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“It’s important that my program be cutting-edge.”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “Or you’re just a bit of a control freak.”
He grinned. “And maybe a little bit of that as well.”
* * *
An hour and a half later they were walking into Shorecliffs House.
“This looks nice,” Gabe said as he held the front door open for her.
“It is, but I still hate that Mom can’t take care of herself anymore and, worse, that I can’t do it either.”
Gabe’s arm came around her and pulled her into a quick hug before dropping away.
“You’re doing the best you can for your mother. She knows you love her.”
Zoe wished his hug had lasted longer as she held back tears. “I hope so.”
They walked down the long hall and took the first right, stopping in front of a door on the left. Zoe knocked. Pushing it open with some trepidation about what she would find, she was pleasantly surprised. Her mother sat in a cushioned chair near the window. A book lay on her lap. Zoe’s heart lifted. Her mother had always loved reading, but Zoe hadn’t seen her pick up a book in months. Even if she wasn’t reading, at least she’d thought to try. “Hi, Mom.”
Her mother looked up. A smile came across her face. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Relief washed over Zoe. Today her mother recognized her. The doctors had told Zoe there would be times when her mom would know her and then her memory would fade again.
“How’re you?” Her mother was having a good day.
Zoe smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m doing fine.” She sank into a nearby straight chair.
Her mother looked to where Gabe stood. “You brought someone with you.”
“Hello, Mrs. Avery. It’s nice to see you again,” Gabe said as he stepped forward.
Her mother gave him a blank look but soon the brightness of recognition filled her eyes. “I know you. You brought chicken.”
“That’s right.” Gabe sat on the edge of the bed. “How do you like your new place? It’s nice, and your daughter has done a lovely job of furnishing it.”
“I want to go home,” she said earnestly.
Zoe’s chest tightened. She hated hearing those words. Gabe reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. She appreciated the support. It was good of him to notice her distress. “I know, Mom, but right now this is the best place for you.”
“Can I go home?”
“Mrs. Avery, do you dance?” Gabe asked.
That was an odd question. Zoe was thankful for his timely redirection of her mother’s thoughts, but was perplexed by the new topic of conversation he’d chosen.
“Dance?” her mother asked in a tone Zoe hadn’t heard in a long time.
“I noticed on the activity board on our way down the hall that there’s a dance on Saturday night. I was wondering if you were going.” Gabe leaned forward as if greatly interested in her answer.
Her mother actually blushed. Zoe couldn’t help but smile.
“I don’t know.”
“I bet there are a number of men who would like to dance with you,” Zoe said to further encourage her. “I also saw that they have game day, music and people coming in to sing.”
Her mother gave her a bleak look. Zoe had lost her again. She forged forward. “We’re on our way to buy some furniture.”
“Furniture?” her mom said.
“Yes. For my patio,” Gabe answered.
“He wants me to help him pick it out.” Zoe watched closely, hoping her mom would come out of the place she’d disappeared to.
Her mother looked down at her book.
Together they struggled to converse with her mother for the next fifteen minutes. Her memory came and went all the while. When Zoe became frustrated, Gabe stepped in. She admired his patience. More than once her mom had asked what his name was and each time he’d clearly and calmly told her. Finally, her mother showed signs of frustration.
With a heavy heart, Zoe said, “Mom, it’s time for us to go.” She kissed her mother’s soft cheek, straightened, hoping her mom would say goodbye. All she got was a vaguely puzzled smile. Gabe followed her out of the room, softly closing the door behind him.
As they walked down the hall on their way out, he took her hand. “I know how increasingly difficult visiting her is for you.”
Zoe blinked back tears. “It is. I hate that she’s losing her memory in general, but I know soon it will be to the point that she’ll stop recognizing me altogether.” She laid her hand over her middle. “She’ll never really know her grandchild. The baby won’t know her.”
“Then you’ll just have to make a special point to tell him or her about your mother.” Gabe stepped ahead of her and held open the front door.
“You make it sound so easy.” Zoe stepped past him.
“Never said that. My mom never talked about my father much. I wished she had. I don’t feel like I know him.”
She had a father who had decided he didn’t want her. Zoe wasn’t sure which was worse—never having a father to begin with, or having one who didn’t want you. “My father left us when I was ten. He went to work one day and didn’t return.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been awful.”
Her chest tightened. “It was bad but at least I had him for a little while. The worst is knowing it was that easy to walk away from us.”
“Sounds like both of us might have father issues. Not a great thing to have in common, but something.” There was sadness in his voice.
“I guess you’re right.” She looked at him. “Thanks for coming with me.” Somehow Gabe’s supportive presence had made it easier. She was starting to depend on him. That mistake she had to constantly guard against. He hadn’t made any promises to her. He could be gone just as easily as her father, but Gabe was there for her right now.
“You’re welcome,” he was saying. “I’m glad to see your mom has a quality place to live. You’re doing the right thing.”
“Then why do I feel so rotten about it?”
Gabe stopped her. Waited until she looked at him before he said, “Because you can’t do anything to make the situation better.”
She nodded. “I guess.”
They arrived at the car.
“So where should we go for this furniture? You’re the person who knows the area.” Gabe unlocked the doors.
After a minute Zoe answered, “I guess Abrams Furniture is the best place to start. It’s the biggest furniture store in the area. Turn left out of the parking lot.”
Thirty minutes later, Gabe parked in front of the entrance to the large building with windows showcasing furniture for many different rooms of a house. Gabe held the glass door open for Zoe to enter.
They were quickly greeted by a middle-aged woman. “Hello. What may I show you today?”
Gabe smiled. “We’d like to look at patio furniture.”
The lady was quick to return his smile. “Come this way. I’m sure we have something you’ll like.”
They followed her along a path leading through groupings of sofas and chairs, then dining-room suites, toward the back of the store. The smell of new furniture and polished wood was nearly overpowering. Along the way they passed the nursery section. Before Zoe was the most perfect white crib. Beside it stood a matching chest of drawers, changing table and even a rocker.
She stopped, unable to resist running her fingers along the top of one side of the crib. The image of pastel ruffled drapes on the windows as the sun beamed in filled her mind. A white rocker sat nearby. When she had her own place this would be what she’d like to have for the baby. She was so mesmerized by the pictures in her head, she had to hurry to catch up with Gabe. He waited by a door leading to the outside.
“Did you find something you like?” he asked
as she walked by him.
Zoe shook her head. He was already more involved in her life than she had intended to allow. She wasn’t going to open her heart to another man who didn’t share her dream of commitment and marriage. Heart still healing from her failed relationship with her ex, she certainly wouldn’t repeat it when she already knew how Gabe felt.
The woman was waiting for them in the middle of the large covered area. There were all kinds of chairs and tables suitable for outdoor use. Some had metal frames while others were made of wicker. Many appeared nice enough for inside use. There were numerous cushions, in every color choice, both in floral prints and plain fabric. The space was almost overwhelming.
“What do you think would be best on the patio?” Gabe asked her.
“Oh, I don’t know. There’s so much here. Let me look around some.” She shouldn’t be making these types of decisions with him. She wouldn’t be staying at his home long. Furniture implied longevity, and that she wouldn’t have.
Gabe walked around from one grouping to another. She joined him, making her own path through the jumble.
She wasn’t sure what was best for him, but she did know what she liked. “I prefer the wicker look.”
“Then that’s what we should look at,” he said as if pleased.
