“She means well, and I appreciate it, I really do, but it’s time for a change. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
I furrow my brow and sit beside her. “What kind of change.”
Edna takes a deep breath and blows it out. “I’m moving into an assisted living facility.”
“Wow.” I sit back in my chair and put my hands behind my head. “This is huge.”
“I know.”
“Lizzie isn’t going to like it.”
“I know that, too. That’s why I’m coming to you first. I’ve done the research, and I’ve found a good home that I can afford. I even have a few friends that live there.”
“Is it like a nursing home? Because, Edna, you’re way too independent for a nursing home.”
“No, nothing like that. It’s assisted living. I’ll have an apartment similar to this one, only the facility will cook my meals, and there’s a couple of nurses on staff should I need something. They do the laundry and the cleaning, but I can come and go as I please.”
“I…wow…I’m not sure what to say.”
“I paid the deposit. I move in next week.”
“Edna—”
“Hear me out. I love you guys, but you’re too young to be caring for an old bat like me.” When I give her a firm look, she smiles and continues. “It’s true. You and Lizzie have the rest of your lives ahead of you, and really, this decision has nothing to do with either of you, and everything to do with me. I’m tired, Aiden. I’m ready to slow down a little bit. I don’t want to cook anymore, or have to worry about shopping and bills and—”
“I get it.” I put my hand on hers. Edna smiles, tears forming in her eyes.
“You do?”
I nod. “Lizzie won’t. Not at first. But she’ll get there. Just promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
“Promise that we won’t lose touch. Promise that we can keep visiting you.”
Edna half laughs, half cries, and reaches over to pull me in for a hug. “You’d better. Now, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything,” I say, mimicking her words from a second before.
“Promise me you’ll talk to her about it.”
“Edna—”
“I can’t, Aiden. That girl gets to me. She’s the granddaughter I never had, and if I try to talk to her and she starts crying, I’ll cave. I can’t talk to her about it until I know that she’s accepted my decision.”
“She’s not going to like hearing it from me.”
“She’s not going to like it period.” We both laugh, and Edna relaxes in her seat. “Is that a yes?”
“I’ll talk to her. But I can’t promise that she won’t bust down your door as soon as the words leave my mouth.”
“Maybe you should do it in the car on a long drive.”
“Not a bad idea.” The thought of telling Lizzie makes my stomach ache. She’s so protective of Edna, and she’s going to hate this. Shit. Now, I have to talk to her about the new job and this. But maybe this’ll make it easier. With Edna going into an assisted living facility, perhaps Lizzie will be more open to the idea of relocating.
“What’s this?”Edna grabs one of the papers that Ryan sent me and reads over
it.