Edited 2019

AN: Hello everyone sorry for the wait. I have been busy blah blah etc. I think that I may have more time to write this semester since I don't have classes on Thursday or Friday. That may change if I can get a job for those days. Anyway here is the chapter. I refer to a song that my high school orchestra played in the chapter you should go look it up on YouTube to hear it. We played it a few years in a row for our fall tour. I was honored with getting to be the screamer for two years. I am planning to move things along in this chapter so there will be a bit of a time jump. As always thank you all so much for reading and reviewing, it brightens my day when I get a nice review.

Disclaimer: No matter how much I would like to lock up the tall beautiful Scandinavia to keep for my own I have been told that I can't. So I will just have to give him and his fellows back at future date but that does not mean I can't have a little fun until then.

Chapter 39

I awoke to an extremely persistent poke to my left cheek. I opened one bleary eye to see Hunter standing next to my bed. "Sookie you need to be awake now. Mommy told me to wake you up so we can get a move on. I did not know we were moving. Do you know where we are going Sookie?" He asked in a completely serious tone.

"No honey, she means I need to get up so that we can get things done today before we go get Gran," I replied sitting up and stretching.

"Oh, they why didn't she say that?" He questioned rifling through my closet.

"It is just one of those saying that people use. Do you want to help me pick out what to wear today?" I countered standing and walking over to him. He picked out a dark red sundress that I paired with a denim motorcycle jacket. Hunter told me that I needed to wear my red chucks too cause they matched. We laid out my clothes and I went to take a shower while he went to join his mother. Once I was done, I blow-dried my hair and got dressed quickly. Hadley had cereal waiting for me when I got downstairs.

"The doctor told me that they would be discharging Gran at ten. Would you be willing to watch Hunter so that I don't have to take him with?" She asked pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"If it would help, I would be fine with that. Do you know who took me up to my room last night?" I countered sitting down to eat.

"One of the boys, they all came in when I was changing the loads for you. You can ask them when they wake up. They are in the living room I think." She blew on her coffee before she took a sip.

"Ok, I was just wondering. Do I need to finish the laundry?" I ate a spoon full of cereal.

"The towels and sheets still need to be run, if you wouldn't mind. I am sure Hunter would love to help. I am going to be going to get Gran now. You be a good boy for Sookie till I get back." She turned to Hunter and kissed him on the check. He just nodded and went back to his own bowl. Hadley left a few minutes later.

"Hunter do you think that it is fair for the boys to still be asleep. I think we should go wake them up." I smiled putting my bowl in the sink.

"Ok, can we use water again?" He queried excitedly.

"No, but you can be as loud as you want," I replied handing him a pot and wooden spoon. He gleefully ran into the living room banging the two together. Some grumbling and swears were emitted from the guys as they woke.

"Sookie the boys said bad words they need to use the soap and I got hit with a pillow," Hunter said bringing back the pot and spoon.

"I think that we can let it slide this time but if you hear them say any of those words again, just tell Gran, she will make them wash their mouths out. Did you throw the pillow back?" I replied as I put Gran's cast iron skillet on the stove. He nodded and went to play with his blocks. I took out some sausage and the stuff to make pancakes. I started browning the sausage and then mixed up the pancake batter. I let it rest while I flipped the sausage. I took out a plate and lined it with paper towels to drain the sausage. When the sausages were done I placed them in the plate. I then poured most of the grease from the pan into the measuring cup reserving it to fry the pancakes. I started to fry the pancakes I placed them on top of the sausage and moved the plate to the oven to keep them warm. I continued this process until I had used all of the batter. I meandered into the living room to see if the guys wanted eggs too. Most of them had tried to go back to sleep. John was on the sofa with his arm covering his eyes. Alcide was half on the air mattress and the floor. Jason was in a ball on the love seat and Eric was sprawled on the floor with his head on the corner of the air mattress. "If you all get up I made sausage and pancakes for breakfast. I was thinking about making eggs too but you all need to get up so I know how you want them." I announced plopping down on the sofa near John's feet.

Jason spoke up first. "Whatever you make we'll eat I am starving." He stretched and sat up.

"If you are taking requests I would like them sunny side up." Alcide yawned and stood. The guys murmured in agreement.

"Ok just get up and come to the kitchen." I stood and went back to the kitchen. Hunter was sitting at the table with a plate and fork when I entered. "Did you not get enough cereal for breakfast?" I asked.

"I did but I want a pancake. I won't tell mommy if you don't." He smiled at me with big puppy dog eyes.

"I guess you can have one. Do you want to pick it out?" I asked as I retrieved the plate from the oven.

"Yes, I want a big one." He hopped out of his chair and hurried to make his selection.

"What do you want to do after you eat? I need to get the laundry going and then I was thinking about practicing my cello." I asked placing his selected pancake on his plate and cutting it up for him.

"Could I draw in your room with your pencils? You have better colors then what mommy got me." He requested.

"You sure can," I replied setting down his plate. Once I had him situated at the table, I made the eggs. Soon everyone was eating so I cleaned the dished I had dirtied and told the boys to wash theirs when they were finished. I then started a load of towels before going up to my room to practice. On top of everything else that I was doing this semester, Mrs. Fortenberry had announced that we would be doing a small concert tour for Halloween with the band. We would be getting out of class for the day and playing at the middle and elementary schools, and a few places in Shreveport. She told us that we could dress up in costume as long as it did not get in the way of playing. We were going to be playing all sorts of fun music including a piece called The Curse of the Rosin Eating Zombies. It was really fun but weird. The best part was that Jessica got picked to do the scream. I did not know just how hard it was to scream so loud and long. We were also playing Ride of the Valkyries and In the Hall of the Mountain King. Hunter was sitting at my desk coloring away. "Hunter, could you move to my bed so I can use my chair to practice?" He did as I set up my music. He and I played and drew till lunchtime when Hadley and Gran got home. Hunter had made Gran a "yeah you're not sick" card and was very excited to show it to her. We went downstairs as they were pulling up. I switched loads of laundry around and went to meet them. Hadley was carrying Gran's bag while Gran used a cane to get to the steps.

"I think that the doctor is wrong. I don't need this cane at all. I walk just fine without it." Gran said as she climbed the stairs.

"He said that you only had to use it for a couple of weeks until you have your strength back." Hadley reminded her.

"Well, I think it is silly I have been walking without it for years and I am just as healthy as I was before." She continued to grumble.

"Gran you had a heart attack. You are going to have to get used to taking it easy for a while. Sookie has been helping me with cleaning and cooking and we will continue to do so. The doctor said that you can walk and exercise but you still need to rest. We already talked about how you were not as healthy as you thought and that we will be changing your diet. I have been looking up new healthy recipes for all of us to eat. I also went grocery shopping last night and bought a bunch of healthy choices for meals and snacks." Hadley explained taking Gran's bag to her room.

"Sookie, will you tell your cousin that I don't need all of this? I will be fine. I have been eating this way since I was born, and I am not about to change that now. I need to be cooking and cleaning and taking care of my home." She tested in a frustrated tone sitting down in her chair.

"No Gran, I won't. I don't want you to have another heart attack and I will not let you go back to eating like you were. You may have been eating that way but it is not good for you. I don't want you to die before I graduate and if you keep eating the way that you have been, you will die. I am not saying this to be mean, I am just telling you the truth. I love you and I want you to be around for a long time." I shouted. Jason and the guys had come into the living room when they heard me raise my voice.

"I agree with Sookie. I may not like the change in food, but I would eat cardboard if it meant that you would get better. I have been so frustrated with the fact that I could not do anything to help you. I felt like it was my fault that I asked for you to make fried chicken and all that. I will not let you die because you want to cook with grease." Jason interjected as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I can see that I am outnumbered, but I am telling y'all now that I will still be cooking the way I have been. I will make some changes but I am not giving up my cooking." She grumped crossing her arms.

"Gran you can still cook, but it needs to be heart healthy. We can still bake, grill and steam foods, you just need to quit frying things. I am going to make a baked chicken recipe that I found that is better for you than fried chicken but still tastes good. I am going to be making roasted vegetables to go with it. You are going to sit here and relax while I make lunch. Sookie, I am going to need your help." Hadley said returning to the living room with Hunter. He walked over to Gran and presented her with the card that he made.

"I don't like it when you were sick Gran. You need to be better so you can play with me." He told her climbing into her lap. Hadley and I retreated to the kitchen to make lunch. She went to work on the chicken while I chopped up carrots, onions, bell peppers, and squash. I then put them on a baking sheet with a little bit of olive oil and seasoned them with pepper and a tiny amount of salt. Hadley had me prepare five heads of garlic to roast too. The doctor told Hadley that roasted garlic spread on a whole grain bread would be an alright substitute for Gran's usual white bread and butter. I then sat the table. The house smelled fantastic to the point that Gran was looking forward to having lunch. Gran was surprised how good everything tasted and was a little more willing to try some of the other recipes Hadley had found.

The next few weeks went by fast. Gran was still fighting us a bit on some of the foods. The hardest thing for her was to eat oatmeal for breakfast instead of all of her other favorites. She was starting to look and feel better as well as get around more easily. She had started to take a walk every afternoon which she was enjoying. Everyone was happy that she was getting better and acting more like herself. Hadley had gotten her job transferred up to Shreveport so she could still be there for Gran. She had moved into a new apartment that was close to work. Hunter liked that he got his own room again and got to paint the walls bright green. I had broken it off with John the Monday after Gran came home. I came to the conclusion that I was just not ready to be dating. He seemed to be ok with that. We still hung out as friends when he was over with the rest of the guys. I had been getting really busy with orchestra, dance team, drivers ed and the haunted house that I had very little time to spend with him anyway. On the Tuesday before Halloween, the Haunted house opened so every day after school I would come home, take a shower and get all dressed up as Alice. It was a blast to scare people, but by the end of the week, I was starting to lose my voice. Preston was throwing a costume party on Saturday and had invited everyone. I was going with Holly and Amelia. Amelia was dressing as a scantily clad witch. Holly was going to be a pirate and I was going to be a fairy.