Chapter 7 - A New Arrangement
The next morning, after Lily left for school, Nathan and I sat down with Eleanor in the sunroom. The morning sun poured through the large glass windows, warming the room and casting golden beams across the wooden floorboards.
Eleanor looked nervous, her hands folded tightly in her lap, bracing herself for reprimand or exile.
Instead, I walked over, pulled up a chair directly in front of her, and took both of her cold hands in mine.
“Eleanor,” I began gently, smiling warmly. “Nathan and I talked. We understand why you go into Lily’s room at night. And we want you to know that you are never a burden to us.”
Eleanor blinked, tears welling up in her eyes. “Clara, I... I scared you. I invaded Lily’s space—”
“You didn't invade anything,” Nathan interrupted gently, walking over and placing a warm hand on his mother’s shoulder. “You were just looking for comfort, Mom. But we need to make sure you’re safe, too. Wandering down that long hallway in the dark after a stroke is dangerous. You could fall.”
Eleanor bowed her head, a look of profound shame washing over her. “I’m sorry. My mind... sometimes it gets lost in the dark.”
“We know,” I said softly. “And we have a solution. But it’s going to require a small change for all of us.”
Eleanor looked up, tilting her head in curiosity.
“What kind of change?”
Nathan smiled, a bright, reassuring expression that mirrored his mother’s youthful features.
“We’re going to rearrange the bedrooms,” he explained. “We’re moving your room to the guest suite right next to Lily’s. And... well, Lily loves having company. We’ve talked to her about it, too.”
Eleanor gasped softly. “You told Lily?”
“We told her that Grandma sometimes gets lonely at night and needs a little extra comfort,” I said with a smile. “And Lily, being the sweet, compassionate girl she is, said she would love to have a sleepover buddy—whenever you feel like it.”
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Tears finally broke free, streaming down Eleanor’s cheeks, but this time they were tears of profound relief and overwhelming joy. She reached out, pulling both Nathan and me into a tight, trembling embrace.
“Thank you,” she sobbed softly against my shoulder. “Thank you for not pushing me away.”
