Page 81 of Day Break

“Don’t,” my grandfather said, waving the nurses off. “I’m fine. My grandson will sign my release papers now,” he told one of the nurses.

She looked up at me and I nodded. “I’ll go get them,” she said, and both nurses disappeared.

“Are you okay?” I asked my grandfather. He was already dressed to go home but was sitting on the hospital bed as if he didn’t have the energy to stand.

“Just want to go home and sleep in my own bed,” he answered. Then he turned to Chloe. “How was your trip into the city?”

“Fine.” She sat next to him and laid her hand on his arm. “Are you okay?”

My grandfather patted her hand. “Fine. My son can’t ruffle my feathers and it pisses him off,” he said with a smile. “Let’s go home.”

Half an hour later, we drove away from the hospital with my grandfather sitting in the passenger seat and Chloe and Byron in the back. The entire time, Chloe filled my grandfather in on our time in the city, leaving out the part about seeing her ex.

When we pulled into the driveway, I had to park beside several cars. My family was already there.

What shocked me was that they were inside. We’d locked up and, to my knowledge, no one else had the keys. We stepped inside to find everyone had made themselves at home.

“I thought that everyone was going back to the city until Monday?” I asked. “It’s only Friday.”

“We canceled our trip. We were just too worried about George,” my aunt Reba said, muting the television.

“So worried that no one wanted to go visit him or drive him home?” I asked dryly, earning several glares from around the room. “How’d you get inside?” I asked.

Everyone looked around at one another as if they had a great secret.

“I’m calling a locksmith and changing the locks,” I said, pulling out my phone.

“Good, you’re back. You can make lunch,” Phil said, motioning to Chloe. Then he returned his attention to his phone.

“No,” I jumped in before Chloe could disappear into the kitchen. “Out. Everyone,” I barked, shoving my phone back in my pocket. I’d call the locksmith after they were all gone. “I’ve had enough. Grandfather needs his rest, not to play host.” I motioned to the door. “Go find your lunch elsewhere and don’t come back until Monday as you agreed.” When no one moved to go, I yelled. “Now!” They slowly got up and left.

“You’ve got a spine,” my grandfather said, patting my arm. “I think I’m going to go up and shower off the hospital smell.”

“I’ll make us some lunch,” Chloe said, heading into the kitchen.

I stood in the living room and realized that my family must have been at the house a lot longer than I’d expected. The place was a mess. There were beer and soda cans and food wrappers everywhere.

Feeling disgusted, I called the locksmith, agreeing to pay extra for a rush visit that day. Then I walked around with a trash bag and cleaned up after them.

“I can do that,” Chloe said from the kitchen.

“I’ve got it,” I said, growing even more frustrated. “Who in the hell do they think they are?” I mumbled as I straightened the pillows on the sofa.

Thankfully, Chloe didn’t answer me.

By the time my grandfather came down, I had the house back to normal. The locksmith had rekeyed every door, including Chloe’s and the garage door. The three of us were the only ones that had copies now.

Thankfully, I noticed the coloring had come back to my grandfather’s cheeks.

As we ate, I grew very curious and asked my grandfather, “What was Robert yelling at you for in the hospital?”

My grandfather sighed and took a sip of his tea before answering me.

“He’s gotten wind of the last will update. I wanted an answer from him on something.” His eyes moved between Chloe and me. “Enough business. The two of you seem to be getting along.”

Chloe’s cheeks heated, and she avoided his eyes.

“We have to go back into the city tomorrow. Just for a few hours,” I said.