Page 85 of Healing Fate

“Nothing any respectable grandparents wouldn’t do,” Mom insisted ushering us to the dining room where the table was already set with a feast.

“Mom?”

“Shh, now say grace and let’s eat.”

The food was delicious, and Lucy seemed genuinely happy to be there. She was relaxed, laughed, and talked with my parents. And when Mom insisted on fussing over Vada during dinner, Lucy didn’t get so uptight and nervous about it.

“Vada, are you full, sweetie?” Dad asked.

“All done,” she announced knowing she had everyone around the table enraptured by her.

Mom cleaned her up and Dad swooped in to snag her.

“Not yet,” Mom insisted. “Show her the playroom first.”

“Playroom?” I asked cautiously.

“Of course. She’s our granddaughter. She needs toys and a place to sleep in case Lucy will let us have a sleepover sometime.”

“Sleepover?” I questioned.

Hesitantly I got up and followed, taking Lucy’s hand in mine and dragging her along with me.

“Should we be worried?” she whispered.

I nodded. “Definitely.”

We heard Vada’s squeal of delight before we reached the room that had previously been my childhood room.

I peeked inside and my jaw dropped.

The place was filled with toys. There was a kitchen set, a bookshelf filled with books, puzzles, and games. A twin sized bed with a slide and a fort beneath it filled part of the room.

The room had been painted a pale pink with flowers adorning the walls. I had no idea how I’d missed the smell of the fresh paint during dinner.

“I wuv it!” Vada announced as her new doting grandparents beamed with pride.

“Oh, that’s not all,” Dad insisted. “Come on, let’s go out back.”

“There’s more?” Lucy asked.

I could feel her emotions well enough to know she was getting overwhelmed.

Outside in the backyard was now a playhouse with a carport housing a pink Jeep and a red motorcycle. There was a full swing set with a fort and rock wall that was nicer than the stuff they had at our local park.

On the deck next to his grill was a small plastic grill for Vada.

“How did you manage all of this in one day?” I blurted out as Vada ran around squealing, checking everything out.

“At the right price there’s nothing I can’t get done in a day,” Mom confessed.

I groaned. “Mom, you can’t spoil her like this.”

“The hell I can’t! That’s a grandma’s right.”

Lucy had remained quiet, just standing there watching it all unravel. When I looked at her, I realized she was crying but had the biggest smile on her face.

When Mom noticed too, she walked over and hugged her.