The Texas Ranger's Family

AT 11:00 A.M. they entered the Cottonwood Nursing Home in downtown Denver. Amy had sat on Natalie’s lap for most of the flight, but she seemed happy enough to be held by the Ranger as they spoke to the people at the front desk. Everywhere they went, whether it was the tourists on the plane or the staff here, people stared at the fabulous-looking, dark-haired priest holding Natalie’s little golden girl.

“Father Segal? If you’ll go down the hall and around the corner on the left, you’ll find Gladys Park in room 120. She’s had bouts of pneumonia that have weakened her. This is the best time of day to visit. Once she’s had lunch, she usually sleeps and it’s difficult to wake her.”

As they walked along, Natalie got a good feeling about the clean, nicely decorated facility. If Gladys’s care was as good, that was the most important thing. When they reached her door, they found it open. The ninety-two-year-old woman was in bed with the head raised. She was listening to the radio.

Kit nodded to Natalie. “Go ahead and talk to her while I hold Amy.”

Her heart pounded extra hard as she walked over to the side of the bed. She’d already made up her mind to keep certain facts to herself to be kind. The woman’s eyes were closed. “Gladys?”

“Yes,” she responded without opening them.

“My name is Natalie. I’ve come to visit you.”

“That’s nice.”

“I used to know your grandson Harold.”

A long silence ensued before the woman turned her head toward Natalie. “You knew Harold?”

“Yes. I was married to him. We live in Austin, Texas.”

That revelation caused her eyes to open. “Come closer. My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”

Natalie leaned toward her. “Can you see me better?”

“A little. What’s your name?”

“Natalie.”

“You married Harold? When?”

“Two and a half years ago.”

“I haven’t seen him since he was sixteen. He went to prison. He must be thirty-three now.”

“He passed away last week,” she said gently. “Of complications from an infection. But we have a daughter, sixteen months old. Her name is Amy. Would you like to see her?”

Gladys tried to lift her head off the pillow but she was too frail and feeble. “You brought my great-granddaughter to see me?”

Tears filled Natalie’s eyes. “I did. My cousin, Father Segal, came with us.” She looked over her shoulder at Kit who moved toward her. She reached for Amy.

“Can you see her?”

“Bring her closer.”

Natalie leaned in close with her little girl. “Amy, this is your great-grandmother Gladys.”

The older woman lifted her hand to touch Amy’s. “Oh...my precious girl. I wish I could see better, but I have glaucoma.” In the background Kit was taking pictures of the three of them with his phone.

“She’s golden blond and has gray-green eyes.”

“Harold had gray eyes like his mother. His parents were killed in a car crash you know.”

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