“But he hasn’t had luck in that department.”
“I can relate.”
“I find that hard to believe. You seem so sweet, and beautiful to boot,” Rhonda said sweetly.
“Thank you. I probably get in my own way a lot of the time. The older I get, the more cautious I become.”
“We all get in our own way, dear. Anyway, Breigh, do you mind if I call you that?” She paused but then continued without my response. “A person usually knows when they are lucky enough to have someone in their lives who really cares for them. Who really loves them, gets them. And that is how my nephew is. He is the only one in my entire life who has wanted absolutely nothing from me but my attention and time.”
I listened intently and thought how lucky they were to have this bond. Very lucky. I had it with my grandmother but it was different when you saw it as an outsider.
“You’re preparing and making sure he is set for the rest of his life…you’re giving him a final gift. Life can take anyone by storm and we don't always know how to prepare for it. You, on the other hand, are more prepared than the majority. He will thank you for that one day, when you aren't here any longer.”
I always felt like it was my duty and privilege to remind them what they were doing for their loved ones who were being left behind.
“I only have one person I care about. I want to make sure he is taken care of, although, I’m glad I will be dead when he knows about it. He will be mad, ready to spit nails.”
“I’m sure he’ll come to realize where your heart was though. Most people do,” I reassured her.
Her facial expression didn't look as sure I was.
“Off subject of your will, Rhonda, has he told you anything about…” I had begun to blush and felt the heat rising in my cheeks.
“Yes, of course, he has. He seems smitten with you, if I do say so myself.”
I smiled. “I just wanted to let you know that I would never betray your confidentiality with my job and discuss anything I know.”
“I really never gave it a second thought. You came highly recommended from my friends at church. I see how professional you are. The way you carry yourself. That would be beneath you.”
“Thank you. I just wanted to make sure you understood that.”
“Do you mind if I ask you a favor?”
“No, not at all. Any way I can help my clients, I am always happy to.”
“I need you to promise me, if you are around my Wyatt after I pass, can you please be there for him? All I ever wanted was for him to be happy.”
I swallowed hard and looked down at my hands for a second, speechless.
“I hope I didn't overstep here… Lord, my sister, Wyatt’s mom always says I have a talent at doing that.”
“No, ma’am, you didn’t. The thing is, I’m not sure what will happen, if anything, between Wyatt and me.”
“Only God knows.”
I took a sip of my tea and shook my head, not able to form any words.
Yes, only God knows.
Leaving Mrs. Bryant’s house, I needed to see my grandmother. Sometimes a person just needed a hug, and today, I needed one. Was it for reassurance of her health and to see how she was doing, or was it because I felt pain listening to what Mrs. Bryant was going to face? I wasn't sure. I guess really it was the same either way.
Working in this field, I saw a lot of people ready for death. They knew it was rearing its ugly head and instead of running from it, they faced it. They were confident in their resting place and want things to go smoothly for their loved ones. But what if you weren't ready to let that person go yet? My grandmother, for instance. When did a person ever feel ready? And did they?
I doubted it strongly. I shook my head no just thinking about it.
“Everything okay, Breigh bear? I thought you were working today at Mrs. Bryant's house?”
“I just left.” I had told my grammy where I was going today, knowing she was friends with Rhonda. Of course nothing else was spoken of, but I suspected grammy knew far more than I did from the get-go. She normally did.
I hugged her and she took me in without questions. She was always good at that, never questioning my motives or need.
“I deal with this all the time and you would think it would get easier. And it does a lot of the time. But I really can feel her love toward her nephew.”
“If I remember right, Mrs. Bryant is pretty well off,” my grammy said.
I nodded neither confirming nor denying.
“Money is the root of all evil,” I repeated, as my grandmother had taught me years ago. I know my grandfather and her did well… but never, not once, had she acted like anything other than a hard worker and genuine.
“I tried to teach you that at a very young age. I’m glad it took. Your father could never get that message through his head. Always chasing a buck, that or the bottle.”
I hugged her again and when we pulled away from each, she was smiling from ear to ear.
“I sure love you,” she said sweetly.
“Love you, Grammy.”
And I did. I didn't think I would ever love someone the way I loved her.
11
BREIGH
In Texas style our weather had gone from summer to winter with a huge dive in our temperatures. It happened every year, and it was always on or before the weekend of the town festival: the hayrides, a movie in the center of the town projected on a screen the size of a highway billboard. It was a big deal for Hilltop and one of my favorite times of the year. I had
