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We had a moment of silent accord Then I said, "So, nohat?"

"Now you go back to the hospital to stay with your grandet to work But please, if you can, try to stay out of trouble, at least for the next few hours My agents are stretched thin enough as it is" He gave me a real smile His eyes sparkled and a pair of deep diesture of his hand, the runes disappeared, thelike mist before the sun

"I’ll do my best," I promised as I rose to my feet When I extended my hand to Thorsen, he shook it

It was late by the tiot back to the hospital; my conversation with Thorsen had taken quite soht pharmacy I picked up some toiletries and clothes for Gran plus baby food and nutrition shakes for me I downed two of the shakes in the car, so I was reasonably well fed by the tiuards at Gran’s door checked my identification and squirted me with holy water Once they were sure I was really me, I was able to enter the roo on the hospital bed, she looked so tiny Her slight body barely raised a lu a little, a sound fa itdown at her, I promised myself that I’d keep her safe somehow; that ork out our differences, whatever it took

But it wasn’t going to be easy

Still, that was a problem for later For now, I just needed to be here with her So I stacked es in the corner and settled into the recliner next to the bed

The chair wasn’t too unco exhausted This had been an incredibly long day I needed rest There were guards on the door So I closed ht et a lot of sleep in a hospital Every few randet some rest, but it was just dahen I woke for the first time in years to the sound of her voice

"Celie? What are you doing here?" She didn’t sound happy to see ht position and tried to shake the cobwebs froling

She scooted off of the bed, steadying herself with one hand on theto help her, but she waved et myself to the bathroom without your assistance, thank you" The words were as bitter as acid, and I stepped back, stung

She was steady enough to make it the few steps to the bathrooood idea that I followed her example as soon as she was done

When I ca in to the breakfast I’d heard arrive while I was in the bathroom She had the wheeled tray pulled close and the bed adjusted to allow her to sit up straight

"Before you say anything," Gran said, setting down her spoon and looking ht in the eyes, "I remember nohy I’m here I was just sleepy and disoriented So you don’t need to worry about that"

I opened

"And I don’t want any lectures fro It’smy own decisions since before you were born…" She was starting to work up a good head of steaht, which I didn’t want, but she apparently did Most likely she thought the best defense was a good offense But she didn’t need to defend herself from me Why didn’t she realize that?

"Gran, stop Just stop All right? I get it You wanted to be close to Mom so you could visit every day and you wanted toshe needed at the prison Money just doesn’t ever go as far as you think it’s going to"

She subsided a little, but her expression remained wary She stared at me, chin down, eyes narroith suspicion That look, , told me just how hard times had been for her lately

"I wish you’d talked to me I could’ve helped, could’ve visited"

"Why would you bother? You don’t visit your own mother" Wow, the ah to choke on

I took a deep breath, fighting to maintain my self-control "I love Mom I will always love Mom" God help me, that was the absolute truth "But I won’t let myself in for more abuse I’m not that much of a masochist"

"Celia Kalino Graves! Your mother never--"

I cut her off "Bullshit You don’t believe me, hire a clairvoyant Have them take a look back for you Hell, I’ll even pay for it But I’ you--you won’t like what you see"

Gran’s jaw set in a hard line and we glared at each other This probably wasn’t a good tiument She was in the hospital for a reason But this confrontation had been brewing forso da work, only to watch ranwhen I responded "You want to knohy I act the way I do? Go find out Then we’ll talk But until you know the facts, don’t you dare judge me Don’t you dare tell me that Ivy and I lived some idyllic childhood with a mother who cared about us Because we didn’t"

"Get out" She didn’t yell, but there was a cold fury in her voice