We spend the next hour in the rec room of the nursing home playing ‘Who am I?’
Everyone writes down a name and passes it to the person next to them, but that person can’t look. They have to lick the back of the paper and stick it to their foreheads. Then you take turns asking questions trying to figure out who you are. Again, I loved watching Connor with Meryl. I never brought Connor up when I visited her. Blake said she became too emotional. The first time I ever breathed his name to her was when I told her I was going to pick him up and bring him home. She immediately fell into a fit of tears. Now I see why. She’s missed him. These boys may have been her grandsons, put upon her by her worthless daughters, but they were her babies and always will be. She lost one baby, now she gets one back. And with that thought, my heart swells a little. There’s no denying that Blake wanted to help Connor, no doubt about that. But bringing Connor home wasn’t all about helping Connor. It was for Grams, too. And because of my beautiful husband, I get to be a part of this. I get to see two people overwhelmed with happiness because they’ve been reunited.
After we finish playing, I excuse myself to give them some time alone. I walk around outside and call Wendy to let her know we’ll be stopping by her house in a bit after we go to Meryl’s storage unit and collect some of Connor’s things she had kept for him.
When I go back in, Connor is gone, and Meryl is sitting alone at the table where we played. I sit beside her, and she takes my hand, squeezing it. “Thank you, Demi. Thank you for all you’re doing for him.”
“Blake arranged everything. I’m just carrying out his wishes,” I point out.
She gives me a sideways look, her mouth twisting. “All for Blake is it?” As I said before, Meryl is loving, sweet, cute as a button. Now, let me add blunt to the list. She doesn’t mince words.
I look at her and open my mouth to speak, but she stops me by saying, “You two are attracted to one another. Anyone can see it. Even a half-blind old lady like me.”
“Meryl, I—”
“Blake would have liked it, ya know? He loved you so much Demi. And he loved Connor too. He would’ve loved the two of you together.”
My brows rise. Is she trying to set me and up . . . with Connor? “Meryl—”
“You ready to go Demi?” Connor asks from behind us, making me jump.
“Oh, uh, yes,” I stutter, awkwardly. Leaning over, I kiss Meryl’s cheek. “See you next week?”
“I hope so.” She smiles. Connor hugs her goodbye and promises to visit every other day. We leave her just as she takes off for lunch. Connor whistles all the way to the car, and I wonder if it’s to avoid speaking to me. Did he overhear what Meryl said?
After the quick detour to Meryl’s storage unit to pick up some boxes of Connor’s belongings, we make a quick stop at the Quick Mart. It’s the only place in town where you can get groceries unless you want to drive forty-five minutes away to the bigger stores. It’s also one of the only gas stations in town as well. I decide to fill my tank before we head to Wendy’s house, and Connor insists on paying even when I argue it’s not necessary. Unfortunately, I lose because he rushes inside to pay. I decide to run in and grab a few candy bars for Jeff and Wendy’s kids since we’re heading there next. I can’t pump the gas until after Connor pays and they turn the pump on, anyway.
When I walk in, Connor is in line behind a lady with a baby on one hip and two small children beside her. The baby is crying, and the other two children are bickering as the cashier rings up the woman’s items. The mother of these children looks exhausted; pale with huge bags under her eyes. I want to take the baby from her just to give her a little break.
“Stop it,” she hisses at her two children squabbling beside her.
“It says your card is declined,” the cashier drones out, clearly annoyed.