Tears welled up in my eyes. «Grandma.»
She looked right at me. «You came back for me.»
Jake knelt beside her. «We’re going to make sure you’re safe. You have my word.»
Paramedics arrived moments later. They began checking her vitals while the officers escorted Sierra and my father outside. Neither of them said a word. I stood in the doorway, watching them go. No yelling. No excuses. Just silence.
Jake wrapped his arm around me. «They’ll face charges. The documents, the meds, everything. There’s more than enough.» I nodded, still watching the police cars as they pulled away.
Later that night, Grandma was taken to the hospital for observation. I rode with her in the ambulance. She held my hand the entire way and didn’t let go until the nurse settled her into bed. «I thought I was alone,» she whispered.
«You never were,» I said. «Not for a second.»
Back at the hotel, Jake and I sat quietly on the bed. No TV. No music. Just silence.
«You did good,» he said finally.
«So did you,» I replied. And for the first time in a long time, I felt something I hadn’t in years. Not just relief, but peace.
