A Hug, A Scolding, and A Goodbye

As Xavier drove through the quiet,empty streets, I couldn't help but glance at him. His hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. I cleared my throat, breaking the heavy silence.

“Where do you think she’ll be?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulled the car to a stop in front of the Estrella city hospital. My stomach twisted at the sight of the building. Hospitals always made me uneasy. Memories flooded back—my parents being rushed inside on stretchers, nurses yelling orders, and that cold, sterile smell that never left my nose. Memories of waking up in a hospital bed after Dylan had hurt me. It wasn’t a place I liked to be.

I didn’t realize I’d been staring blankly until Xavier’s voice broke through. “Halle? Are you coming?” He stood outside the car, holding the door open for me, his hand stretched out.

I blinked the thoughts away, trying to stay present.

I hesitated but forced myself to step out. “So... why do you think she’s here?” I asked again, trying to shake off the unease creeping up my spine.

He just smiled faintly. “I have a feeling.”

We made our way through the hospital’s busy entrance. The hallway was chaotic—nurses rushing by, patients being wheeled around, the distant wail of an ambulance siren. I stuck close to Xavier, trying not to get in anyone’s way.

Suddenly, Xavier’s voice cut through the noise.

“Abuela!” he shouted, sprinting toward a frail woman sitting quietly on a bench near the front desk.

I stopped in my tracks, watching in disbelief. He was right.

“He found her,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.

Xavier reached her and took her hands gently, guiding her back toward me. There was a wide, relieved smile on his face—the first I’d seen in hours. He looked so happy, so different from the tense man I’d been with just minutes ago.

“Abuela, meet Halle,” he said softly as the elderly woman approached me.

The older woman looked at me, her eyes warm but sharp, like she could see straight through me. She reached out and took my hands in hers.

“You’re so pretty,” she said warmly, then paused, tilting her head. “But you’re carrying something heavy. What’s bothering you, niña? You seem... broken.”

My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know what to say.

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I opened my mouth to respond, but Xavier interrupted with a chuckle. “Abuela thinks she’s a psychic,” he said, grinning. He was so happy to see her that his usual sarcasm had softened.

I forced a smile, but my chest felt tight. How could she know that just by looking at me?

“So,” I said, trying to change the subject, “how did you know she’d be here?”

Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Before he could answer, Abuela spoke up.

“I’m waiting for Camila,” she said excitedly. “She’s bringing the baby today. I’m here to take my daughter home.”.

Her words didn’t make sense to me, but Xavier’s smile faded slightly. “Abuela,” he said gently, “I already asked the nurses. There’s no Camila on the register. She’s not here.”

Her expression shifted to confusion. “What do you mean? She told me she’d be here. No,she has to be here.Where is my Camila?”

I glanced at Xavier, confused. “What’s going on?” I whispered.

He exhaled sharply, his shoulders tense. “I’ll explain everything later,” he promised. “Right now, we need to get Abuela back to the retirement home.”

I nodded, though questions swirled in my mind. Xavier gently wrapped his arm around his grandmother, guiding her toward the exit.

As Xavier drove us back to the retirement home, I noticed the staff standing outside, waiting. He had called them while we were in the car, letting them know he’d found Abuela. They looked relieved, even excited, as they stood by the entrance.

The moment the car stopped, Abuela called out, “Donna!” Her voice was cheerful as one of the staff,a younger staff member with curly brown hair ran toward her, arms wide.

It was the same lady Xavier had been yelling at before.

“Nonna, where did you go?” Donna scolded gently, pulling Abuela into a hug. “I leave for one minute, and you run off like that! You scared me.”

“I didn’t run off!” Abuela insisted, shaking her head. “I just took a cab to see my daughter, but Xavier wouldn’t let me see her!” She pointed at him in a grumpy face.

Donna sighed, shaking her head with a smile. “Don’t worry, Nonna. Next time, you’ll see her. Just don’t run off like that again, okay? Tell me first, and I’ll take you myself.”

Abuela nodded, her wrinkled hand resting gently on Donna’s arm. “Okay, okay,” she said.

Xavier walked toward her, his face softer now. “It’s getting late, Abuela. I gotta go, but I’ll come visit soon, alright?”

“Bring your girlfriend next time,” Abuela said, her eyes sparkling as she grabbed my hand.

“Oh, no, I’m not—” I started, my face heating up, but Xavier cut me off with that annoyingly smug smile of his.

One of those you’d-better-play-along looks, blinking his eyes like a kid trying to convince me.

“She’d love to come,” he said smoothly. “Right, Halle?” He said, silently daring me to play along.

I rolled my eyes but smiled anyway. “Yeah, Abuela. I’d love to visit.”

Abuela beamed. “Good. Take care of Xavier for me, okay? Make sure he eats well and gets enough sleep.”

“I’ll do my best,” I promised with a laugh.

“I’ll make you my special tea when you visit,” she said proudly , patting my hand.

“Deal,” I said, feeling oddly warm inside despite the chilly night air.

As the staff led Abuela inside, she waved back at us. “Be careful on your way home!” she called.

Xavier stood there smiling, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he watched her disappear into the building.

His shoulders finally seemed to relax. “Phew,” he said, letting out a long breath. “That’s a relief.”

“You really care about her,” I said, looking at him.

“She’s the only one in the world who cares about me like that,” he admitted quietly. “I love her so much. I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to her.”.

Hearing him say that made my chest ache. I wasn’t used to seeing this side of him. Before I could reply, he noticed me shivering.

“You’re freezing,” he said, already pulling off his leather jacket. He draped it over my shoulders, smirking as he did. “Ugh I can’t let you turn into a popsicle out here, Red. What would the world do without your sharp tongue?”

I rolled my eyes at his teasing. “Thanks, jerkface,” I muttered, pulling the jacket tighter around me.

He grinned, clearly satisfied with himself. “C’mon, let’s go,” he said as we headed back to the car under the starry sky.

And for some reason, the night didn’t feel quite so cold anymore.

The drive back felt lighter, like we’d crossed some invisible line into understanding each other a little more. Or maybe it was just Xavier’s annoying, teasing grin that made everything seem less complicated. Either way, I didn’t mind.