Fighting Life

Chapter Twenty Three

She never said anything about it to anyone, kept going to work and chatting normal in text with people. She did not want to bug them with her worries, but she did end up telling Claudia. Her friend wanted to catch up on the weekend, but Tana had to explain she was going to decline as she wanted to visit her Grandfather, telling Claudia that he was not well. Claudia understood, knowing how close Tana was to her Grandfather, even offering to go there with her. Tana said not to, as she did not know what was making him sick and did not want anyone to catch it if it was a flu or something.

After having a small bite to eat for breakfast, Tana left the house, driving over to her Grandfathers. Upon arrival, she was a bit surprised to see more cars than normal on the road. But there were two cars she knew. Hugo's, so it meant he was working, and her own fathers, which meant he may be there visiting. She was glad, as he had not had much of a chance to visit recently due to his work and own health. Tana walked up to the front door, knocked and waiting, finding her father opening the door to her. He asked her why she was there, had she heard something.

Tana was confused at first, said she was just visiting as she knew her Grandfather was not well on Tuesday. Then it clicked to her why the question as such came from her father. He was there, and when she came further into the house, she saw an Uncle of hers there, Uncle Phil, as well with his wife, and her Aunty Sara. Tana looked around at each of them and then back to her father, her chest feeling the pain she knew was coming.

"Is he.... Has he....." she tried to get out her question.
"No, but the doctor says it will not be long." Her father explained.
"Come over here and sit down Tana." Her Aunty Sara spoke softly.
"I... I think... I'm ok." She said in reply, trying to give her Aunt a smile.
"Maybe you should just go back home." Her Uncle Phil spoke up. "I mean, you do not need to be here."
"I want to be here." Tana replied, looking at him displeased. "I am not going to go back home."
"But it is not like you are one of his children." Her Uncle's wife put in.
"No, but she is his Grandchild, and if any of them wanted to pop in... to... to say goodbye, then we will not stop them." Her Aunty Sara spoke up.

There was a bit of silence after that, none of them said anything. Tana was very grateful that her Aunty spoke up, stuck up to her. She loved her family, those that respected other people. She never got on very well with her Uncle's wife, whom was a bit of a control freak, kind of like her mother. She understood right now, everyone was worried for what was to come, but it did not mean it was the time for them to get their nose in a twist over who stays and who went. After a moment though, they were all distracted when somebody entered the lounge room, from the kitchen area.

"The Doctor has finished, he has asked to speak with the Eldest, next of Kin." Hugo spoke.
"Go Sam, you go in." Aunty Sara said, talking to Tana's father.

He did not say anything, just nodded and then walked through the doorway of the kitchen and down the hall to the rooms. Tana stood there, her eyes meeting with Hugo's. She could tell by the look on his face that the end was near. He gave her a small nod and then cleared his throat and looked to the other adults in the room.

"Would anyone like a warm drink?" he offered.
"Why are you still here?" Uncle Phil asked. "If the doctor has visited and we are here now, why don't you go and leave us as a family."
"Uncle Phil!" Tana said upset at him. "Don't you think you are being a bit rude? Hugo is here working, as Pops, Carer, he cannot just go. I may not work in the business, but it is commen sense that the doctor will leave and a carer needs to be here all the time now. The doctor will only be back here... when.... Pop has... passed."
"She is right Phil." Aunty Sara spoke up. "In fact, Mr Brown, I can assume another carer will arrive soon too, to be on hand."
"Yes. Our company rules are to have two carers on hand in these situations." Hugo answered calmly.
"I hate business rules. This is a privet matter, not for strangers." Uncle Phil mumbled.
"Hugo is hardly a stranger. He had been Pop's carer for months now, almost every second day he is here. I am sure he saw more of Pop then you have in the past few months." Tana spoke up again.