His Last Moments

Prologue:

"Graaaanyyy!!!" a loud, squeaky voice screamed. I laughed to myself. I wonder who that could be. "Grandpaaaaa!!!" another older voice screamed. This time the voice was much more mature and female. It came out with precision and thought. I knew who that was too. I laughed as my husband came out of his study and looked at me with a bright and excited faces. I knew my expression mirrored his. Those two voices always brought us joy, comfort, and excitement. Our eyes glowed with joy whenever we looked at those two beautiful faces. They meant more than the world.

They should be here any minute. I looked at the door expectantly. As if thinking the exact thing, my husband, Henry, looked at the door as well. “Five. Four. Three…two…one.” Exactly at one, the door burst open and in came out grandkids, rushing into the room like the every other time they were here. Henry and I laughed at our little joke.

“Granny!” the kids cried in excitement as they ran, ready to tackle us with hugs and kisses. My daughter trained them really well. Holly hugged me first. Holly is Maria’s eldest daughter. At the delicate age of fifteen, she stood tall in her height of 5’7 and long light brown locks. She was beautiful. Her eyes were the color of blue electricity; a color the envy of any blue summer sky, they were deep like the ocean, and as bright and wise as an owl’s. She was also a lucky owner of a wonderful smile. Blessed with straight teeth, and a beautiful side dimple, her smile probably took the breath out of some guys in her class. I was sure of it. Especially when I saw the dress she was wearing. In a way she reminded me of myself when I was her age.

And then came little boy blue. My little sunshine—Daniel. He was seven years old and with his words, you were reminded every time, how fast and sly his young brain was. He tried to wrap his small little arms around my waist as he mumbled about how much he missed me. I just hugged him back and give him my best warm smile and immediately I was welcomed with his toothy grin and two dimples. He recently lost one of his upper middle teeth and he was so excited about it. He made sure to show everyone and tell everyone of the money the tooth-fairy had given him. “Two green dollar bills!” he said excitedly to me the last time he was here. His hazel eyes opened wide with excitement and glazed with joy and triumph.

After a few minutes of Daniel’s rambling, we all finally decided to settle down. Maria came in and gave me her warm hug. Kissing me on the cheek and reminding me of the usual stuff she told me every weekend. “I know. I know.” I replied bored, and made a face at her like a child. She laughed and then left off for her job. She was one of the top interviewers in New York, and more than anything, she deserved it. And let me have you know: I don’t say that because she’s my daughter.

So, I got them settled into the living the room couch and had Henry sit there while I went and got out the chocolate chip cookies I had baked especially for them. Like Henry and…and like Noah. I sighed in his memory, a frown set on my face thinking of his fate, of my fate.

“Hey, Granny?” Holly asked as she entered the kitchen and put a hand on my shoulder. “Everything alright?” she asked sounding a bit concerned.

Immediately I put back on my warm old granny smile. “Of course, darling.” I reassured. “I’m just getting your favorite chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.”

“Mmmm! Oh I can’t wait!” she said excitedly. Out of nowhere her expression changed to an embarrassed one. “Sorry. Uh…let me help you. Actually, why don’t you stand to the side? I’ll take it out, okay?” she said with a warm smile. I nodded.

After a while we had eaten the cookies and we sat down to watch a few shows on the T.V. it was mostly Holly and Daniel watching. I was making a red, white, and green socks with yarn for Christmas. I loved making them and they helped take over my time. I remember the first time I made them. I was sixteen then. I made it for someone really special. I let go of a big sigh. Thinking of him always made me feel like that: my heart sped up (even in this old age of sixty-eight), my eyes started to water, my hands shook, and memories upon memories of our short time together rushed through my mind like the wind throwing around specks of sand, a cold rush went through the back of my spine, and then it was over. The only thing left then was my aching heart and my silent tears. I couldn’t let the kids see me like this. I heaved a sigh again. His death anniversary was coming up.

“Granny?” Holly asked. Immediately I snapped out of it again. This was the second time I was doing this in front of her. What would she think?

“Yes, darling?” I asked with a gentle smile.

“Is everything okay?”

“Of course.”

Holly looked at me and studied my eyes and face for a while before nodding, giving me a tight smile, and then turning back to the television. A few minutes later she turned back around and gave me a genuine smile. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. This was not going to be good.

“Hey, granny? Can I ask you a question?”

I sighed. This was definitely not going to be good. “Sure, darling.” I said, even though my brain was screaming NO!

Holly’s whole face lit up.

Oh no…

“Well, is it alright if we go into your room?” she asked as she stood up. My face probably looked confused and slightly alarmed as she immediately added, “it’s kind of a personal question.”

Oh Lord, help me.

“Sure, dear.” I said sweetly and stood up, taking my yarn and stuff with me as we slowly went up the stairs. I was getting old. And it was starting to get harder and harder to go up the stairs. It was like a test every damn time, but I was good at composing myself…as long as the situation didn’t concern Noah. I sighed and slowly took my time going up one step at a time, one hand holding the railing while my other hand was in one of Holly’s.

When we finally reached the room and settled down, I noticed Holly looking a bit nervous and tipsy. She was fidgeting and constantly winding and unwinding her fingers with each other. On top of that, she wasn’t talking. I was starting to get concerned. The worst of the worst came into my mind. I just hoped she used protection.

“Is everything…alright, dear?” I asked gently as I placed a hand on her knee.

She nodded.

“Are you sure? You don’t seem fine.”

“Nah, I’m alright Granny,” she replied, but her face was unconvincing.

“Holly, did you have…you know…try the reproduction process out?” I asked tring to word it as unawkward as I could. At first Holly had a confused expression on her face and then suddenly she looked horrified. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped to the ground.

“WHAT!?!?” she screamed. Her face turned red with embarrassment and she wuickly fixed her face. “I did no such thing. Are you crazy?...i mean, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I-i…”

“It’s okay.” I said with a slight giggle. I guess I was thinking way over the head. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have thought that.”

“Why did you even think that?!” she asked. Her tone sounded a bit accusing.

“Well you look so nervous, dear, I thought maybe something happened. It happens all the time, especially in your generation. I’ve seen you guys.”

Holy shook h head in disbelief. “Granny I don’t even have a boyfriend…not even a…crush.” She said. Now that was a lie, but I decided not to push it.

“So, what’s your question? Is everything okay?” I asked as I searched her eyes. She looked back at me. her eyes searching mine just the same.

“Yeah…actually I was wondering if you could tell me about…Noah?” she said slowly, observing my face for my reaction.

My eyes widened and my heart sped up. I think I might get a heart attack one of these days just thinking about him. “What—Who told you?” I asked hoarsely, my voice barely audible.

“Mommy mentioned him.”

“Oh…,” was all I could say. The story was too sad. “I don’t think I should tell you…” I started.

“Mommy said you can…please? Please? I really want to know. Please?” she begged softly. She really wanted to know. Her eyes said it all.

Memory after memory played in my mind like a slide show.

Noah’s warm smile.

His beautiful eyes.

His melodic laugh.

His deep yet calming voice.

His mischievous actions.

Everything started coming in my mind when I tore my eyes away from my granddaughter and stared outside the grassy backyard from my window. This house itself represented so much to me.

All of our plans.

A tear dropped from my eyes. His memory was too much to bear. What we had was too much to bear too.

Suddenly, I felt a hand go on top of my hand. I snapped out of it and looked at Holly’s young hand and out my other hand on top of it. Squeezing it gently as I tried to compose myself.

“You okay?” she asked softly. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” she said.

I shook my head. I needed to talk to someone about him today. I had annoyed Henry of this so many times yet he still bears with me and tells me he loves me. I was so lucky to have him and even luckier to have this granddaughter.

I sniffled. “No. It’s fine. I want to tell you the story…just bear with me. it’s not going to be easy to tell.”

Holly nodded her head in concern and listened to me intently. Her eyes bore into mine in understanding.

I took in a few deep breaths to control myself and then I started.

“Noah McClain was your grandfather too. He was your Grandpa’s little brother and I was in love with him.” I started.