Our Life, Our Family

Chapter 18

Tony arrived at the hospital and found Charity sitting in a waiting room, crying her eyes out. He rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms. "Hey, baby."

She sniffled and looked up at him. "I'm so glad you're here." She said.

"Hey, I promised you my love and support and my shoulder to cry on, when I married you." Tony replied, trying to help her think of happier times.

Charity gave him a small smile as she remembered their wedding day. "I don't know what I would do without you." She told him.

Tony pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. They sat there for a while, letting the silence surround them. Then Memaw's doctor came out. "Charity." He said, his tone solemn.

Charity pulled back from her husband and looked at the kind older man. "Yes?"

"Mrs. Gardener, is asking for you."

"How is she?" Charity asked.

"Not well." The doctor answered. "You had better get in there soon."

Charity's eyes widened. "That bad?"

He nodded.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Tony asked.

Charity nodded. Then she and Tony followed the doctor to Memaw's room.

When they arrived the old woman looked up from her bed. She was very weak, but she managed a smile anyway. "Dumplin." She greeted, her voice but a whisper.

Charity walked over to the chair beside the woman's bed. She tried to keep a smile on her face, but found it hard.

Memaw moved her hand to cover Charity's. "My time is...almost...here." Memaw said, having to take in deep breaths, that almost sounded like wheezing.

"No..." Charity began, but Memaw cut her off.

"Dumplin...I'm old...tired...my time...is almost up. I wish I could...get to see...your little girl...but I won't...at least not...in this life."

Charity had to hold back the tears.

"I just want...you to know...that I love you...Dumplin."

"I love you, too Memaw." Charity replied, choking on the tears.

"And tell...my sugar...britches that I...love him...too."

"I will and I know he loves you, too." Charity said.

Memaw continued to give Charity a weak smile. "I also...want to let you...know that...you have made...these last few years of my life...very happy. You have...taken away the...loneliness...and embraced me...as part of...your family...thank you for that."

Charity smiled weakly back at the woman. "It has been my pleasure. You are a wonderful woman. It has been wonderful for me to know you."

"I love...you dumplin...it is because...of you that...I can move on...into the next world...in peace."

Charity gently squeezed Memaw's hand. Tony walked over to his wife and took her other free hand. They both watched Memaw as she closed her eyes. The smile on her face turned from weak to peaceful. Her breathing became slower and shallow and before long stopped all together. The monitor showed that her heart had ceased to beat. Memaw was gone.

Charity continued to hold Memaw's hand until the hospital staff came in and wheeled the body away. Charity rose on shakey legs, holding tight to Tony for balance. She started to move her legs, but the world slipped away from her and the blackness of grief consumed her.