Saturday morning arrived cold and bright.
I had been awake since six.
Not because I had anything urgent to do.
Because Sadie was supposed to stay overnight.
I had changed the sheets in the small bedroom.
I placed an extra blanket at the end of the bed.
I bought toothpaste for children.
And I made sure there was enough food in the refrigerator.
I had not hosted an overnight guest in a long time.
Especially not a four-year-old.
I smiled at the thought.
At eleven, Michelle called.
"Mom, are you still all right with tonight?"
"Of course."
"Sadie is very excited."
"I can imagine."
Michelle explained that she would bring Sadie's pajamas and a few other things.
I told her I had already prepared a little space.
She laughed.
"You didn't need to do all that."
"I wanted to."
When they arrived that afternoon, Sadie jumped out of the pickup with her backpack.
She ran toward the porch.
"Grandma! I'm sleeping here!"
I opened the door.
"So I hear."
She walked inside and immediately wanted to see the bedroom.
I showed her.
She climbed onto the bed.
"Is this my room?"
"Just for tonight."
She looked at the window.
"Can I see the trucks?"
"Not from this window, sweetheart."
She seemed disappointed.
Then she noticed the little lamp.
"Can I turn it on?"
I showed her the switch.
She turned it on and off several times.
Michelle stood in the doorway.
"She'll probably ask you a hundred questions."
"I raised you. I can manage."
Michelle laughed.
Before leaving, she gave me Sadie's small bag.
She also handed me a piece of paper with her telephone number and the children's bedtime information.
I put it on the counter.
Then she kissed Sadie.
"Listen to Grandma."
"I will."
"And don't stay up too late."
Sadie nodded seriously.
Michelle hugged me.
"Call if you need anything."
"I will."
When the pickup disappeared, Sadie turned toward me.
"What do we do now?"
I smiled.
"First, we put your bag away."
She followed me into the bedroom.
Then she wanted to help make supper.
We prepared simple food.
She washed a few vegetables while I watched.
She wanted to stir everything.
I let her stir the bowl.
A little flour fell onto the counter.
She looked at it.
"Oops."
I laughed.
"That's all right."
After supper, we sat on the porch swing.
The evening air was cold.
I wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
She leaned against me.
"Grandma?"
"Yes?"
"Do you miss Grandpa?"
I looked toward the photograph visible through the front window.
"Every day."
She was quiet.
"Mom says he worked on a farm."
"He did."
"Was he nice?"
I smiled.
"He was a good man."
She considered that.
Then she said, "I wish I could meet him."
I kissed her forehead.
"I wish that too."
We sat there until the air became too cold.
Then we went inside.
I helped her brush her teeth.
She asked for another story.
Then another.
Finally, she settled under the blanket.
"Grandma?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Will you be here when I wake up?"
I smiled.
"Yes."
She closed her eyes.
I sat beside her for a little while.
Then I turned off the lamp.
I left the bedroom door slightly open.
That night, I woke once when I heard her moving.
I walked to the bedroom.
She was still asleep.
Her little hand was resting outside the blanket.
I tucked it back underneath.
Then I returned to my room.
In the morning, I heard her footsteps.
She came into the kitchen wearing her pajamas.
"Grandma!"
I turned around.
"Good morning."
She climbed onto the chair.
"Can we have pancakes?"
I laughed.
"Of course."
We made breakfast together.
She wanted chocolate chips.
I allowed a few.
After breakfast, Michelle arrived.
She stood at the front door and smiled when she saw the flour on the counter.
"Looks like you had a good morning."
"We did."
Sadie ran toward her.
"Mom! I slept in Grandma's house!"
Michelle hugged her.
"I can see that."
Then Sadie turned toward me.
"Can I come again?"
I smiled.
"Whenever your mother and I arrange it."
Michelle looked at me.
"Next weekend?"
I nodded.
"That would be lovely."
After they left, I cleaned the kitchen.
I found one small chocolate chip beneath the table.
I picked it up and smiled.
The house was quiet again.
But I didn't feel sad.
I had enjoyed the visit.
And I knew another one would come.
I looked at the little bedroom.
The blanket was folded neatly.
The pillow had a small dent where Sadie's head had rested.
I left it that way for a while.
Click here to continue reading: PART 19: The Old $800 Paper Finally Came Out of My Drawer, and I Understood Why I Needed to Keep It Even After We Had Made Peace
My Daughter Had a Price for Giving Her Widowed Mother a Place to Sleep, and I Had to Decide What My Years Were Worth
Part 18 of 20
