Risk of Falling

Will let out a puff of air. He’d hoped they’d be on the same page here, but when his mom pulled out the baby card...He nodded at Tori, letting her know she was on the right track. They were only doing what was right for Ma.

“Doctors.” Their mom shook her head. “What do they know?”

Will sat on the bed next to his mom. “They know that you need to recover from this surgery. And they know you can’t do it at home on your own.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Tori sat next to Will. “No you won’t. You’ll be out in the garden when you shouldn’t be. You’ll be going back to work too soon. And that’s why you’re going to the seniors’ home.”

“I promise I’ll be good.”

Yep, a four-year-old. He took his mom’s hand in his. “It’s not forever. Just for now.”

His mom shook her head and took her hand away from his. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. That you’re sending me to a home and forgetting me there.”

Tori pleaded, “I’ll visit you every day, Ma.”

“You just want to get rid of me.” She covered her face. “You don’t love me.”

Tori put her arms around their mom. “Don’t say that. Of course we love you.” His mom and sister burst into tears, hugging.

Frustrated, Will got up from the bed. He had to take control of this situation before they agreed to do anything his mom asked. She might be good at manipulation, but he’d learned from the best. He summoned the spirit of his father, and let the steel surrounding his heart tighten...because it was for his mother’s own good.

“That’s enough.”

Startled, his mother and sister let each other go and stared up at him. Good. He had their attention. “You’re sick, Ma. Dying even.”

Tori gasped. “Will—”

“Unless you’re willing to fight to get better.” He crouched in front of his mom. “So do you want to go home and die? Because that’s what will happen.” He used the most serious tone he could. “Or do you want to go to the seniors’ home and fight this? Be around for your kids and grandkids? Live to see your first great grandchild?”

His mom narrowed her eyes at him. Let her be angry at him. It might give her the strength she needed to beat this.

He didn’t let up on her. He clenched his fists. “You will be going into that home. You will have chemo once you’re recovered. And when the doctors clear you, you can finally go home.” He stood. “Am I clear?”

There was a pause and then Ma sighed. “You sound just like your father.”

And by that, he knew he’d won this round.

CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_bb448286-d8ef-5489-b368-68d328ff598f)

SUZY TOOK HER afternoon coffee onto the deck and surveyed the backyard. Two days had passed, and she hadn’t started the clean up. Twelve days remained. She still had trash bags to drive to the dump. Old equipment to throw out. And Daddy’s car to be donated or sold.

She leaned against the railing and winced. She needed more time. She needed at least another eight hours a day for the next week to get all of this done. And if she didn’t finish in time, she’d pay a hefty fine and might lose Mama’s house.

She’d lose everything.

She walked back into the house and surveyed the cluttered kitchen and dining room. She couldn’t remember what the kitchen table looked like any more. It had been years since she’d seen it cleared off. She might have done her homework there during her high school days, but that was before Mama covered it with plastic bags, boxes and the various stuff she’d collected.

Now that Mama was gone, it was Suzy’s problem to deal with.

She put her mug in the kitchen sink and rinsed it out. Placed it face down in the wooden dish rack, a purchase she’d made after moving back in with Mama. Just one thing she’d had to do out of a million last year after her mother called for help. Her mother had put off getting medical attention until it was too late, meaning the cancer would win. And all Mama wanted was Suzy.

Her cell phone rang from the living room. She carefully moved past the stacked bundles of old newspapers and squeezed between the refrigerator and numerous boxes filled with china.

She checked the caller ID. Presley. “Hey, girl.”

“You working tonight?”

Suzy wrinkled her nose. “Don’t remind me. It’s my sixth day, and I’m ready for a day off. But Candice is on vacation, so...”

“When are we going to have a girls’ night out?”

“Soon.” She mentally reviewed her calendar. “Sunday night?”

Presley groaned. “I’ve got an early Monday. When’s your next day off?”

“Tuesday. As long as nothing else comes up.” Suzy loved her job. Usually. But these crazy hours robbed her of a social life. “And we don’t have to go crazy. Even a pizza in front of the TV sounds fabulous.”

“Pizza and TV. You got it.” Presley covered the phone, muting her conversation on the other end. Then her voice came back. “Gotta go. Vet emergency. I’ll call you.”

Then she was gone.

Suzy sat on the couch and rested her head. Okay. Time to get organized. Make some lists. She looked around the living room. Mama had to have a notebook and pen around here somewhere, right?

After searching several boxes and piles, she gave up. She’d get those from the drugstore in town. A walk would do her good. Get her out. Clear her mind. Give her a moment to collect herself. And then she could come up with a plan.

She didn’t bother locking the front door. Just grabbed her wristlet purse and left. The town hadn’t had a problem with crime in years. Plus, if they wanted to rob Mama’s house, it might make things easier on her in the end.

She took a can of cat food from her jacket pocket and used the ring to pull back the top. It was easy to find the empty dish at the end of Mr. Fletcher’s deck—where it always was—and she emptied the food onto it. She called out to Snowflake, but didn’t hear an answering meow. Maybe the cat was napping in the house and would eat later. She then left her neighbor’s yard and walked down the driveway and on towards town.

The walk took less than ten minutes, but it felt good to be outside with the sun on her back. To be free from the house and its issues. To leave her grief behind for just a moment.

She passed by the elementary school where kids played on the swings and chased each other. One of the playground monitors waved to Suzy then approached her. “I’ve been meaning to stop by and see how you’re doing.”

Mrs. Drayton had been a friend of Mama’s as long as Suzy could remember. She shrugged. “I’m okay.” Mrs. Drayton peered at her, and Suzy was tempted to squirm a little. Okay, a lot. “Really. I’m fine.”

“When I lost my mother, I stayed in bed for weeks.”

Suzy hadn’t been given that choice. “It’s been six months.”

Mrs. Drayton nodded. “Call me if you need anything, sweetie. Anything.”

“I appreciate that.”

A scream from the slide got Mrs. Drayton’s attention, and she excused herself to take care of a crying child.

Suzy could appreciate the concern that people had for her, but she was okay. Usually. She’d discovered how strong she was after spending months bathing and feeding Mama. Doing things for her that no daughter should be expected to. But she’d done it with a smile because that’s what Mama had needed. And being needed had felt good.