Dani Collins - Modern Romance March 2019 5-8

The men glanced at each other, then the one he didn’t recognise cleared his throat.

‘I’m afraid not.’

Afraid? What the hell could be worse than cancer? Ivo wondered.

‘Your grandfather has dementia.’

Ivo looked at him and laughed, not an amused sound. ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. My grandfather is as sharp as a tack. He can run rings around someone half his age, physically and mentally .’

‘Your grandfather can have long periods of lucidity.’

Meaning he doesn’t know where he is the rest of the time. The grinding pain pressing into his temples was no longer the beginning of a tension headache, it was full blown. Ivo looked coldly at the man who spoke before transferring his attention to the familiar face of the family doctor, who up to this point had seemed reasonably reliable.

‘I don’t know where you dug this joker up from, but I want a second opinion.’

The older man flushed and looked embarrassed as he sent an apologetic grimace to his colleague. ‘This is Professor Ranieri—’

Ivo arched a brow; the degree of reverence had only increased his antagonism. ‘Is that meant to mean something to me?’

The younger man stepped forward. ‘I’m a professor in neurodegenerative conditions and dementia, Mr Greco, and I am the second opinion.’ He flashed his colleague a look. ‘Or would I be correct in saying third is more accurate?’ The older man nodded unhappily. ‘I diagnosed your grandfather three months ago,’ he finished quietly.

‘He’s suspected it for some time,’ the older man added to back up his colleague. ‘When he finally consulted me, well, the tests were all conclusive.’

Ivo’s chest lifted, and he swallowed; his brain still refused to accept what he was being told. First Bruno and now Salvatore, a double whammy.

His family was vanishing.

He had not seen his brother for years, and he saw his grandfather as little as he could. Alone was the way he liked it, he reminded himself.

‘I would have known.’ He clung stubbornly to the belief because the option was believing what these men were saying.

‘Not necessarily, Mr Greco. People with dementia will hide their symptoms—even those closest to them don’t always notice. Some changes can be subtle.’

‘No.’ Ivo remained firm. ‘We spoke last week, he was... He called me Bruno...’ The recovered memory took on a new significance as he replayed highlights of the conversation in his head. Suddenly the clues were there, the minor errors evidence of his memory loss.

Ivo stood there breathing hard as his defences against the ugly truth disintegrated. He could no longer stop himself thinking of the tough old man with a razor-sharp brain losing part of himself and knowing it. It was the ultimate horror; fear clawed at his own belly just thinking about it.

Dio , Salvatore must have been desperate!

‘Look, we appreciate this is a lot to take in.’ The older man stepped forward to place a reassuring hand on Ivo’s arm but was stopped by a look from those dark, hooded eyes. ‘You’ll need time to digest and there will be questions. We are accepting your hospitality for the night, so whenever you’re ready?’

Ivo’s jaw tightened. ‘How about now?’

The older medic cleared his throat and adjusted the wire-framed spectacles perched on his nose. ‘Actually, I believe you are expected inside.’ He nodded towards the bedroom door. ‘We are here at the behest of your father’s lawyer.’

‘Rafe is here?’ Was he the last to know? Just how many people had known before he had?

‘You grandfather wishes, I believe, to sign over power of attorney to you. That is why we are here, to confirm that his mind is... That he is able to make such a decision with sound mind and without any external pressure.’

Ivo struggled to hide the devastating impact of the wave of shock that rose up inside him like swirling filthy flood water. ‘That is hardly urgent.’ Right now, his priority was learning all there was to know about what his grandfather was facing.

Knowledge was power. There was always an alternative; this wasn’t something that you meekly accepted.

It was the younger doctor who responded. ‘Can I be frank with you?’

Ivo said nothing, he just looked.

‘Right, well, tomorrow, Mr Greco,’ he said gently, ‘we might not be able to confirm that your grandfather has the mental capacity to make that decision. Time is running out, I’m afraid.’

IT WAS TWO hours before the lawyers, and Ramon who had acted as a witness, had the documents signed.

‘Well, that’s done.’

Ivo didn’t say anything.

‘So how does it feel, boy, to finally have the old man where you want him?’ Salvatore mocked.

Suddenly Ivo was angry, too angry for a moment to respond. ‘Is that what you think I am?’

‘No, it isn’t. I would be happier if you were. You’re soft, Bruno, you always were. You allow emotions to get in the way of good sense.’

Ivo’s anger dissolved as quickly as it had flashed. ‘I’m Ivo, Grandfather.’

The old man looked away. ‘What’s in a name...? I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want anyone to know, for anyone to know that Salvatore Greco is a feeble-minded dribbling idiot who needs feeding.’ His voice cracked.

Ivo turned away while his grandfather fought the tears that filled his eyes. He had never seen his grandfather cry. He was filled with a sense of helplessness he had never felt before.

‘You will not tell anyone. Swear to me, Ivo.’

Ivo turned back to face him. ‘I swear.’

‘Give me a little while longer before my enemies start celebrating. So, what is the child like?’

‘Jamie is a...nice baby.’

‘And you’re marrying the girl.’

Ivo shook his head. ‘No.’

‘I thought as much. You’re a devious devil. You get that from me. Is the baby like...his father?’

It wasn’t seeing his grandfather struggle to remember his grandson’s name, it was watching him try and disguise the fact that it felt like a body blow as a fresh stab of toxic guilt consumed him.

How could I not have seen this?

Ivo moved impulsively across the room to his grandfather’s side. ‘Grandfather—’

The old man held up his hands as though warding off danger, his lip curled in a snarl of distaste. ‘No soft stuff and sentiment. I’m not totally ga-ga yet.’

His expression blank, Ivo drew back.

‘That’s better. I think I’ll sleep. When does the boy arrive?’

‘They are already here.’

‘We will have dinner tomorrow, then.’ He gave a little chuckle and threw his grandson a knowing look. ‘Are you bedding her yet? Oh, my God, when you look down your nose at me you look just like my father. I was a major disappointment to him, you know, never good enough for him.’ His voice trailed away. ‘Too crude and vulgar.’

It was several minutes before Ivo realised he’d fallen asleep.

Ramon was waiting outside the door when he emerged. ‘He’s asleep,’ he said.

‘He tires easily.’

They exchanged a nod of understanding. Ivo took steps before the reality began to kick in; the entire empire was now his responsibility. The buck stopped with him.

* * *

The suite of rooms she had been allocated covered three floors, and had, as well as the master suite, two guest suites, a dining room, living room, kitchen, a kitchenette, a day nursery, a night nursery, lift access to the nannies’ rooms and one to the ground floor.

When asked was it suitable she gave a cheery smile and said, ‘Just like home.’

Nobody smiled at her joke but they did leave her in peace.