The next morning I awoke to my grandfather staring at me and I knew I made him aware of how much I loved my husband but I needed this and instead of fighting my elders over their dislike, I just ignored their feelings and that made me guilty, when I smiled at him cheekily knowing the nurse was most likely gone and got off the couch and approached his bed "I can fit on your bed, you know," I teased as I stared back at him casually gauging his reaction at my intentions before patiently waiting on his answer, when he signed and just turned away from me and noticed his face was red and knew he most likely needed a shower and clean bed. Knowing he was embarrassed, so I changed the subject knowing he was still skeptical that I would not return to that unworthy asshole as he would scold me over the phone whenever he would hear Layton in the background. "He came home demanding dinner," I said as I approached him, lowering the bars that surrounds his bed for a safety precaution, "His monkey had marked him leaving scratches, deep and long, hickies everywhere and he still tried keeping to his story. I lost my shit and attacked him," I spoke, as I disappeared into his ensuite and ran a bath suited to him, when I returned I removed his blankets one by one, placing them in the hamper before turning the heater in the room down a little bit to ensure he does not get cold or sick, as I maneuvered him into the bathroom and then slowly placed him the bath tub so that he could slowly work his limbs as the bath tub added was tailored made for grandfather so that it was easier for him to still enjoy his favorite hobby and that was his morning baths that he had taken a liking too since he was always in and out of the shower as he was too always to busy slowed down and now he still enjoys it.
"What an idiot, so proud of you for sticking to your guns," he praised as I nodded while running the exfoliating glove over him as he needs constant help with his circulation and there for it takes most of the morning for him to make it out of his room, showered, clean and ready for breakfast. As It has been a long time I finish bathing him and slowly start the shower and put it to a light warm spray so that it doesn't hurt him as rinsed his entire body down, only running a cloth over his face as I turned off the shower, I grabbed the thick towel of the heated railing as I wrapped it right around him, lightly drying his fragile body before moving him back into his room but on the couch that I slept on last night while changing him into clean pajamas and wrapping a blanket around him before stripping the bed down and spraying the bed down as I walked over to the wardrobe to get a new set of linen and proceed to change the sheets while recounting my story to him as I made his bed and place a water bottle inside his bed to warm it up for him as he chimed in when he felt like it but other then that he listened attentively as I explained when she entered the next day and I beat the shit out of her and how he had to pull me off, "He didn't notice my one packed bag at the door, too busy pleading his case, didn't even acknowledged that he couldn't talk his way out of it and I was beyond livid but that not the best part," I spoke as I responded at the end of his chair, "Thers more, if your anything like daddy and my brothers, you may pee yourself," I said when I explained what I meant when I explained in detail about my visit to his company to get him to sign the divorce agreement and the incident I encountered. Pouring out all of my hurt as I massage his arms and legs that we were all taught to help his blood circulation, this technique was the most effective and at his age it is a little more difficult for him to do it himself.
Once I finished his massage and morning exercise that I casually placed him in his chair and took him to the kitchen where my aunty was setting the table and looked up at us as we entered the kitchen. "Morning Eldest Aunt,Eldest Uncle" I greeted when grandfather and I entered noticing a new person I have never met, "Morning Darling, how did you sleep?," she questioned as I took grandfathers left as Eldest Uncle took grandfathers right side as all the food was served hot and fresh still steaming from the oven, "Great, I met the night nurse and fell asleep in by papa on his couch chair," I teased as i looked at grandfather cheekily before I had to duck again as I was nearly struck with his cane, "Bloody ungrateful brat," he sputtered as I just served my self breakfast as eldest uncle fed grandfather slowly and patiently so that grandfather didn't make a mess on himself and knew it was because of grandfathers pride we all know not to rush him, cause even though he cant fed him self he can still swing the bloody walking stick and that bloody thing hurts.
I was a foodie as a child and as a teenager always matching the boys in their appetites until I married and moved in with Layton who changed my eating habits as he had smaller portions and over time I got use to it but when I was at my parent, brother or families houses we all were big eaters and that was normal to us. I oblige him as it was easier then arguing over stupid things, but I always still found myself hungry as he was meticulous about his food intake and I was more fond of home cooked hearty meals not some sort of liquid for lunch and that was so not cutting it and so I learnt how to cook myself a proper lunch and also made Layton lunch as well, as long as he liked it I would make him all sort of different blended foods. I was such a neat freak that our home was always immaculate as I was that bad that I could have their entire place cleaned in an hour and half and I applied all my attention to my grandfather while also indulging my family as they listened, laughed, interject their different opinions as I answered honestly and noticed grandfather staring at me and just smiling softly at me so I smiled back at him winking at him even, when he rolled his eyes at me that I laughed at him before continuing my conversation at hand I was delighted by grandfathers husky laugh at the responses flying around the kitchen. Clearing the table down I rinsed all the dishes, before placing them in the dishwasher, then wiping the table down and wiping grandfather down before moving him to see the beautiful day from the conservatory as I continued my story that we were both engrossed in that we spent a few hours talking about my struggles this past fourteen months, how desolute I felt, how I hid everything due to not understanding what was going on for the first six months and that I hired someone to investigate him and I used that proof, plus the proof from his surveillance camera in his office and I used it too my full advantage the smile on his face was ear splitting his entire stature was of pure pride, I stopped looking at my grandfather as he was beaming at me.
"I know you are sad about your marriage but your find someone better, someone who loves the spark you have when you talk about things, or the compassion you have shown all the workers, the students and even the managerial staff all who are patiently waiting on your return to the helm," my grandfather told me softly as I took in his sincerity. "I am returning when I leave Wellington, I will be situated at mum and dads for now," I said as my parents were elated that I returned home, divorce and just slowly healing my wounds. " Mum was right I needed to come home and heal my soul," I spoke as I wheeled him back inside the kitchen to prepare us some lunch, "Feel like some mince on toast with an egg?," I asked my grandfather as I prepared the meat while talking to him at the same time, "You are the one most likely your grandmother," he spoke getting all teary eyed, my grandmother died when I was young so I don't remember like the three eldest do, "Will you go back to him?," he asked as I turned to face him, "Not now nor in the future. I am hurt right now and being here is erasing the hurt and let me know I fought a great battle," I spoke as my grandfather started laughing, I just rolled my eyes at him and continued cooking the mince first before turning it down and letting the sauce simmer without too much oil coming out and popped the toast in the toaster before poaching us some eggs, when a female walked in and tried helping herself to grandfather's food, "Hi Gramps, that looks nice," she said as she proceeded to try dish her self a plate, "How inconsiderate of me," I spoke as I walked around to her side of the table and pulled the plate out of her hands before spinning her around and dragging her out of the kitchen, "Sorry about that Papa, Ile just change your utensils okay, can't have you catching germs," I spoke as dumped the plate on the sink before grabbing a clean plate and redoing his plate as I calmly served my self before placing the pot on the table.
"Yum darling I am starving," my eldest aunty walked in as I was feeding my grandfather, "I just made us mince on toast with poached eggs aunt, you may have to make you some eggs since someone person just attacked it before I had done Papas plate so your more then welcomed to the plate, I placed it up on the sink," I said as I calmly fed my grandfather his lunch when the person I spoke about had come down with a sleepy looking Rayne who was rubbing his eyes,"Melanie did you serve yourself before my father in law?," my eldest aunty spoke aimed at said person, "Grandfather doesn't usually mind, right gramps?," the girl spoke when my cousins head snapped up at the girl beside him, "I'm sorry I think I heard you wrong, you have done this before?" my aunty was shocked and so was my cousin, "She just helps herself, put me off my food," my grandfather spoke when my head snapped to his and I was angry, "Excuse me, how many times?," I asked incredulous as I stared at my grandfather's shy expression, "Since idiot brought her here," he spoke when I looked straight at Rayne who just noticed I was in the house let alone a metre away from his barbie doll, "I .... it's..... ," the Melanie girl started stuttering as all three of us were staring at her, "Melanie you know my grandfather has a specified diet and I told you I will buy you food are you that inconsiderate," Rayne face was red and he was lived, "I was always careful, because hygiene is everything," she tried to reason, "Melanie I know your a good person but now I know why he's been getting sick lately, so you are no longer welcome in my house," my aunt spoke just as my uncle enter, "What you make us darling?," my uncle asked as I restarted what I made us and he may have to make his own eggs, when Melanie stormed out of the house, crying her eyes out and Rayne dropping her off, "What I miss?," my uncle asked as he stared at the closed door then back to his angry wife, "Melanie is no longer welcomed inside this house," my aunt stated as my uncle just nodded and stared back at her not questioning her and then turned back to me asking how my day is and if my grandfather was tired, the look he received was a clear indication for him to zip it, I interjected, "He has just finished his lunch and he ate it all, so he will be tired now," I said as I stood to return grandfather back to his room, opening his blanket and checking that the bed was warm enough, before placing him in and lying back on the pull out chair.
"How come you never told them about her touching your food?," I asked as I stared at him, "Shes young and not from a very functioning family," he stated as I frowned, "Why the excuse?," I prodded when he refused to answer me, "She's done so often your okay with it?," I said a little to quickly before I pulled my phone out and sent a rapid text to Rayne stating, his monkey will pay for her disrespect and refusal of admitting her mistakes before I put it away and stared back at grandfather who was fast asleep and I knew that he will sleep for a while before I headed back into the main house to call my parents.
My father answered on the third ring, "Hi my baby everything okay?," he asked "Yeah I needed to ring you," as I burst into tears, "Why are you crying?," my father asked as I tried to stem the tears, "He needs to come back to Auckland," I stated as I sobbed at the state he is in and know he needs around the clock care, "He wants to be there darling, it's his home," my father said gently as I know it's grandfather's wishes to remain in Wellington until the end of his life but I know that he will not want to leave so I will wait till I leave back to Auckland and then I will make preparations to be able to fly here Fridays and return home Monday mornings so that I can spend as much time with him as I could possibly.
"I know, it's just hard to see him like this and not worry whether he should just be moved without his permission," I said as I calmed down after crying my eyes out, "You do that and anger him, your on your own," my father stated as I laughed and said "By decree of your bloodline your also be put in my basket," I laughed at my father's response as he hung up on me. I felt better and went to prepare some dinners, my uncle and his wife are used to me being in the kitchen but that the twins would not even enter unless the food was cooked and served.
Preparing the vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, onions and potatoes to be peeled, washed and cut then placed in a pot to boil. I then grab the beef to be prepared next as I waited till the vegetables were half cooked before removing the juice into another pot to be used for stock with the meat. Draining the vegetables and placing half the potatoes and carrots aside for mashed potato while I let the meat boil to make a nice healthy soup that will help replenish him when he awakes and as the weather is unpredictable I need something hot. Adding the rest of the vegetables to the pot to finish off cooking before turning the stove off and removing the pot. Knowing that he should be awake, I made my way to grandfather's room and upon my entry I saw him staring back at me that I smiled at him. "How was your rest?," I asked as I walked to arrange him another pair of clean pajamas and another water bottle to heat up for him before again quickly changing his clothes and wiping him down with warm water as he is then changed into another set of clean clothes.
Once he was changed, his chair again was set up for him with his cushion to sit on, blankets around his body and his hot water stuffy on his lap.for extra warmth as the day has darkened now. "What did you make?," he asked as we entered the dining area where the table was set and the food was already displayed on the table. "I made a beef and vegetable soup, mashed potato and carrots on the side with some toasted french stick," I said I grabbed his bowl that I had cooled down with a lid on it so it wasn't too hot. When my uncle came and joined us, "Yaay, so we leave in the morning darling and we will be back in two weeks," he answered as his wife walked in a few minutes later, "You spool us," she exclaimed as I laughed at her, "Thank you both for allowing me to be here, knowing my challenges at least when I return home it will be cool head," I spoke as I smiled at the two of them . Dinner went by so easy and before long grandfather was yawning and drifting off, "Ile put him to bed," my uncle said as he stood to put grandfather back into a clean and warm bed. I didn't expect him to fall asleep so quickly but at least his dinner was hot and full of nutrition. Cleaning the dishes and the kitchen prepping a bit of breakfast now so that it will set in the fridge overnight. Hugging my aunt who was full with jitters as it has been many years since she shad returned to her family and to be able to make time is amazing for her. She is tagging along with her husband on his business trip as it happens to be her homeland and leaves in less the twelve hours. Showering and changing into my pajamas, I entered back into grandfather's room where the night nurse huddled around him. I settled myself comfortably on the couch that was in his room and laxed back as I stared at him as he slept. I was reverted back to a time where he would be in my position as me and my siblings slept while my parents were out of the country for one reason or another. Always to expand the business, to attend family milestones across our family. The nights he would just sit and watch over us all would sit comfortably amongst as we all drifted to sleep. When we would be awake he would have breakfast ready, our uniforms clean and ready. Lunch was in the bag with a bottle of water on the side of the bag and a hot or cold cereal depending on preferences. Watching as his chest rose with every breath and knew that I had missed out on him these past few years and will need to ensure that I spend as much time with him. That was the last thing I could think of as I drifted off to sleep.