TWO DAYS LATER, we went to the courthouse for Gram and Nora’s scheduled hearing. I was happily surprised when things went smoothly. They both pleaded no contest, and we paid a fine and were out the door fifteen minutes later. But I noticed Gram coughing a lot. Last night at dinner I’d noticed it once or twice, but it was more frequent today and had turned into a dry hack.
“You okay?” I asked her when we emerged from the courthouse. “Maybe we should go see a doctor?”
Gram cleared her throat and shook her head. “What for? We know what’s wrong with me.”
I pursed my lips. “Because there might be something they can give you to help. I know you don’t want treatment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take some medicine to ward off an infection or something.”
Nora nodded. “Beck is right. You hav
