The Untouchable Ex-Wife

Just as Renee was wondering if she should just allow Francine to take the kids with her, the old woman’s voice turned unusually serious. “Ren, I know you still hold resentment towards the family. I know you hate my son, and you hate me too. I understand that we were horrible towards you, but Grandpa Timothy has always treated you with nothing but sincerity, hasn’t he? He always treated you like you were his own granddaughter, right?”

“I will always remember the kindness he showed me,” Renee admitted.

“So please, can you go along with it just this once? For his sake? We just want him to be happy.”

Renee remained silent.

Seeing that the woman wasn’t giving in, Francine sighed. “You might not know this, but the old man’s health is deteriorating rapidly. The doctor said he wasn’t even sure if he’d make it through winter this year.”

her heart sink. “But didn’t Grandpa Timothy go through

heart transplant can only do so much – it doesn’t take away the health risks

never told me about any of this! Every time I went to see him, he was always so energetic. I really thought he was getting better…” Renee protested, her eyes reddening. Timothy was like her own grandfather, after all.

day while you were gone, you know? He would lecture Stefan sometimes, saying that he was a fool for letting go of such an

throat as she spoke. She let out a cough and continued, “Stef actually didn’t want me to tell you any of

happy life. He didn’t want you to force yourself for any reason. But every day, I watch as the old man’s condition worsens, and I get scared and worried that he might pass with regrets. So I…” Francine trailed off, unable to

didn’t want to delay this any longer, especially with the situation at hand. Abby and Adie were still young and healthy, so they could surely endure