Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2)(36)

They didn’t make love that night, but Rachel was glad she could just be there for him and hold him.

And she managed to visit Phyllis during her lunch break, the next morning. The old lady looked brighter and her speech was a lot better than it had been the previous day, but her mobility still wasn’t so good.

“You’re definitely on the mend,” Rachel said with a smile. “And I think Ryan will be happier when I tell him you’re able to eat and drink again.”

“I’m so sorry I’ve worried everyone so much,” Phyllis said.

“Hey – not your fault,” Rachel said, squeezing her hand. And she was really pleased that Phyllis was able to squeeze her hand right back. “Can I get you any magazines, or is there anything special you’d like to drink?”

“I’m fine, honey, but thank you for asking.” Phyllis squeezed her hand again. “I’m so glad Ry has you now. I don’t like to speak badly of anyone, but Lucille wasn’t right for him. She always put herself first and I don’t think she was kind to him.”

“He doesn’t talk about her,” Rachel said. “But I think a lot of your grandson. He’s a really good man.” She smiled. “I have to go back to work, but I’ll come in tomorrow. Anything you want, ask the nurses to get in touch with me, OK?”

“Thank you, honey.”

Rachel texted Ryan from her desk. Have visited your gran. Speaking better and can eat and drink again.

Thank you <3 was the reply.

Pick up some spare clothes from your place after you see her tonight and come stay with me, so you’re not on your own, she texted back.

He called her. “Rach. It’s not fair of me to lean on you.”

“Hey, if the situation was reversed you’d want me to lean on you, right?” she asked.

“I guess so,” he admitted.

“Then let me be there for you, Ry.” She paused. “Your gran still needs help with her mobility, but that’s nothing to worry about. The physical therapist will help her get up and start to move about. It’s always scary for the first couple of days, and she’ll be really tired, but it will get better.”

“Uh-huh.”

“But she’s a lot brighter today. You’ll see a positive change tonight,” she promised.

Over the next week, Phyllis improved every day. But then she developed a chest infection which set her back badly.

“Rachel, we need to talk about Phyllis Henderson,” Dr. Majors said a couple of days later. “I’ve been discussing her care with the hospital. And we think once she’s fully recovered from the chest infection, it’s time for her to move into residential care full time.”

Rachel frowned. “I thought she was improving?”

“She is, Rachel, but we both know she’s eighty years old, she’s had a TIA, she’s not very mobile and she has dementia,” Dr. Majors said gently. “Her grandson’s done a brilliant job looking after her, but day care isn’t going to be enough anymore. Even if he gives up his job for a few months, her needs are going to change quite quickly now and he just won’t be able to give her the care she needs.”

She winced. “Ryan’s not going to take the news well.”

“Which is why I’m talking to you,” Dr. Majors said. “You’re close to him. He’s more likely to accept it from you.”

It was blurring the edges between her professional and her personal life – something she’d always been warned against – but Rachel could see her senior colleague’s point. Ryan might take the news better if he heard it from her.

“OK. I’ll talk to him tonight,” she said.

That evening, Ryan came in to her apartment, looking much happier. “Gram’s doing well. The nurse said that there’s a good chance she’ll be able to come home soon.”

Rachel knew that what she was going to say would break his heart. But there wasn’t any other way round it. “I’ll make you a coffee,” she said, and bustled around in her kitchen until she’d nerved herself to talk to him.

“Ry, we need to talk about your grandmother,” she said.

He frowned. “What about?”

“Dr. Majors has been discussing things with the hospital.” She took a deep breath. Please, please don’t let Ryan take this the wrong way. “He thinks it’s time for her to go into full time residential care. And I agree with him.”

*

Ryan went cold. He’d been here before, with a woman who wanted him to put his grandmother into residential care rather than look after her himself.

“No,” he said flatly. “I’m not dumping her in a home and deserting her.”

Rachel bit her lip. “That’s not what I’m saying, Ry.”

He stared at her. “You know as well as I do that she’s having rehab treatment and she’s recovering from a chest infection. Once she can walk properly again, even if she has to use a walking frame, she’ll be fine to come home.”

“Ry, your grandmother’s eighty years old, she’s had a mini-stroke – which often means someone then goes on to have a full-blown stroke – and she’s got dementia. It’s a progressive disease, and she’s going to need more and more care as the weeks go on.”