CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Monday, May 3

They’d been told “any day now” a week ago, and family and friends had been squeezing in moments with Grandma Geri.

A hospice nurse had been coming regularly to the house for the past month—Dr. Reynolds too—but Janelle didn’t need either to tell her that her grandmother was fading. Every day Grandma Geri appeared a little more shrunken, like the air in her earthly body was being let out. Today her breathing was more labored than ever, as if her spirit were giving a gracious warning that it was heading home.

They all seemed to sense it. Aunt Gladys, Estelle, and Uncle Wood were in the room. Libby had come from Raleigh last night after an event and was lingering this morning. Todd and Becca had made their usual morning visit but hadn’t yet left. Same with Travis. He’d stopped by for a “quick hello” on the way to run an errand, and more than an hour later he hadn’t left the room.

The older generation was telling funny stories from their growing-up years, and Grandma Geri listened, smiling, saying little. Though it was a beautiful warm, sunny day, she had two blankets atop her regular comforter, pulled to her neck. Her arms lay outside the blankets. Janelle held one hand, Libby the other.

Grandma Geri opened her mouth to say something, and everyone quieted. She spoke so softly it was hard to hear.

“Church,” she said. “Yes-ter-day.”

“Oh, the combined service.” Todd nodded his head. “It was beautiful, Grandma Geri. We’d been planning it for two months, but it was better than we hoped and prayed for.”

“Starting it on the first Sunday in May was perfect,” Janelle said. “The weather was gorgeous. Seemed like it spurred people to come out.”

There were people who stayed home too, and had been vocal about opposing it. But no point dampening Grandma Geri’s spirits with that.

“Location was perfect,” Todd said.

“I wondered what it would be like, having it in the high school,” Aunt Gladys said, “but it was really nice.”

“Yeah,” Todd said. “But it was kind of funny seeing all those spring hats against the backdrop of the basketball nets.”

Grandma Geri’s eyes smiled.

“And you should’ve heard Travis’s sermon, Grandma,” Janelle said.

“I’m telling you,” Estelle said. “Resurrection Day might’ve been last month, but you got people fired up talking about what it means for our lives today, knowing Jesus is risen.”

Libby cast a downward glance. She hadn’t been to church in Hope Springs since the one service when Stephanie was there.

Travis acknowledged their words with a thin smile. He’d been quiet, standing against the dresser.

They heard the side screen door open and bang close. Sara Ann came to the doorway, Ethan on her hip. She’d stopped by to see Grandma Geri and ended up hanging around to help with the kids.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said. “Is it okay to take Ethan to the little park up the street? Claire and Tiffany want to go.”

“Sure,” Todd said, “but you’ve got to keep a close eye on that one.”

“No problema,” she said, whipping out her secret weapon in a bottle. “He stays close to me as long as I’m blowing bubbles. Be back soon.”

Becca smiled as she left. “Soul Sisters was awesome this weekend too. That Sara Ann is something.”

Grandma Geri started coughing, a weak, raspy, quiet cough, but it commanded everyone’s attention.

The screen door opened and banged shut again, and Janelle expected to see Sara Ann back with another question. But she gasped at the sight that appeared before them. “Keisha!”

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Libby said.

Keisha walked farther into the room. “It was a surprise. My aunts and uncles chipped in and blessed me with a plane ticket so I could be here.”

Janelle looked over at them. They knew how much this would mean to Grandma Geri.

“And we just talked to you yesterday, so that was pretty sneaky,” Todd said.

Keisha hugged her brother. “I know. I wanted to tell you.”

Janelle moved so Keisha could sit next to Grandma Geri.

Grandma Geri looked long at her, licking her lips, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

Keisha held her hand tight, looking into her grandmother’s eyes, her own tears streaming. She hadn’t seen Grandma Geri since the party in February. She had to be shocked by how different she looked.

Grandma Geri opened her mouth, and they all leaned in to listen.

“Thank . . . You . . . Jesus.”

She kept her eyes on Keisha as the raspy cough returned, lifting her head from the pillow. Then her head fell back softly again and she quieted. Her eyes closed.

Janelle knew immediately and began crying. No one said a word. Uncle Wood left the room. Aunt Gladys and Estelle stroked their mother’s hair and kissed her cheek. Becca wept silently. Todd’s head was bowed.

Travis moved from the dresser finally and stood over her, staring. Janelle had never seen him cry, but he didn’t hide it. His tears fell and fell. Libby got up tentatively and touched his shoulder, and they held one another.

Janelle touched Keisha’s shoulder. “She had a peace about going once she saw you one last time.”

Keisha couldn’t respond.

Janelle wondered what was going through her cousin’s head. She wondered if she might be thinking that between the last visit and this one, she had her own Hope Springs memories now . . . and unlike her mother’s, they were good ones.