Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
I nod, feeling myself blush. “Yes, I’ve been pursuing it quite heavily. I have an amazing teacher who I work with four days a week–”
“Four days a week?” My grandpa interrupts, looking happily aghast, his mouth open. “Your parents must be sponsoring this?”
“No,” I reply. A few hours ago, I probably would have laughed, but now I find myself nearly tearing up. “My…my boyfriend. He’s been paying for it.”
“Ah, a boyfriend.” He smiles. “I’d like to meet this man. Must be quite well off if he’s able to hire a well-respected piano teacher for his girlfriend.”
“Oh, he is, all right. And you don’t need to meet him. You already know him.”
“I do?”
“Yes.” I nod. “His name is Jason Rooke.”
My grandpa frowns like he’s processing, then licks his lower lip. “Jason Rooke the billionaire?” I nod and sigh. “I saw something on the television this morning about his company. He’s in a bit of hot water, isn’t he?”
A bit of hot water. That’s one way of saying it. “Yes, Grandpa, he is. His company is being…” I stop. Bringing all this up to him, a possible victim of Jason’s crimes, isn’t going to do anything for his mental health. It’s only going to make him worry. Make him feel worse. And that’s the last thing I want right now. They say so much of your physical health is tied to your mental health and how you’re feeling emotionally, so I need Grandpa’s spirits to be up. I need him feeling great. I don’t need him worrying about Jason or me or anything related to what’s going on at Rooke Industries.
“His company is going through some things right now, but we don’t need to talk about all that. How have you been feeling? You’re looking strong! Should I sign you up for one of those Ninja Warrior style reality-TV show competitions or what?”
I giggle and pat his hand, causing him to laugh. It feels so good to see him laugh. We both know I’m just teasing him, but he plays right back along with me.
“Oh, I’ll be signing right up,” he chuckles, his lips twisting up into as much of a grin as he can manage. “Be passing those twenty-year-old boys like they’ve never even hit the gym before!”
Just then, two people appear at the door: a woman who is clearly a nurse, and a man in a navy blue suit who looks like he could work at the pentagon.
“Hello, Henry,” the nurse says with an amiable smile as she comes over to the bed. “This is Mr. Tyson from Administration. How are you feeling today?”
“Hello, Krista. I’m feeling better than normal today, now that my granddaughter has come to visit.” My grandpa turns to me. “Lucy, this is Krista, the number one nurse in this place.”
Krista gives me a knowing oh-he’s-too-sweet smile and turns back to him. “Well, Henry, it doesn’t look like you and I will be getting along with each other for much longer unfortunately.”
“Hey,” he replies, laughing morbidly. “I know I’ve got cancer, but is that any way to tell an old man he’s dying?”
“Oh, no! I didn’t mean it that way!” Krista says quickly. “What I meant was – an anonymous donation has come through on your behalf. A major anonymous donation, and with your consent, you are to be transferred immediately to Hallowed Heart Hospital where you will receive state-of-the-art, around-the-clock care, your own room, and I’m sure many other things I’m not even aware of.”
“Wait, what are you saying?” I ask, stunned, doing my best to process what was just said. “What – who is this person donating this money?”
“As I said, Miss Anderson, the donator has asked to remain anonymous, but the donation itself is significant, I can assure you. And care for your grandfather will continue to be provided at Hallowed Heart.”
The look in my grandpa’s eyes when he turns to me is a mixture of disbelief and astonishment. For a split second, I’m in shock, but then I the realization hits me.
Jason.
I smile and nod to reassure him, and he looks back at Krista and Mr. Tyson. “I…I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, Henry,” Krista says warmly. I can see now why grandpa called her the number one nurse in the hospital. She knows exactly how to treat him. “Mr. Tyson and I will run you through everything you need to know.”
“Grandpa? I’m gonna just go step outside real quick and call Mom and Dad and let them know what’s going on, okay?”
“Okay, hon.” He nods. “I’ll be right here.”
Emotions flow through me. Excitement and resentment. I don’t know which one I should be feeling. What Jason is doing is going to be a major help for my grandpa. Better treatment could potentially even save his life. But at the same time, I still haven’t been able to process my anger toward him for being the one who could have put Henry in that bed to begin with. For being the one who led a company that poisoned so many other people. For being a scumbag businessman like you see in the movies and breaking my heart.