My Son And His Wife Went On A Cruise, Leaving Me To Babysit My 8-Year-Old Grandson Who Had Never Spoken Around Us. As Soon As The Door Clicked Shut, He Stopped Rocking, Looked Straight In The Eye, And Whispered In A Clear Voice: “Grandma, Don’t Drink The Tea Mom Made For You… Not Yet.” A Chill Ran Through Me…

After more hugs and repeated instructions, Dean and Nyla finally drove away, their luxury sedan disappearing around the corner toward the highway that would take them to the port. I stood on the front porch, waving until they were out of sight. Damian’s hand still secure in mine.

“Well, sweetheart,” I said to him as we turned to go back inside. “It’s just you and me for the next seven days.”

He looked up at me with those intelligent eyes. And for a moment, I could have sworn I saw something flicker there—a kind of awareness that seemed far beyond his supposed limitations.

But then he was tugging me toward the house, eager to get to his toys, and I dismissed the feeling as wishful thinking. We spent the morning in the living room. I worked on my crossword puzzle while Damian arranged his action figures in elaborate patterns on the coffee table.

The house felt different without Dean and Nyla’s presence. Quieter, but somehow more peaceful. The tension that usually hung in the air like invisible smoke had dissipated, leaving behind only the comfortable silence of two people who genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.

Around 11:00, I decided to make myself some of the specialty Nyla had prepared. The packets were lined up neatly on the kitchen counter, each one labeled with careful handwriting. For Lucinda, chamomile comfort blend.

I appreciated the gesture, though it struck me as unusually thoughtful for Nyla, who typically showed more interest in appearances than in genuine care. I filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove, then opened one of the packets. The dried flowers and herbs smelled lovely.

Chamomile, yes, but also something else I couldn’t quite identify—something with a slightly medicinal scent that seemed out of place in an herbal tea. As I waited for the water to boil, I heard Damian moving around in the living room. Usually, he played quietly, lost in his own world.

Continue reading…