The Alpha King Call Boy – Chapter 91
Fiona
When I arrived at the nursing home after work, I went straight in to Grandfather’s room as usual and was happy to find he was still up.
“Fiona!” he cried. “My dear granddaughter.”
my great-grandchild-to-be.” He clasped my hand, brought it to his cold lips and gave my knuckles a kiss.
lear, talkative. Positive. And remembering at least some things.
d him.
r?” He finally released my hand, and I settled down into the chair beside his bed.
ding home. I hope my visit won’t keep you up past your bedtime.” I winked at him.
e TV, which was playing some sort of investigative news show – “I never know how the story ends.”
e sort of true-crime murder mystery documentary series.
photos with only the victims’ faces blurred.
er,” I said, my jaw dropping a little. “This is so violent. You fall aslee
ng timidly, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
d by the story. These types of shows could be kind of addicting. And who was I to judge an old man for indulging a guilty pleasure?
w the story turns out?” I asked him. “Th
sleepiness coming on, his eyelids looking heavy.
ng for my hand again.
bed so that I could let him hold my hand c
rection and let it fall heavily against the pillow. “The Big Man was right. He won the lottery.”
Grandfather’s benefit. It seemed his lucidity was faltering.
hat do you mean?” I asked
other morning,” he muttered. “He said he won the lot
a little, and he was out. The light snoring started up within seconds.
oulders, and tucked him in.
ered as I gave him a little kiss on the forehead.
assing the reception desk on my way out, I had an idea. I backtracked, went over to the co
log was there on the ledge. I combed through the worn pages, going back a few days.
enough, there on the sign-in log for this past Monday morning, was
ip. For breakfast with my grandfather.
ed at the log
by the time I was outside and getting into the car, the genuine sm
Alexander
re enjoying a late dinner in the dining car.
averted his eyes as well. But Iris was blissfully ignorant of her transgression against basic decorum.
ed.
m. Yes, I think I do. The day that you left for war.”
telling me how you always wan
ropped her jaw d
So we came out here and started asking questions.”
who wound up telling you where to find me?”
ie?”
ication during our short interview.
d where I was.”
urprising aplomb. As if it were perfectly normal to threaten death upon one’s entire community.
ked.
? Oh, we grew up together.
ted?”
”
en commented.
got, too. Her mom died a year after mine.”
ses, Iris.”
I got one person that cares about me. Not everyone has anybody.”
e just about to head off to bed, when suddenly Iris blurted out, “There’s something I should tell you.”
ettled back down, asking, “What’s that?”
ourse
es. It’s fine, really, I’m used to it by now. But I just thought maybe you should know, since you really want me to help with your case and everything, that some days I might not be real well.”
the headaches?”
I got to stay in bed all day.”
by a doctor as soon as we’re back in the city, okay? There must be something that can help. I’ll pay for everything. I’ll get you the best doctors, and see that you get the care you need.”
of tears threatening to burst. “Thank you,” she said, choking up. “You’re so thoughtful and generous.”
owed me into my room.
at’s up?” he asked, sitting in the room’
ng, and even more importantly, without Fiona – my body was feeling tense and restless.
nk I should have Iris move into t
ed an eyebrow. “Really
tment like I planned, she’ll be in and out of doctor’s offices. If I move her into the palace, she c
do you think Fiona will feel about that?”
bout ten feet long and eight feet wide. I leaned my weight against the wall, letting the vibrations
I said. “But I think she’ll understand.”