe for Grandma’s dresses, so when the men finished unloading the wagon, Adam picked it up from the store and brought it into the room.

The rest of the afternoon, Mama and I unpacked their things. It seemed strange to hang Grandma’s dresses in a wardrobe in Papa’s den.

I sighed heavily.

“What’s wrong?” Mama asked.

“I’m glad that we can help Grandma and Grandpa, but it breaks my heart that he is so unwell.”

Mama sniffed. “Mine too.”

She stopped folding clothes and sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m not ready to think about my papa… Passing.”

“Oh, Mama!” I sat next to her and hugged her.

For the first time in days, my strong, unshakable mama finally cried. I rocked her back and forth as my own tears moistened my cheeks.

“It’s made life seem so fragile. At night, I wonder how long Alex and I will have together. Will I one day be moving into your house or Sadie’s, and you will care for me?”

My breath caught. “Mama don’t think like that. We don’t know how long we have. We don’t know what will happen. Worrying about it will steal your joy from today.”

Mama patted her cheeks dry with her handkerchief. “When did my daughter become so wise?”

She turned and gave me a half smile.

“For years now. I have two excellent role models.”

I squeezed her shoulders and stood to finish unpacking their things.

By four o’clock, Mama and I created a homey and welcoming room for them. When Papa brought them home from the doctor’s office, Grandpa was in the wheeled chair. Papa huffed as he struggled to get the chair up the porch stairs.

“Perhaps we should have someone build a ramp,” Mama suggested.

Papa grunted as he pulled the wheeled chair onto the porch. “Good idea.”

He wheeled Grandpa back to his new room.

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