Page 78 of Ruthless Contract
All I wanted was to go home, take a shower, crawl into bed, and sleep until morning. I didn’t even want to dream, because sometimes that took energy. I was halfway down the walkway that connected Blossoms and Vines to my little cottage when my phone rang.
Pulling it out, I stared down at the screen. It was Nancy, one of my mother’s caregivers. My stomach dropped. Nancy wasn't just my mother's CNA. She'd been Mom's friend for years. Long before Mom's memory started slipping away. I answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Blossy. This is Nancy."
The concern in her voice instantly put me on alert.
"I hate to bother you, sweetie. I know you stopped by just this morning and had breakfast with her. But can you come by again tonight? Your mother is having a bad evening, and she keeps asking for you."
I slowed my pace.
"Of course, I can. Did someone visit her and get her riled up?" I asked, immediately wondering if Ms. Tina had stopped by.
Sometimes Mom remembered the people from her past fondly. Other times, she remembered only the bad things that happened between them. Then there were those heartbreaking times when she didn’t remember them at all.
Unfortunately, you never knew which version of history her mind would decide to grab onto. Or if you’d be written from hermind completely that day. I swallowed, trying not to get choked up as I thought of all the times she’d had no idea who I was.
"No. No one stopped by," Nancy told me. "It was a television show this time. I caught her watching it too late."
"What show was it?"
"The First Forty-Eight."
"Damn," I muttered.
Turning left, I followed the pathway around my house to the back driveway, where my car was parked.
"A young woman died on the show, and the police suspected it was a drug and trafficking ring that dumped her body. The police were saying the woman was a possible informant, and the head of the drug ring found out about it. Now Camelia is certain that something has happened to you or Kelly. And she keeps saying it's her fault."
She was remembering the incident.
My eyes drifted shut. For a second, I couldn't breathe.
Mom.
Even on her worst days. Even when she couldn't remember what she'd eaten for breakfast. Even when she forgot what year it was... she still remembered that incident. The mind was a crazy thing.
And sometimes, it was a cruel thing. Just as I thought that, the right side of my head began to ache. I took a deep breath and released it slowly, trying to focus only on what was needed of me right now.
"I'm on my way, Nancy. Let her know I’m coming to show her that I’m just fine."
"Okay. Sorry, Blossy."
"Don't apologize. I’m glad you called. She's my mom. I'll come whenever she needs me. I don't mind,” my voice cracked on those last words.
I swallowed around the lump in my throat before continuing.
"My mom has always been there for me. If she could, she'd still come when I called. Every time. No matter where I was. No questions asked. And I will always do the same for her."
Silence followed.
Then Nancy sniffled. "I'll head back and tell her you're on the way, sweetie."
"Thanks, Nancy."
The call ended as I unlocked my car door and checked the front and back seats to make sure no one was in there. It was a habit. Despite my cottage being surrounded by a gate that required a code to get in, I still checked my car for intruders.
