Saving Isadore [MxM] (An Alpha's Fight Book 1)

Chapter 19

ISADORE ¤ POV

A few hours earlier...

"Isadore, call your father and brother, it's time for us to have an important conversation... altogether." Nana's weak rasp had shivers of apprehension and sadness running up my spine. A cold chill settled in my heart as I stared incredulously at her frail frame swaddled by the thick pink comforter of her bed. A knitted patchwork blanket draped over her boney shoulders, and she looked completely exhausted and small.

The silver fluff of hair she'd once meticulously styled in rollers lay limp around her forehead, giving her an almost lifeless look. The dark, heavy bruises under her baggy eyes shadowed her slim face. Those blue eyes were still bright with determination, but set in the face of a woman slowly giving in to illness and old age. She was still my strong Nana... yet not. It was getting harder and harder to look at her because looking at her forced me to witness the truth. Nana was dying.

And no matter how hard I prayed, no matter how hard I begged to the moon or willed it into existence, Nana wouldn't last forever and there would eventually come a day where I'd have to let her go. I wasn't ready, I would never be ready. The thought of such a day was enough to squeeze my lungs and steal the oxygen within me, making it hard to breathe. I blinked helplessly and Nana squeezed my hand.

"Go on, Isadore."

I nodded, not necessarily wanting to call them. It was just past ten o'clock and I had changed into pyjamas, retreating to Nana's room to read to her. She'd been mostly bed bound now and rarely ventured downstairs, so I ate with her in her room before I left for school in the mornings. Then, I'd spend evenings with her, reading our favourite books out loud to the rhythm of her raspy breathing.

Maverick and dad were downstairs, clearing up our dinner. They often gave Nana and I the space we needed and I appreciated them for it. Slowly rising, I walked out into the hall and down the stairs. Maverick was wiping down the wooden dining table and dad was at the sink, his hands covered in soap studs as he cleaned the plates we'd used during dinner. He looked up when he heard me enter and frowned at the spooked look on my face. I smiled weakly.

"Nana wants to talk to you - to all of us. Will you spare a few minutes to join us in her room?" I asked and they immediately dropped their cleaning supplies, no questions asked. I loved the way they put both nana and I first. I felt their support, like a warm hand on my back and suddenly, I wasn't so scared to hear Nana's words anymore.

"Is everything okay?" Dad asked, wiping his hands with a tea towel and stepping forwards, just as Maverick grabbed my hand. I began leading them back towards the stairs, taking deep breaths to calm down. Everything wasn't okay, at least not in my mind, but I didn't share those thoughts, simply nodding and squeezing Maverick's fingers.

We crowded into Nana's room and Maverick and I sat on the mattress beside her, our hands still linked. Dad sat in her pink, floral armchair beside the window, his full, concerned gaze on Nana. He'd been taking care of her during the day, almost like a nurse. He gave her medicine, made sure she ate the nutritious vegetable and chicken broths she liked to sip. He even helped her bathe when she was too weak to lift her arms and scrub at her own body.

Although I knew my dad was helping in every way he could and I'd forever be grateful that he was here with her while I was at school, I couldn't help but wish my mother was here to help her with those more intimate tasks. Bathing her, helping her dress and maybe curl her hair again. I bet Nana would've appreciated her daughter's help more than her son-in-law. But Catherine was still in the states and I didn't think that would change anytime soon. Nana only had us three males and we wanted to be enough, yet she deserved so much more.