With Time

Anthony sighs. His hand wraps around Dennis Brown’s aged one. Two weeks...Gramps, if this goes on for another week, Doc might have to consider signing me up for therapy.

He glances over to the other patient. A faint smile tugs at his lips as he listens to the tales of Kenneth Goodwin. He is sitting upright, his hands everywhere as he gestures. His mother is sitting on a chair next to his bed, crying and laughing at the same time.

Pain grips at Anthony’s heart. Kids aren’t supposed to go before their parents or grandparents...Luckily, that mother was spared the torture of burying her own children. She is blessed to have her child, both her kids, still in her life. Is it selfish of me to still want my grandfather in mine, even if he has lived a long and happy life so far?

He quickly rises from the chair, slowly releasing his grandfather’s hand. Until tonight...

He starts taking the stairs two by two. He’s completely left Amalie by herself today. He actually feels very guilty about it. First, he gave Steven permission to take two weeks off. So, Amalie is doing all the work alone. He would help, but what he knows about a car’s engine is enough to make his grandfather ashamed. And Dennis Brown is seldom ashamed of something or someone.

His second mistake is to come visit his grandfather for a whole hour, just in case. Even though the hospital can and will call him if something happened. And yet Amalie, with all her stresses lately, has been supporting him immensely. Even if it means having to handle three businesses by herself for an hour or so each time. I think I owe that girl lunch. Yep, I’ll surprise her with lunch.

“Amalie?” He calls out as he enters the office. The chatter of two women reaches his ears from the garage. He frowns and strides in that direction. Upon entering the garage, he almost drops the two hot dogs.

Amalie is busy under the car, only her feet sticking out. Close to her feet, a woman is sitting on the office chair. She looks like the mirror image of his dear friend. He actually would have thought it to be Amalie, if it wasn’t for the signs of age on the woman’s face. She is dressed very formally, but seems comfortable among all the grease and oil.

“If that’s hot dogs I smell, it better be you, Anthony!” Amalie suddenly pipes up and slides out from under the car. The woman finally notices him and stares at him surprised.

“Uh...What?” He mumbles. Amalie wipes her hands on her overalls and then points to his load.

“Hot dogs?” She smiles and then faces the woman.

“Mom, this is my friend and employer’s grandson, Anthony.” She then walks up to Anthony, taking the one hot dog from him. “Thanks, Anthony.” He hands her the other one as well, nodding in the other woman's direction.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am. Here, Amalie. I’ll go buy myself a new one.” He winks and turns around but then turns and faces her again. “I’m so happy for you, Amalie. Things are coming together, right? Faith and hope, huh?” She grins widely and nods.

“And then, be yourself.”

He steps into the warmth of the hospital, and then retrieves his hands from his pockets. Man, why does winter have to be coming so early this year.

He nods to the receptionist and then starts up the stairs. He reaches the third floor, and follows his regular path. First trying to find the doctor, and then heading back to the second floor to see his grandfather.

His search ends up being fruitless, and he starts heading back to the staircase. As he passes the waiting room, he smiles vaguely.

He has barely set foot on the second floor, when he notices the nurse running towards him.

“Oh, Mr. Brown! Come quickly!” She grabs his hand and starts pulling him after her, ignoring the stares of her colleagues. Violating the rules of her workplace, she weaves through people and continues dragging him behind her as she runs to reach her destination quickly.

“Nurse Higgins, what’s going on?” He huffs out, barely missing the wall. Dread fills his heart the closer they get to his grandfather.

“Just come with me!”

They storm into the room. Kenneth's bed is empty. The only life in the room is at the other side. His grandfather and Doctor Smith. The doctor looks up at their abrupt entrance. His eyebrows raise as he stares at the nurse. She blushes and mumbles an apology. He then grins and walks toward them.

"It's all good, Nurse Higgins. I will forgive you this time." He then turns to Anthony and places his hand on the young man's shoulder. "It takes time. Sometimes time rewards us for our patience. Other times it doesn't."

"Thanks, Doc." The young man mutters, his eyes still glued on the occupied bed. The doctor and nurse exits the room, leaving him alone.

"Well? Don't just stand there. Come say 'hello' to your old grandfather!" The old man coughs out.

"Gramps..." His legs come into motion and floats him over to the bedside. He grabs the old man's hand firmly in his. "Oh, I thought you were gone for! And there was so much that I still wanted to say and apologize for. And there has been so much that has been happening lately and I couldn't tell it to anybody because you were gone and I really just wanted to speak to you. Even if we argue a lot, I had missed you oh-so-terribly." The words flow over his lips, as he barely pauses to catch his breath in between each sentence.

"My goodness!" The old man chuckles, a tear trickling down his cheek. "Anthony, my dear boy. I have missed you." He frees his hand and points to the chair beside the bed. "Sit. Tell me everything that I have missed."

"And, now Steven and Pauline are together again. Amalie and her mother have been reunited. The Goodwins are happy to have each other still. And the Kanes are going to get through everything just fine, I think." Anthony finishes. He takes a sip of the coffee that the nurse has offered him ten minutes ago. He shudders as the cold liquid glides down his throat, but he then downs the rest in three gulps.

"Well, I am happy to hear all of that. With time comes healing." Dennis coughs. "And with time comes answers."

"Oh dear, Gramps. You barely joined us again, and you are getting all wisdom-like again." Anthony chuckles.

"Nah, not really. I'm merely telling you what my grandfather taught me years ago." He folds his hands together and pins his grandson down with his gaze. "Remember that, Anthony. With time anything is possible. We can never be sure what will happen, because we don't know what the future holds. But time can bring healing and answers. You should never forget that, boy."

"I will not...But, time also brings death...I'd hate to lose you, Gramps." He clears his throat. "Don't you think that you want to reconsider retirement now?"

"Anthony!" He exclaims, replicating a look of being offended. "I'm eighty-four, boy. I'm in the best part of my life right now. I've got the whole future ahead of me! Why, I'm planning to get to a hundred-twenty. That's over thirty more years. I've got my whole life ahead of me. Why would I retire now?"

"Oh, Gramps." He chuckles and shakes his head. "Well, then. Consider yourself having a right hand now."

"What are you saying, boy?"

"I've employed myself, Gramps. From now on I'll be working with you."

"So you can keep an eye on me, huh?" Dennis grumbles.

"Well, partially." He laughs. "But I do want to learn some more about the business. And, there is a certain lil' lady that I want to keep an eye on."

"A-ha." The old man starts laughing. "The moment I saw her, I knew that the two of you were perfect for each other. I'm glad that even in my age I can still be a matchmaker."

"Gramps!" He turns red. For a moment he is quiet, just listening to his grandfather's laughter. Then, he sits back and says, "I suppose that you would've been able to pick out the perfect girl for me, huh...You know me well, and you are wise enough to know what works and what doesn't. After all," and he smiles brightly, "with time comes wisdom, right?"

"Indubitably, my dear boy."