BK 4 - Chapter 9 - Going Home
"What do you mean you don't know how long he has?" Lisa asked in a panic while running across campus. Jayce and Breanne followed her, unsure of what was happening.
"Grandpa Roger had a stroke. With his age, there's not much they can do, so they're making him comfortable. He's not talking a lot, and his words are slurred, but he keeps asking for you and Alex. Are you done with your finals? Can you come now?" Lisa was heartbroken. Roger had been part of their lives since they were adopted. Her tears streamed down her face as she thought about everything Roger had done for her over the years.
"Yes, we're done. We'll pack and be on our way," Lisa answered as they reached the apartment building. She ran into the apartment, and Alex jumped up immediately when he saw her crying. At first, he glared at Jayce, thinking he had done something to her.
"What's wrong?" He asked his sister as Lisa threw herself in his arms.
"Grandpa Roger had a stroke, and he's dying. We have to go home now. He's asking for us." She sobbed against her brother's chest. Alex felt the grief already washing over him. Not Roger. He was so kind and caring. He treated every child as though they were his family. Alex sat on the couch and cried.
"Breanne, are you ready to leave now?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, let me get my stuff." She answered, running to her room. Lisa looked at Jayce. She had almost forgotten he was there. Walking over to him with her tears still flowing, she wrapped her arms around him. She didn't expect him to drop everything and leave.
"You can come up later if you want. I know this is sudden, but we have to see him. He and his wife, Valerie, are human, so they don't live as long as we do or have our healing capabilities. He can't die before we say goodbye," she sobbed against him while he held her tight.
"Let me grab a bag. I'm going with you. Do you want me to drive?" Jayce asked. It was clear the siblings and Breanne were emotional, so he would do anything he could to help.
"I have an SUV I'll drive. Get your stuff and meet us in the parking garage." Alex said as he got up from the couch. Jayce kissed Lisa and ran downstairs. She watched him leave, and her heart swelled even more with love for him.
Within ten minutes, they all had their things and were loading them into Alex's SUV. Lisa and Jayce sat in the back, while Breanne sat in the front with Alex. Jayce held Lisa as she cried softly against him.
"Tell me about Roger," He said, stroking her hair. He hoped it would help to think about the good times with him. Lisa spoke softly, not wanting Breanne to hear some parts of what she said because she didn't know about shifters.
"He was my Grandpa Trey's sergeant about forty years ago. He and his wife, Valerie, couldn't have children, so they have always treated our family as their own. My Grandma Cat is Valerie's niece, but they didn't know about each other until after Grandma Cat and Grandpa Trey mated. They are the kindest people you could ever meet, and I know Grandma Valerie will be a mess. They both had helped at the group homes and taken in some kids when the group homes were full. I can't imagine home without him," Lisa started sobbing again.
Roger had sat with her and Alex when they stayed with them while their parents were taking down the traffickers. He held them when they cried because they were scared their parents wouldn't return. He told them stories about their family and played with them whenever they wanted. Losing him was like losing a part of themselves.
"He sounds incredible," Jayce said as he held her. He wished there was something more he could do, but he was scared to do or say the wrong thing.
It took them almost nine hours to get to Granite Bay. Melanie had called and said they had taken Roger home with a hospice nurse so he could be around his family. It was dark when they pulled through the large gates, but the house was lit up, and cars filled the driveway. Lisa started crying again the closer they got. When they stopped, Melanie and Saxon ran out to them. Lisa and Alex jumped out of the vehicle and ran to their parents.
"How is he?" Lisa choked out, hugging her mom.
"He's hanging on," Melanie answered, looking toward the young man beside her daughter. Lisa looked up and saw Jayce. Taking his hand, she looked at her mom and dad.
"This is Jayce. He's my boyfriend." Lisa stated, looking toward Breanne so they would know why she didn't say, mate. Melanie and Saxon exchanged a look before greeting him.
"It's nice to meet you, Jayce. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances." Saxon said, holding his hand out to the young man.
"It's nice to meet you, too. Lisa has told me so much about all of you. I'm sorry about your grandfather." Jayce said, shaking each of their hands. They nodded and turned to Breanne. Both Melanie and Saxon hugged her like she was one of the family. Jayce hoped they would do that with him one day.
They all walked into the enormous house, and Jayce was a little overwhelmed. There were people everywhere. Lisa, Alex, and Breanne greeted each of them with hugs. He was introduced as Lisa's boyfriend, and he knew it was because some may not know what they really were. Lisa turned to him when they reached a closed door.
"I want you in there with me, but Alex and I need to see him alone. Please wait for me." She said with red puffy eyes. Jayce kissed her softly and nodded.
"I'll be right here." He answered. Lisa squeezed his hand as she and Alex went into the room.
Lisa looked at the fragile man in the bed and broke down. Roger was a shell of the man she saw just a few months ago. Alex was crying next to her as they slowly made their way next to his bed. Cat, Trey, and Valerie were all there with red, watery eyes. They hugged Lisa and Alex as they approached.
"He's been asking for you both," Valerie said as she cried. Seeing her in that state made Lisa cry even harder. She hated seeing anyone in pain. As everyone left the room, Lisa took the chair on one side while Alex went to the other. When they each took one of his hands, he opened his eyes and tried to smile.
"There are my grandchildren. I'm sorry you had to come here early, but I needed to see you. I won't be here much longer because the light is almost here." Roger's voice was so weak they had to move closer to hear him. They both had tears streaming down their faces as they looked at him.
"There's nowhere else we'd rather be. What light are you talking about, Grandpa?" Lisa asked. He raised his hand slightly and pointed off to the side.
"The light is there. When it gets here, it will be time," Roger moved his hand to point above him. Lisa and Alex looked at each other in confusion but didn't comment.
"You two are the ones who made me a great-grandpa, and for that, I'm thankful. The strength and resilience that you show every day are what everyone loves about you. My little cubs, you have made me so proud over these years. I have been blessed to call you my grandchildren." Roger had tears in his eyes, and Lisa couldn't take it. She leaned over and laid her head on his chest as she cried.
"Don't cry, my little lioness. It will be okay because I'll always be with you." Roger stroked her head lovingly. He took a deep breath before he continued.
"Your grandmother and I have been talking, and she doesn't want to stay in this big house alone. We have decided to sign it over to the two of you. We want you to make this place a home, donate it, or do whatever else you want. We'll let you decide." Lisa and Alex looked at him in shock.
"Grandpa, you can't give us your home. It's not right when there are so many others in our family," Alex said, leaning closer to Roger.
"I can and I will. When you find your mates, you can decide what you want to do with it, but right now, it's yours. I have something else I want you to do." Roger coughed a few times and took a shaky breath.
"What is it, Grandpa?" Lisa asked, lying her head back on his chest.
"I have something in my office for you. I've been working on it for a long time but can't figure out the best way to make it happen," Roger had to stop again to steady his breathing. Lisa and Alex didn't say anything letting him catch his breath.
"Shifters, vampires, and witches should be able to live in peace. I'm tired of humans treating them like they don't matter. I'm entrusting the two of you to find a way that everyone can live together. I want shifters, vampires, and witches to have the rights they deserve to fight against humans. I know this is a big ask, but I also know you can do it. You both have always stood up for what's right. I'm sorry I couldn't finish it in my lifetime." Roger stopped, and Lisa could hear the rattling in his chest with each breath. She knew he didn't have much time.
"We'll take care of it, Grandpa. I met my mate, and I know he'll want to help too," Lisa said, smoothing Rogers's thin hair back. He smiled at her with his eyes shining.
"Please bring him in here so I can meet him, and then let everyone else come in." He patted Lisa's hand as she stood up. Everyone held their breath when she opened the door, but she shook her head.
"He wants to meet Jayce, and then you all can come in," She reached over and pulled Jayce into the room. Neither said anything as she led him to the bed. Roger looked at the young man and held his hand out to him.
"It's nice to meet you, sir," Jayce said as he shook his hand.
"You better take care of my princess. She's special, and you'll never meet anyone like her." Lisa couldn't help the little chuckle that left her. Even now, he was threatening her mate.
"I love her and promise to be by her side forever," Jayce answered. Roger nodded slightly as he took a shaky breath. The rattling was getting louder.
"I trust you, son. Please let the others come in. The light is almost here," Roger said, getting weaker by the second. Alex walked to the door and let everyone come in. The room was packed so tight no one could move, but they all wanted to be there until the end. Valerie hugged Roger crying as he kissed her forehead.
"I love you," He said as he took his last breath.
