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Gia made a quick mental inventory of the contents of her cupboards and fridge.
“Dinner? I make a mean lasagna.”
“Seven p.m.?” Ben rose. “What may I bring?”
Gia stood as well. “Just yourself. I’ll make sure I have everything else.”
Including your grandson.
He nodded, looking pleased. As he reached for the door, he paused. Looked back.
“The day before you came to us, a dragonfly visited my yard. A Western Red Damsel. They’re found near water, so the sighting was unusual. I took it as a sign and told it my wishes.”
She had no clue where this was going, so she kept silent.
Ben pattedher shoulder. “More tradition. I believe Caleb is ready to hear the truth about why he’s been apart from his people all these years.”
“I hope you’re right,” Gia whispered.
She knew what it felt like to be estranged from family. Even if the reasons were valid, it left a piece of your soul missing. The least she could do was facilitate a meeting that, with any luck, would lead to reconciliation between Caleb and his family.
“We’ll see you tonight,” she added.
After he left, she found Jennie tapping away at a nurse’s station computer. “Has Caleb come out of the conference room yet?”
“Not that I’ve seen.” Jennie glanced up. “Why?”
“Good.”
Jennie’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t want him to know his grandfather was here.”
“It’s complicated.”
If Caleb knew, he’d ask why. He wouldn’t like the answer, and she didn’t want to lie.
Her life was already a series of lies and she was tired of it.
“Here.” Jennie lifted a file folder. “Last patient.”
Gia glanced at the clock.Four-thirty. “I’m heading out after I see—” she took the folder, glanced inside—“Mister Shirley.”
“Hot date?”
“I’ve got lasagna to make.”
“For Caleb?”
Gia leaned in and whispered, “And President Blackwater.”
Jennie’s laugh bubbled up. “Let me guess—Caleb doesn’t know that part?”
“I hope I’m not making a mistake by getting into the middle of this family feud.”
Jennie squeezed her hand. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing.” She smiled. “Caleb’s Diné. He needs to know his family.”
Caleb drove Gia home in silence.
The winter sun dipped toward the western horizon, the shadows growing longer and the moon showing promise of the radiant glow it would give off once the sun took its final bow for the night.