99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 171

Liyah walked silently beside me all the way to the hospital entrance.

“Thank you, Liyah,” I said, my voice weary. “And thank you for snapping him out of his delusion.”

In typical Liyah fashion, she waved a dismissive hand, her face still twisted in lingering disgust. “Ugh, do not even mention him. Just focus on your grandmother now. Call me if you need anything.”

I nodded, steadied my breathing, and quietly entered the hospital room.

The caretaker whispered that she had eaten a little porridge and was resting comfortably.

I perched on the edge of the bedside, my fingertips gently brushing my grandmother’s silver-streaked hair as the noise in my mind finally began to quiet.

I lost track of time sitting there until my phone buzzed with Carson’s name on the screen. I silenced it instantly and rushed into the hallway to answer.

“Ms. Reese,” Carson’s voice was grave on the other end, “Officer Dunn contacted me today. He says he has found new discrepancies in the old accident files and wants to meet tomorrow. Would nine in the morning work for you?”

The air left my lungs in a quiet rush. “I will be there. Any time he wants.”

“We will meet at nine then,” Carson said, “Do not let this news overwhelm you, Ms. Reese. We don’t know what he has to discuss yet, so please, for tonight, focus on taking care of yourself and your grandmother.”

After the call, I returned to the room and lay down on the cot, clutching my grandmother’s hand as my thoughts churned relentlessly. Sleep did not come for many hours.

At the first light of dawn, I stirred, feeling a gentle tugging on my hair. My eyes flew open to find my grandmother carefully combing it with a hairbrush the nurses had given her.

“Grandma, why are you up so early?”

“Look at this messy hair of yours,” Grandmother chuckled, gently continuing to brush with the focus. “As my only granddaughter, I was your personal hairdresser when you were only this tall.”

Her wrinkled hands moved with practiced ease. “Your parents were the best of my three children. They always took such good care of me. That old house, I wonder who lives there now? I planted an apple tree in the courtyard the year you were born-”

My grandmother’s wandering memories made my throat tighten. Swallowing the lump, I kept my voice light.

“The house is still ours, Grandma. Alpha Thorne has posted guards there ever since; not a single brick has been touched. We can go visit today if you would like.”

“Really?” Grandmother clapped her hands together like a child spotting birthday presents. “It is still standing? Let us go right now! Come on, Claire!” She bounced up from the bed with a sudden energy that belied her age.

I laughed softly, steadying the excited woman. After coaxing my grandmother through a light breakfast, I called Liyah. Minutes later, a flashy red Ferrari idled patiently at the hospital curb.

“Now that is what I call a car!” Grandmother crowed, stroking the leather seats like they belonged to a prized stallion. She settled in without a moment’s hesitation.

“Do you like it, dear? Grandma will buy you one!”

Our shared laughter echoed as Liyah adjusted the rearview mirror, grinning. “This Italian stallion cost more than my college tuition, Mrs. Reese. Are you sure your social security will cover it?”

With dramatic secrecy, Grandmother crooked a finger, drawing me into a conspiratorial huddle. “I have plenty saved up, every penny from your father,” she whispered.

As the Ferrari merged into the morning traffic, her arthritic fingers fished out a faded cloth pouch from her innermost pocket. She pressed a bank card firmly into my palm.

The car soon rolled to a stop in front of the ancestral home. Before it had fully parked, Grandma scrambled out, rushing unsteadily toward the wrought-iron gate she had dreamed of for years.

“This house, it is exactly as I remember! Not a thing has changed! Oh, blessings be the Goddess! Sean, my boy! Your mother has finally come home!”

Carson came rushing out in a fluster, his eyes widening the moment he spotted the silver-haired matriarch with Liyah and me. “Madam! Please, do come inside!” He hastily ushered us all inside before the iron gate clanged shut behind us, his gaze darting warily beyond the entrance.

Grandmother moved as if walking through a dream, her steps unsteady as she drank in every familiar detail with glistening eyes. She alternated between laughter and tears as she wandered through the rooms until her gnarled hands found the trunk of the Apple tree in the courtyard, now nearly as tall as the first floor.

“Moonbeam! Look, this is the very tree I planted all those years ago!” She giggled, “It is blooming. Every branch is alight with flowers and fruit!”

I hurried over. Sure enough, the tree was full of growing apples against the lush green leaves and pink blooms, promising more to come.

“It has not flowered properly in years,” Carson murmured, joining us beneath the branches and dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief. “But this season, it is as if it knew its family was returning.”

“A blooming apple tree means good fortune, protection and love!” Liyah whooped, clapping her hands together. “Claire, this is a sign. Your hardships are ending!”

A deep male voice cut through the moment from beyond the gate. “Carson, has Ms. Reese returned?”

My breath hitched.

I spun toward the voice. There, framed by the wrought iron, stood an officer in a blue uniform holding a paper bag, his stance deferential yet urgent.