Until We Fly

Epilogue

One Year Later

Brand

Gabe meets us at the door of the nursing home, his face drawn and grim.

“Dude, I’m sorry we had to call you home from your honeymoon. We all knew it was coming, but…”

I shake my head and clasp his hand tightly.

“It’s okay. I would’ve been pissed if you hadn’t called.”

Nora walks beside me, her slender hand on my back. When we’d gotten the call, she hadn’t even hesitated, she’d just started packing our bags.

“We have to go, Brand,” she’d said.

I’ve never loved her more.

We flew nonstop through the night, and when we landed, we found out, with relief, that we weren’t too late. Gran was still holding on.

“She’s waiting to talk to you,” Gabe tells me as we walk down the halls. It smells like medicine here. And Ben Gay. And quilts.

I nod. “It doesn’t surprise me. Gran has always done things her way. She’ll die her way, too.”

“Hell yeah, she will,” Gabe agrees.

I’m surprised at the knot that is still in my throat. I haven’t been able to swallow it, not since we got the call and jumped on the plane. The very idea that the world is going to lose such an amazing person is sobering.

I take a deep breath as I face her closed door, as I stare at her nameplate.

Helen Vincent.

There’s no use putting it off. It won’t change a thing. She’s going to die whether I’m at her side, or not.

But I need to be there, like she’s been for me all of these years.

We step into her room and find Jacey sitting next to the bed, holding Gran’s wrinkled hand. Gran’s eyes are closed, but when she hears my voice, she opens them and smiles tiredly up at me.

“It took you long enough,” she complains good-naturedly and everyone laughs. They laugh through their tears because it’s very, very evident that this strong woman has grown weak. Her body is limp, her smile is tired.

It won’t be long.

A chill runs down my spine as I sit on the bed and pick up the hand that Jacey had just put down. Gran has been well loved. I know that. And I know its time. She’s ready to rest.

“You know me,” I finally answer. “I’m always running late.”

“Not for long,” Gran tells me, her little hand squeezing mine. “You’ve got a wife now to keep you in line.”

She closes her eyes again, and I watch the rise and fall of her chest beneath the sheets. She’s so small, so frail. It’s hard to believe that I once thought of her as big. She’s child-sized now.

Jacey catches my gaze from across the room.

It won’t be long, she mouths. I nod. I know. Jacey looks as tired as Gabe, as though they haven’t slept in days.

Behind her, Dominic sleeps in the chair by the window, here to share this moment with Jacey, to support her. Just like Nora is here for me.

Everything is how it should be.

“Where’s Maddy?” I ask Gabe. He nods his head toward the door.

“She took Eli outside to run some energy off. She’ll be back shortly.”

Gran opens her eyes at that. “That boy looks just like you, Gabriel,” she croaks. “He’ll be twice as ornery, too, if God believes in payback.”

Gabe smiles and holds a cup of water to her mouth, pushing the straw between her lips.

Gran stares up at me. “Can you believe this? They treat me like an invalid here.”

Everyone laughs and she takes the cup in her own hands, taking a sip. She hands it back, then settles into the blankets, folding her hands on her chest.

“I did so want to see everyone,” she murmurs. My chest tightens and I pat her hands, not quite sure what to do.

“I wanted to see your face before I went to sleep, Branden,” she continues. “You’re as much mine as these two are.”

My chest tightens even more.

I bend down and brush a kiss across her forehead. She smells like lavender and sunshine, the way she always has.

“You’re mine, too,” I tell her, my voice cracking. “Gran, I want to say thank you… for everything. For always taking care of me, for all of the advice… for giving me a home.”

She smiles now, again, without opening her eyes.

“Nora is your home now,” she tells me softly, so softly I have to bend to hear her. “You’re flying, Branden. You’re finally flying.”

I literally have to turn away, to steel myself so that I don’t sob like a baby right here in front of God and everyone. But I glance up and find that Gabe’s eyes are watery too, and Jacey is crying softly as well.

All of a sudden, though, Gran’s eyes fly open and she stares at a spot on the wall, above our heads, as intent and rapt as she can be.

“Olen!” she exclaims, and she reaches out her arms. “Wait for me. Don’t leave.” I stare in shock as she smiles at someone we can’t see, a sigh escaping from her lips, as though she’s finally somewhere she desperately wants to be.

As though she’s finally home.

And then, then… she turns to me, her eyes glazed and happy and distant.

“Your sister is there, Branden. I see her. She’s safe and sound. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of her for you.”

Then, without pageantry or fanfare, the wisest and kindest woman the world has ever known closes her eyes.

I watch her chest shudder to a stop, and I know she’ll never open her eyes again.

She’s gone.

The world seems frozen as I drop my head into my hands and cry with abandon. I hear the sobs of everyone else, then Nora’s hands are on my back, and Gabe’s voice breaks through my sorrow.

“Brand?”

I look up at him, my eyes red and hot.

“I never told Gran about your sister.”

The entire room is completely still, absolutely frozen, as they wait for my answer.

“Neither did I.”

Nora gasps and her eyes meet mine, and a strange peace suddenly filters down around me, like a blanket.

Like a shield.

I smile and pull my wife close. Looking out the window, I find that the sun is breaking through the clouds, shining for all the world like the angels are singing, welcoming Gran home.

All is well.

The End