Stubborn.
Afraid of nursing facilities.
Obsessed with independence.
Protective of Michael.
Good soup.
Bear smiled.
Reality was always messier than symbols.
Better too.
At six-fifteen, Margaret emerged wearing a robe.
“You did not sleep.”
“No.”
“You look terrible.”
“Thank you.”
She sat across from him.
“Jack.”
He looked up.
She rarely used that name now.
“What?”
“Can I ask something difficult?”
“Sure.”
“Do you actually need me to be anything?”
He frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Grandmother.”
“Family.”
“Whatever this is.”
Bear understood slowly.
Margaret continued.
“I don't want you to feel obligated because of what happened sixty years ago.”
He stared at the floor.
She said:
“I held a baby.”
“That was my job.”
“I stayed because I wanted to.”
“Yes.”
“But you do not owe me sixty years of gratitude.”
Bear looked at her.
“Good.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“Because I'm not here from gratitude.”
“Then why?”
He smiled.
“You asked.”
Margaret stared.
Bear continued.
“And I like you.”
She looked deeply suspicious.
“You have questionable judgment.”
“Documented.”
She smiled.
“So what happens after today?”
Bear shrugged.
“Breakfast occasionally?”
“I don't ride motorcycles.”
“Neither does breakfast.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Phone calls.”
“Michael yelling because I give you bad advice.”
“You giving me worse.”
Margaret nodded slowly.
“No obligations.”
“No.”
“No pretending.”
Bear considered.
“Mostly.”
“What does that mean?”
“If somebody asks, I'm absolutely telling them you're my grandmother.”
She laughed.
“You are impossible.”
“Runs in family.”
She pointed at him.
“Do not become comfortable.”
“Too late.”
At seven, Olivia from St. Catherine called.
Not professionally required.
She simply wanted to check.
Margaret told her she was fine.
Bear had made sure she drank water.
Bear protested that sounded controlling.
Olivia laughed.
Then Margaret asked:
“How is Richard?”
Olivia sounded surprised.
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“He seemed troubled when we left.”
Olivia lowered her voice.
“He stayed after shift.”
“Why?”
“Reviewing discharge protocols.”
Margaret smiled.
“Good.”
“What did you say to him?”
“Almost nothing.”
Olivia laughed.
“I don't believe that.”
After hanging up, Margaret looked toward Bear.
“People can learn.”
“Sometimes.”
“Richard did.”
“Seems like.”
“Victoriously humiliating someone is not the only way things change.”
Bear looked at her.
“You think I wanted to humiliate him?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“You looked like you wanted to eat him.”
“That’s just my face.”
“I know.”
By nine-thirty, Bear and Margaret returned to St. Catherine.
Theo drove again.
Margaret insisted on dressing first.
Blue cardigan.
Slacks.
Proper shoes.
No slippers.
Bear wore clean clothes and his leather vest.