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.

the phone and found that she had missed dozens of calls from Ashley.

something to tell me," Ellie explained before calling her best friend

sooner had she dialed Ashley's number than she answered the

Ellie? Why didn't you answer the phone? Did you get into any trouble there?"

the connection was poor in the house, Ellie couldn't hear

her voice. Ellie could hear the sounds of the

here? I told you not to come, and I said that I would come back

here several times, she didn't think the former could find her way to her house. After all, her best friend had a poor sense of direction.

way,"

is asleep in the hospital.

offered immediately. She couldn't conceal her delight that Ashley was coming to her house. She stood up from her

left

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

Laura nodded in agreement, Ellie wasted no time in heading to

there, Ellie called her en route. She filled her best friend in on her grandpa's medical situation and explained why she hadn't answered

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

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

about you," Ashley whispered. She realized

chill while waiting at the station. Shivering due to the cold, she hugged herself to keep

it's colder here than J City, isn't it?"

have brought you here several times, how do you still not know that?