Chapter 4

Grandma Helen

Over the next couple of weeks, I join Hayley and her adorable mutts on their weekly walks. I tell her about my life and ask about hers. I want to know as much about her as I can before I set my plan into motion. There’s a sadness about her at times and I can’t help but wonder what put that look in her eyes. She’s extremely loyal, that I can tell from just a few conversations. She seems to care about this old women even though she barely knows me. I can tell her work keeps her busy but every time I have asked to see her or talk to her, she has made time for me. None of my grandson’s other girlfriends had even thought to talk to me beyond a “hello" and small talk about the weather. Not to say that they were bad people. They just weren’t right for my grandson. Each time I see Hayley I am more and more convinced that she is the right woman for my Xander.

But how do I get them together?  It will take more than a simple introduction. My grandson will do as I ask if I tell him about the cancer. He will do it, he will do anything if he thought it would give me the strength to fight this disease, but asking him to date Hayley isn't enough. I need him to fall in love with her and that wont happen on a few dates when he feels forced. He needs to be around her all the time to see what I see in her. I can’t force his feelings, those he has to find on his own. Marriage is their best chance at falling in love.

I just have to give them a chance and the spark will flare on its own. I will need Hayley’s help with that, but how will she react? My grandson will marry her but how do I convince her to agree?

Xander

Gran's waiting for me as I get home. All my favourite dishes are laid out on the formal dining table. That's my first clue something is up. Don’t get me wrong, gran is an awesome cook, but we have a chef and gran generally only cooks on special occasions.  The second clue is the way she's fidgeting with the hem of her sweater . Gran fidgets when she's pondering something. “Wow, what's the special occasion?” I ask as I walk over to kiss her cheek and give her a hug.

“Can't I just spoil my favourite grandson everything now and then?" she smiles as she hugs me back.

“No complaints here, you can spoil your ONLY grandson anytime you want". I know there’s something on her mind but I keep quiet as we sit down to eat, allowing her to take the lead.

Our meal is over and my fork and knife on the plate before she begins,  “Xander, I haven’t been feeling well lately…I went to the hospital and did some blood work….the results are back. It's cancer. The doctor is very hopeful. It was picked up early and he thinks my treatment options are promising", she continues.

I stare blankly at her for a second, before I'm rushing out of my seat to pull gran into my arms. I didn’t even know she was  unwell. What type of grandson am I? She went to the doctor alone, got these life altering results on her own. Oh man.“ I’m so sorry gran. I’m sorry you’ve been going through this on your own. We are gong to get through this. We will get you the best specialist. Everything is going to be fine. You are not alone anymore.” I whisper as I hold onto her like my depends on it.

Gran taps my back soothingly, “I haven’t been going through this alone, my boy, don’t put that on you. I have a new friend that’s been a real help to me. In fact I would like you to meet her.”

“New friend?  Is she from your senior citizens club”.

“No", she laughs “I met her on the beach, the day I got the news and she’s closer to your age than mine dear"

Someone my age on the day my gran gets bad news? Seems a little too coincidental to me. She kept in contact with gran all this while? There are a lot of opportunistic women out there that would latch onto gran once they knew who she was just to get access to me and the family empire. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad my gran hasn’t been alone through this whole process but I need to make sure this is legitimate. That this women really cares about my gran. I won’t allow anyone to use her. She has a heart of gold and I've seen women my age try to get in her good books in the past just to get to me.

” Sure gran, I would love to meet her. What’s her name?” I ask. Just as soon as I've done a background check on her, I add to myself.