The brothers weren't informed of their father going into the hospital until the next morning. Frank was the first to get the call.
"Mom?"
"He's in the hospital, Frank. He isn't doing well." she said.
Charlotte and Frank rushed over to the hospital and Callie showed them to where Fenton was. Joe, Iola, Ben and Margaret were all gathered around him. Sweet little Margaret was holding his hand.
" You just got a booboo. The doctors will make you feel better." she said.
They walked over to him. Charlotte sat in the chair and held his other hand.
"Are you in pain?"
"No, Charlotte." he said with a weak smile.
"You don't have to lie to me, grandpa. I can see it in your eyes." she said.
"It hurts to breathe, but I'm still doing it."
" Dad, is there anything we can do?" asked Frank.
"Just take me home, please." he begged.
Joe and his family left a little while later, but Frank and Charlotte stayed. Fenton noticed the look on Charlotte's face.
"What's hurting you?" he asked.
" I want to help you. I hate seeing you in pain. You are one of the reasons I'm here today. I must pay you back."
"No, sweetheart. Seeing you here makes me happy. You have always been my light. You, Ben, and Margaret are the reasons I'm here. I love you all."
" I love you, too. Please don't leave me yet!"she cried.
"Even if I do, don't cry for me. I lived my life to the fullest I could." he said before breaking out into a series of coughs.
"We need a doctor!" she yelled.
His heart monitor started to slow and doctors came in. One pushed her out of the room and she screamed and cried.
Callie and Frank were in a waiting room down the hall when they heard the beeps and cries. With panicked looks, they ran over. Callie hugged Charlotte while Frank looked through the windows.
Later, they discovered that there wasn't much they could do except give him the medicine. He was going to come home and live out the remainder of whatever life he had left. Laura, Joe and Frank brought him back home.
He was in a wheelchair and was being pushed by Frank. Fenton looked over by a window in the living room and sighed.
"I want to sit over there," he said.
The grandchildren came over later. Margaret was going and didn't understand what was going on. She cautiously sat on his lap while Charlotte and Ben sat on the back porch.
" So, there's nothing they can do?" Ben asked.
" He's going to die, Ben. I heard dad and your dad talking." Charlotte said.
" Surely he can beat this. He beat this once before I was born."
" Maybe," she muttered.
Ben looked over at his cousin and sighed. They were so close. Their bond was tight and they could tell when one was upset.
"Tell me how you feel, Charlotte. And tell the truth."
"He doesn't deserve to die! He needs to stay here with us for a while longer. We need him. I'll need him even when I don't think I will. Dad's upset and I just feel so, so helpless because there's nothing I can do." she cried.
He hugged his cousin and told her uselessly that it would be alright. It felt good to let it out to someone.
"How do you feel?" she asked sniffling.
"I wish I could help. It's hard to see dad upset and to watch Margaret talk with him like nothing is wrong. If I could find a way to help, I would." he said.
A couple minutes later, they went back inside. Ben and Margaret said their goodbyes and Charlotte picked up the teddy bear. She gently placed it in Fenton's calloused hands.
His hands were something that never changed. She remembered holding them when she was little and how much like sandpaper they felt against her soft ones. His blue eyes also never changed. They held the same tint as hers and even though he was sick, they still shined like stars.
" I want you to sleep with my bear. You gave him to me when I hit my head, remember? "
"I remember. I will sleep with the bear tonight. I love you, sweetheart." he said kissing her cheek.
"I love you too, grandpa." she whispered.
