When Ruby’s daughter Cindy started talking about her grandmother’s “friend” named William, Ruby assumed it was someone familiar. But when Cindy mentioned that this friend was named after Ruby’s father—who had passed away—everything changed.
Growing up, my family was close-knit. As an only child, I had a strong bond with my parents. They never missed a single field hockey game or parent-teacher meeting, and their support continued well into my college years. Every few weeks, they’d visit, and my mom would always bring homemade meals.
But when my father passed away, things shifted dramatically.
Now, I have my own family—a loving husband, and our six-year-old daughter, Cindy. Since Dad’s death, my mom hasn’t been the same. She was once a vibrant, free-spirited woman, full of creativity and life. But on the day we buried my father, something inside her dimmed. She became quieter, more reserved, and seemed to cling to Cindy more than ever.
My mom often picks up Cindy for little adventures, and while they usually have a good time, I recently noticed that when she drops Cindy off, my daughter seems upset. She cries and avoids her grandmother, which had me worried, though I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
One day, during our usual bonding time—baking together—I decided to gently ask Cindy about it.
“Sweetie, why do you cry when grandma brings you home? Did something happen?” I asked as we mixed the ingredients.
Cindy hesitated, then said, “It’s because of grandma’s friend. He’s always around.”
“What friend?” I asked, surprised. “Grandma doesn’t usually have anyone with her except you.”
Cindy smiled slightly as she recalled a fun memory. “But Grandma always asks me to say hello to William before we eat. Who is William, Mommy?”
The name hit me like a shockwave. William was my father’s name.
I stayed calm, not wanting to alarm her. “Oh, honey, that’s okay. Let’s finish these cupcakes.”
The next day, after leaving Cindy and my husband Dean to enjoy their movie marathon, I went over to my mom’s house. We needed to talk.
When I brought up Cindy’s mention of William, my mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry, Ruby,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to scare Cindy.”
“Scare her? What’s going on, Mom?”
She took my hand, her voice trembling. “I still feel your father’s presence. It started as a way to cope with the loneliness, and I guess I talk about him sometimes, even in front of Cindy. I didn’t realize it would confuse or frighten her.”
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