Part 3The Cost of Company

Grandpa suddenly pushed me away and lunged for the elevator, his bad hip causing him to stumble and fall. Even from the floor, he kept jabbing at the call button, his voice cracking. “Eleanor… Eleanor, don’t go… Come back…”

The elevator was already on its way down. He tried to scramble toward the stairwell. “Chloe, please… help me get her back. She’ll get hurt out there. She’s never had a hard day in her life. What if he takes advantage of her?”

Seeing the tears in his eyes, I finally gave in.

But when we found them in New Orleans, she was nestled in the kid’s arms, putting on a public display of affection that made everyone around them uncomfortable. A little kid pointed and asked his mom, “Mommy, why is that grandma kissing her son?” The mother just grabbed her child and hurried away.

Grandpa saw them together, and all the fight went out of him. “Chloe… I think she doesn’t want me anymore.”

I couldn’t stand to see him like that. I marched over and pulled them apart. “Grandma, we’re going home. You wanted to see New Orleans, you’ve seen it. Grandpa and I will take you around, but you can’t listen to this guy anymore. He’s using you for your money! Can’t you see that?”

She shoved me away. “Chloe! Your mother died when you were a baby! Who raised you? I just want to live my own life for once! Why can’t you support me? Are you going to just watch me waste the rest of my years with that boring old man?”

She was so angry she was hyperventilating. The kid, whose name I learned was Kyle, just kept kissing her face, murmuring, “It’s okay, babe. You’re my sweet, generous baby. You told me spending money on me makes you happy.”

Grandpa finally caught up, just in time to see Grandma pull a thick wad of cash from her purse and press it into Kyle’s hand.

“Eleanor…” Grandpa’s hand trembled. “You’re being a fool…”

My grandmother didn’t have a pension. She’d never worked a day in her life. All the money she was spending was Grandpa’s retirement savings.

“Grandma!” I yelled. “That’s Grandpa’s money! You’re breaking his heart!”

But she was beyond reason. “I’ve earned it! I slaved away for that old man my whole life! His money is my money! I’ll spend it however I want, and neither of you can stop me!”

She took Kyle’s arm and stormed off. As they left, I heard her say, “Don’t listen to them, darling. Didn’t you say you saw a jacket you liked? I’ve got plenty of money, I’ll buy it for you…”

I felt a knot tighten in my chest. All I could do was take my heartbroken grandpa for a walk to try and clear our heads.

The next day, I got a call from the police.

“Are you the next of kin for Eleanor Miller?”

My heart sank.

Grandma was dead. She and Kyle had been on their way to a designer clothing store. They had an argument because he wasn't holding her hand to cross the street. In a fit of pique, she’d stormed into traffic and was killed instantly.

Because she had run into the road, the accident was ruled her fault.

Kyle, of course, was already trying to spin the story. “I’m telling you, she was just old, you know? Not looking where she was going. If I hadn’t jumped back, that car would’ve hit me too! My heart is still pounding… Can you believe it, officer?” He even had the gall to wink at the female cop who was taking his statement.

She was not impressed. “Sir, this is a police station. Please conduct yourself appropriately.”

My grandpa just stared at the death certificate, at the name ‘Eleanor Miller’ printed in stark black ink. His face was frozen. His mouth opened, but no sound came out except a strangled “Ah… ah…”

Two silent tears rolled down his cheeks, saying more than words ever could.

I felt a hollow ache in my chest. As Grandma had said, she was the one who raised me. My father had dropped me off with them after my mom died and then vanished from my life. She was the only mother I’d ever known. I thought she’d be with us for years to come. I never imagined this… this parasite Kyle would destroy our family.

And he was still talking.

“You know, she promised she’d buy me that jacket. We never even made it to the store. Hey, granddaughter, listen. After you deal with all the funeral stuff, you should do your duty and buy that jacket for your grandpa. And hey, I’ll let the whole ‘no welcome gift’ thing slide. But you’re going to have to start paying my monthly support on time.”

5

Hearing Kyle's words, Grandpa finally snapped. He lunged at him, dragging his bad leg. “You! It’s all your fault! You killed my Eleanor with your sweet talk! You have to pay! Give me back my Eleanor!”

He was aiming for Kyle’s throat, his eyes red with fury. But Grandpa was old and frail. Kyle, young and agile, easily sidestepped him.

“Hey, old man, what’s your problem?” Kyle sneered. “Me and my babe had a thing, it was consensual. What’s it to you? Besides, look at you. You’ve got that old people smell. What woman would want you? Eleanor told me all about it! She said you were sloppy, that you never showered, that you stank! She said she was sick of taking care of you, sick of looking at you!”

A police officer gently restrained Grandpa. But I couldn't hold back anymore. I wanted to slap the smirk off Kyle's face, but I knew, in a police station, that would only give him more ammunition.

“Kyle,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “A minute ago you said you and my grandma were just friends. Now she’s your ‘babe’ again? Let me ask you, where were you when she stepped into the road? Why did you let her go?”

His arrogant expression flickered. “Wh-what are you talking about? We weren’t anything serious. She was married. She just liked me, you know? Like a grandson. Bought me some stuff. It was no big deal. Don’t you go making accusations! I could sue you for slander! Besides, she was old! What would I want with her? She probably did it on purpose! Maybe she was tired of you two nagging her all the time! Yeah, maybe it was suicide! It had nothing to do with me!”

The hypocrisy was astounding. One minute he’s demanding to be called ‘Grandpa,’ the next he’s calling her an old woman who killed herself. Before I could respond, I saw Grandpa clutch his chest, his face contorted in pain, and collapse.

“Grandpa!” I screamed.

Kyle just pointed a finger at him. “See! I was right! He knows his wife couldn't stand him! That’s why she did it! He’s having a breakdown! I told you her death had nothing to do with me!”