Grandpa had put the bags down, knelt to my height, and asked whether I wanted toast or scrambled eggs.

He never asked why I wasn’t good enough to keep.

PART 4: What Grandpa Had Prepared

Arthur recovered quickly.

He had always been good at turning a setback into an accusation.

“This is Clara’s doing.

She kept Dad away from us.

She took advantage of a sick old man.”