A Love Trap

Ellie pursed her lips and replied, "She isn't doing well."

"What's going on with Ashley? Did something happen to her?" Laura asked her granddaughter with a worried look. An anxious expression settled on her wrinkled face.

"It is yours and Grandpa's fault. She misses you dearly, but you and Grandpa refused to come to J City and move in with us. Of course she isn't doing well," Ellie replied.

Laura was relieved. She poked Ellie's forehead and said, "You naughty kid."

"Grandma, please come to J City with me. That way, I and Ashley can take care of you and Grandpa," Ellie proposed sweetly, as she took a seat next to her grandma and leaned her head on her shoulder.

"You need to go to work. If we live there, we would disturb your daily life. Besides, your grandpa and I have lived here for most of our lives. We're not young and we might die any time. All we want is to spend the rest of our lives here," Laura responded with a sigh.

She knew why Ellie had invited her and her husband to move in with her, but she was old and she didn't want to be her granddaughter's burden. Besides, she knew her own health. Knowing that she might only have a couple of years left, she refused Ellie's invitation for she didn't want to cause her any trouble.

"Please don't say that, Grandma. You and Grandpa will live to be a hundred. Promise me that you will never say that again," Ellie replied in earnest, as she turned her head upwards to look at her grandma.

Laura was amused by her expression. With a cordial smile, she replied indulgently, "Fine, my little Ellie. I promise that I will never say that again. All right?"

Ellie nodded her head approvingly.

"Ellie, when you went to the hospital, you left your phone at home. It vibrated many times. Someone must have some urgent work with you," Laura added, as she grabbed Ellie's cell phone from the table and gave it to her.

"I see," Ellie replied.

screen to unlock the phone and found

tell me," Ellie explained before

Ashley's number than she answered the phone.

get into any trouble there?" Ashley's voice, full

much noise?" Ellie inquired. Since the connection was poor in the house, Ellie couldn't hear Ashley clearly. She told Laura that she needed

train station," Ashley raised her voice. Ellie could hear the sounds of the

not to come, and I said that I would come back

several times, she didn't think the former could find her way to her house.

I'm on my way,"

get here. I'm going to pick her up. Grandpa is asleep in the hospital. Please go

I'm going with you," Laura offered immediately. She couldn't conceal her delight that Ashley was coming to her house. She stood up from her

left

and the roads are bad. Please stay home and go to sleep. You can see Ashley

wasted no time in heading to the

Ashley might feel scared or bored there, Ellie called her en route. She filled her best friend in on her grandpa's medical situation and

was a little upset. "Are you blaming me for coming to you?" she asked sadly. 'I came here because I was

up in this place. Did you think I would get lost or something? I saw the missed calls, so I called you back immediately. How would I know you are here already?" Ellie spoke into the microphone of her hands-free earphones, as she was on the bus, still

whispered. She realized that

sneezed. She had caught a chill while waiting at the station. Shivering due to the cold, she hugged

colder here than J City, isn't

you still not know that? You didn't wear a coat, did you?" Ellie asked already knowing