[SKYLINE PLAZA: OLD PIERSON RESIDENCE]
"Grandma." Penny cradled Old Mrs. Pierson’s hand, smiling at her as her eyes swirled with affection. "It’s going to be alright, Grandma."
Old Mrs. Pierson smiled back, nodding. "I know, my child," she said, then patted Penny’s hand. "I’m just... worried. But knowing that you and your family are here to support my grandson puts my heart at ease."
The two of them kept their smiles and eyes on each other. Penny had co over to check on Old Mrs. Pierson’s health and make sure that she was taking her dications.
"Penelope, you said that you were a doctor," said Old Mrs. Pierson. "Tell the truth, my child. Am I going to die?"
"Grandma, please don’t say that," Penny sighed heavily. "I do have my degree, but I focused on research for a certain drug. Even though I chose a completely different path and run a business that has nothing to do with my degree, I am still part of it. So, with all the knowledge I have and advise from my colleagues, you’re going to be fine."
"Aren’t you working so hard, my child?" Old Mrs. Pierson sighed. "You’re already taking care of Renren, and now I am your burden."
"You’re not a burden, Grandma." Penny shook her head gently. "If anything, I’m glad I chose to study dicine because I could use the knowledge to help the people I love."
Old Mrs. Pierson was moved, tearing up a little. "My dearest Penelope. You are such a blessing to ."
Penny pursed her lips and didn’t say anything more. Old Mrs. Pierson always showered her with complints and filled her with words of gratitude. At so point, it made Penny feel a little uncomfortable and awkward because too much gratitude was sothing she could never get used to. Even so, she never said a word about it.
"Grandma, I’ll be doing your blood work today, okay?" she brought up, changing the topic before Old Mrs. Pierson could start praising her to the high heavens. "We need a new one before the shareholders’ eting."
Old Mrs. Pierson nodded. "As long as it’s you, I’d do whatever you ask of !"
"Grandma..."
"Just don’t worry about too much." Old Mrs. Pierson chuckled, nodding at her reassuringly. "When I was young, I used to be so amazed by myself. People would call a witch and inhuman for having such a cold heart. So, I might be wrinkled and old, but if it’s for my family, I’d be the witch everyone hated."
Penny chuckled, not taking everything Old Mrs. Pierson said to heart. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe it. In fact, Penny had heard stories here and there about Old Mrs. Pierson from back in the day. However, she simply couldn’t imagine the fierce woman everyone was talking about because Old Mrs. Pierson was the sweetest, most loving, and most genuine person she had ever t.
"Then, I’ll do it now, Grandma."
"Mhm."
Having said that, Penny pulled out a briefcase filled with items Old Mrs. Pierson was quite familiar with. Penny started with her blood pressure, then drew blood to get a sample, followed by the rest of the tests.
Once Penny finished, she flashed Old Mrs. Pierson a smile. "Done! Grandma, I’ll send the samples to the lab and let you know the results. There are also a few tests that I might need you to visit the hospital for, but it’s not bad. They’ll just do so exams and then another assessnt."
Old Mrs. Pierson couldn’t help but smile at the eagerness in Penny’s eyes. "Penelope, my dearest, Grandma is already old," she said. "You don’t have to work so hard for . I am old, and I’ve seen a lot in life. At this point, I am content knowing that Renren has you by his side."
"Grandma..."
"I have accepted that at this age, there are so things beyond our control."
"Grandma." Penny squeezed Old Mrs. Pierson’s hand while shaking her head. "There are a lot of things in life that are beyond our control. However, if I can do sothing, like helping you live a healthy life for the remaining years of your life, then I’m happy to do so."
She paused and sighed. "Like I said, you are not a burden, Grandma. I like what I’m doing, and I’m glad I could be of help."
At one point, Penny thought that being here only made Old Mrs. Pierson feel guilty. Although Old Mrs. Pierson was happy to have Penny around more often, she also felt bad that Penny had to do extra work for her.
"Grandma, please," Penny sighed once again. "I want you to stay with us for a very long ti. So, please, don’t say anything like that anymore."
Old Mrs. Pierson’s eyes softened, always finding herself reassured and encouraged by Penny to continue this fight. A shallow breath slipped past her nostrils as she nodded in understanding. For a mont, the two of them indulged in silence while Penny packed up her things.
"Penny, is my Renren doing fine?" Old Mrs. Pierson asked worriedly, watching her granddaughter-in-law turn in her direction. "You said he was blind all this ti, but now he’s getting better. Not just his eyesight, but his overall health."
"Yes, Grandma." Penny nodded, facing Old Mrs. Pierson again. "Although he’ll have to adjust to the light and feel slightly nauseous, just like when soone gets new eyeglasses, he’s going to be fine. One day, he won’t have to take all these dicines anymore and will live his life like everybody else."
"Is that the truth, my child?"
"Yes, Grandma."
Old Mrs. Pierson sighed in relief, just trying to make sure that Zoren was genuinely getting better. "Surely, he started getting better when you chose to stay by his side."
"Hmm?"
"You were abroad for most of your marriage. Now that I think of it, no wonder he liked flying abroad. It’s probably to et you."
Penny’s face cracked a little, knowing that whatever Zoren was doing back then had nothing to do with her.
"But I’m glad that everything worked out eventually," Old Mrs. Pierson chuckled, snapping her eyes up at Penny. "Renren can be quite stubborn, even as a child. People called him strange. Do you know that when Renren was born, he wouldn’t even cry? The doctors had to force a cry from him, but even then, they had a hard ti. As a newborn, he was staring at them like he was studying them."
She laughed as she rembered the mory. "What I’m trying to say is, thank you for choosing to stay with him. And I’m grateful not just for you, but for your family as well. After all, Renren has a tough relationship with his mother, and then his father... unfortunately, was called to heaven too soon."
Penny pursed her lips as she had to hear this vague description of Zoren’s relationship with his mother again. It wasn’t like it was repeating, but Old Mrs. Pierson would always ntion it every ti she thought of family.
At first, Penny wasn’t that curious. After all, she had heard bits and pieces from Old Mrs. Pierson. She didn’t pry about it from Zoren because she didn’t want to hinder his health progress.
"Grandma, what was Renren’s mother like?" After a long ti, Penny finally raised the question she had tried to avoid. "Just... what did she do for Renren to hate her so much?"
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