“Nana Rose?” I said tentatively.
<
“Nana Rose?” I said tentatively.
Her voice was weaker than I remembered.
“Sarah, dear……. are you….. are you and Ethan…..
are you two still together?” she asked
cautiously.
I hadn’t cried in days, but her question
opened the floodgates. “Nana Rose,” I
whispered, “no. He… he loves someone else.”
She was silent for a moment, then sighed, a
sound filled with sadness. “That foolish boy…
he doesn’t know what he’s lost… that little
rascal…”
“Sarah, you’re a good girl. You’ll find your
happiness. You deserve it.”
I closed my eyes, tears choking me. “I know.”
We talked for a few more minutes before she
reluctantly hung up. Ethan called immediately
after.
I frowned. “Hello?”
His voice was strained. “Sarah, Nana Rose
isn’t doing well…”
“The doctors… they don’t think she has much
time left. She wants to see you, but she’s too
embarrassed to ask.”
“Could you….. could you come visit her?”
Hearing his voice, my first instinct was to
refuse. I wanted nothing to do with him. But I
couldn’t bring myself to say no. I pictured
Nana Rose’s kind face, her warm hand in
mine.
L
“Have you… have you told Ashley?” I asked. I
didn’t want to deal with her drama.
“Yes,” Ethan said quietly.
“Fine,” I sighed. “But I’m not coming with you.
I’ll drive myself.” I hung up.
But the words caught in my throat. I kept
seeing Nana Rose’s wrinkled hand gripping
mine, her voice full of concern. “When will you
come back, dear? Don’t worry about money.
Ask us if you need anything. Don’t struggle
alone.”
“I…” I stammered, torn.
Ethan’s voice cracked. “Sarah, I know I
messed up. But Nana Rose loves you. Please
く
don’t let her die with this regret.”
“Did you tell Ashley?” I asked softly. Knowing
Ashley, she’d go ballistic if she knew I was
going to Ethan’s family home.
“Yeah,” Ethan said, his voice distant. “I told
her.”
“Okay,” I sighed. “But I’m driving myself.” I
hung up.
Early the next morning, I drove to the familiar
small town where Ethan grew up. His parents
greeted me at the door with forced smiles.
“Nana Rose is in there, Sarah. Go see her.
She’s been asking for you.”
Ethan was already kneeling by her bedside,
looked up when I entered. “You made it,” he
whispered. “She’s been talking about you.”
My throat tightened. “Nana Rose, it’s Sarah.
I’m here.”
The last time I saw her, she was a vibrant,
stylish woman, her hair dyed jet black,
promising to roast a goose for me. Now, her
hair was white, her eyes cloudy. She seemed
confused.
“Sarah? You’re back? Have you eaten?” she
asked weakly, her hand reaching for mine.
“Yes, Nana Rose. I ate before I came.”
“You’re so thin… You haven’t been eating
well, have you?”
“I have all those fresh eggs saved for you,
dear. Make sure you eat them,” she
murmured.
I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
“You need to get your strength back, Sarah. I
want to see you give Ethan a big, healthy
baby boy. A beautiful baby, just like you.”
She’d forgotten about the breakup. Her
breathing was ragged, like a bellows losing
air. “When… when are you planning to… you
know… start a family?”
I wiped my eyes, unable to speak.
Ethan, crying now, said, “Soon, Nana Rose.
You’ll see your great–grandson this year. Just
hold on a little longer.”
<
She smiled, a look of peace on her face. Just
then, a chilling voice cut through the air.
“A baby? Why wasn’t I informed about this?”
I froze, turning to see Ashley standing in the
doorway, bundled in a black puffer jacket, her
face a mask of fury. She looked like the grim
reaper.
“Ethan,” she hissed, “what is the meaning of
this?”
Ethan’s parents rushed in, their faces etched
with panic. “Ethan, this… this young lady says
she’s your girlfriend… what’s going on?”
“Let me explain-” Ethan started, his face
paling, as he rose to his feet.
But Ashley didn’t give him a chance. She
slapped him hard across the face. The sound
echoed through the room, stunning everyone
into silence.
“Ethan!” she shrieked, her voice like nails on
a chalkboard, filled with a chilling rage. “You
brought this bitch to your house behind my
back?!”
“Ashley, listen to me! It’s not like that! Nana
Rose wanted to see Sarah. I didn’t tell you
because I didn’t want you to get upset-”
“I gave up going to a four–year college to be
with you! I stayed here after graduation! I’ve
done everything for you! For ten years! I
cooked for you, I did your laundry, I never
even dated anyone else! I waited for you! I
cut myself! I jumped off a building! I’ve
