Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
I’m knocked sideways by this line of questioning. I definitely didn’t see it happening today, let alone from her. But the question is direct and matter-of-fact, and Mimi clearly expects an answer. I’m not about to disrespect her by evading it.
“I don’t date,” I say, going with an easy excuse. “I don’t have a lot of free time.”
She smiles to herself. “That’s a lie, but I won’t press you on it.”
“What do you mean I’m lying? You just met me ten minutes ago,” I say, amused.
“Honey, I didn’t get to be my age and not learn anything about people. A man like you? Everything you do is intentional. Am I right?”
I don’t know what to say, but I feel it’s a rhetorical question, anyway.
“So let me ask you this,” she says. “If everything you do is intentional, why are you really here?”
The room stills, and her question hangs in the air. It’s like a grenade spiraling toward the ground, ready to explode on impact.
“I talked to Chloe last night,” I say, my voice low. “I heard a man yelling, and she sounded upset.”
Mimi’s expression darkens.
“And she mentioned you’d fallen yesterday,” I add. “When she didn’t answer me this morning, I had a bad feeling. I guess I just wanted to know what was going on—that you both were okay.”
“Why did you care?”
The smugness in her tone pulls at the corners of my mouth.
“I’m nosy,” I say, grinning.
“Curiosity can do more than kill a cat, you know.” She leans back again. “I think you’re a good man, Jason. So I will tell you something, but you can’t tell Chloe.”
I flinch.
I didn’t come here to get in the middle of family secrets. God knows my family has enough of them for the whole city. But despite my hesitation, I also can’t get up and leave. I’m rooted on this sofa, at Mimi’s mercy.
“Chloe has the best heart of any person in the world,” she says. Her words are somber but tinged with an unmistakable tenderness. “She’s stronger than I ever was.”
Mimi closes her eyes briefly and sighs softly.
“Her mama, my daughter, was sick with colon cancer for three years,” Mimi says. “Chloe took care of her. She took classes when she could and worked two jobs when she had to, but that little granddaughter of mine never complained. Not once. And when my Beatrice passed, God love her soul, Chloe was holding her hand and singing to her.”
Fuck. My hands wring together as I endure the wrenching in my chest.
“Then she moved me in with her despite my objections,” she says, chuckling to herself. “I told her I would go to a nursing home, but she wouldn’t stand for it.” Mimi’s head rolls to the side so she’s facing me. “Chloe gives up her life to take care of me. She lives here to make it work. With her debt from taking care of her mama, student and personal loans, and the cost of just trying to live right now, it’s killing her. And she doesn’t say a word.”
The last sentence is nothing above a whisper. Yet she may as well have shouted it.
I knew Chloe was strong and determined. I’m aware that she’s sweet, genuine, and kind. But I had no idea that she was going through so much personally.
Guilt riddles me.
How do I call her a friend and not know this about her? How could I have missed the signs? Why hasn’t she said anything to me or asked for my help?
I still. It seems she’s used to being the one doing the caring, not the other way around.
“Greta’s helping me get a plan in place to move into a nursing facility,” Mimi says, her voice clear.
“Have you talked to your granddaughter about that?”
“No. She’ll fight me on it. And I know she’ll be unhappy for a while, but it’s best for her.” Tears gather in the corners of her eyes. “I’m the only person on this planet who loves her and would do anything for her. And the best thing I can do for her is give her life back.”
A lump lodges in my throat as I reach across the space between us. I take her shaky hand in mine and give it a gentle squeeze.
“If Chloe’s upset in the next couple of weeks, that’s why,” Mimi says. “I’d appreciate you giving her a little grace.”
Damn.
I’ve fought in wars. Lost friends. Watched a man try to murder my mother.
Through it all, I was as cool as a cucumber.
So why am I fighting back tears over a woman I barely know?
Fuck this shit. I need to get out of here.
“I will absolutely give her grace,” I say. “Please don’t worry about that.”
“And don’t let her worry about me. Hell, I’ll be able to go outside there and breathe the fresh air. Feel the sunshine on my face. Might even get to smell a flower now and again.”