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I giggle. “I’m shocked you could tell it’s me.”
“I’d know those beautiful blue eyes anywhere.”
“Hi, Jasmine.” Broadie pops over beside me.
“Is that?” Her mouth falls ajar. “Is that you in there, Dr. Weston?”
“You’re good.” He chuckles. “We know you guys are on quarantine. But Poppy, my girls, and I wanted to do something to cheer up the folks here. We’ve taken every precaution. I called ahead and got everything cleared with Ms. Moses, the facility manager.”
“Oh, that’s right. She said someone might be dropping by to bring some gifts to the residents, but I wasn’t expecting all of this.”
“Have they started serving lunch yet?” Broadie asks.
Looking at her watch, she says, “That should begin shortly.”
“Would you mind asking the dietary manager if there’s any chance I could speak with them before they start? We’d like to coordinate our deliveries with theirs.”
I turn to look at him, shocked by how much thought he’s put into this. And in only a few short hours. Is there nothing he can’t do?
“I’ll call them right now.”
An hour later, we’re huffing and puffing inside our protective garb. We’ve run all over this place, looking like some psychedelic children’s cartoon, or perhaps this is what it’s like if someone gets high, I suppose. I’ll stick to Broadie Weston as my drug of choice. We’ve managed to ensure each resident received a small gift of cheer alongside their lunch. The joy I witnessed today was every bit as infectious as the flu we were trying so hard to protect everyone from.
“Just two left.” Broadie winks.
My grin is instantaneous.
“You coming, girls? We’ve got two sassy ladies for you to meet.”
As we enter Mom’s room carrying balloons, daisies, and little gift bags, I have to prevent my tears of joy from spilling. It’s only been a week since I’ve seen her, but knowing she’s been in harm’s way must have weighed more heavily on me than I realized.
Coming closer, I place them next to her lunch tray and bend down, hoping she’ll be able to see my face clearly through the mask and shield.
“Poppy? Is that you?” she shouts.
“Yes.”
“You look like a big banana!”
The girls behind me start to crack up.
“I do?”
Broadie walks over to Agnes carrying a bright turquoise gift bag with ‘I’d be blue too if I had the flu’ inscribed in black ink.
“And if it isn’t, Dr. Weston!” Agnes announces.
“Oh my gosh, Agnes. How on earth did you recognize him in all of that?” I ask, baffled.
“I’d know that man anywhere. A body like that can’t be hidden under a yellow gown.”
Lauren and Lilly are beside themselves in the doorway.
“Mom, these are Broadie’s daughters, Lauren and Lilly.”
“You two need to promise to come back when I can see your pretty faces!” she yells.
“Yes, ma’am.”
