Her mind wandered back to yesterday's ER visit. "You'll never believe what happened yesterday," she told her cats. "In the ER, I met this absolutely fascinating woman named Jacinth. She appeared out of nowhere while I was lying there in pain."
Mozart squirmed cutely and rolled over, exposing his furry tummy, only the very tip of his tail swishing as he begged for tummy rubs. Amused, she complied. Having moved from his previous spot to her desk, Bach was doing an excellent impersonation of a sphinx, blinking at her seraphically while she told them all about yesterday.
"She wore this gorgeous outfit, it looked like it was pure silk, it had that special sheen, you know? And she gave me this."
She held up the pendant for her cats to inspect. Predictably, Bach gave a huge yawn, as if he couldn't be bothered. Mozart's green eyes followed the movement, his tail twitching.
"No playing with this one, mister. It's far too precious." She tucked the pendant beneath her shirt, letting it rest against her skin, safe from claws and paws. "Though I still can't believe she gave it to me. Who gives expensive jewelry like this to a complete stranger?"
The opening notes of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" blasted from her phone, where it lay on the side table next to herrecliner. Mozart shot her an offended look before hopping down to find a quieter spot.
Mandy's heart lifted at her daughter's ringtone. She picked up the phone and swiped the smooth surface, already smiling.
"Hi sweetie!"
"Mom! I was getting worried when you didn't answer my text last night." Sabrina's voice held a note of concern beneath its usual cheerful tone.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry." Mandy shifted position carefully, adjusting her stupid knee into a different position, hoping to get more comfortable. "I had a rough day yesterday. I ended up in the ER, then fell asleep as soon as I got home."
"What?" Sabrina's voice rose sharply. "Why didn't you call me?"
"Because I knew you'd worry, and there wasn't anything you could do from there." Mandy kept her tone light. "My back seized up - you know how it does. But I'm fine now. They gave me a shot of something wonderful in the ER, and I slept from the time I got home til straight through this afternoon."
"Mom." Sabrina's exasperated sigh carried clearly through the phone. "You're supposed to tell me these things. That's what daughters are for."
"To worry unnecessarily?"
"To support their stubborn mothers who don't know when to ask for help."
"I did ask for help." Mandy chuckled. "I called 911 like a responsible adult."
"That's... actually not reassuring." Sabrina's voice softened. "But you're really okay now?"
"I'm really okay. Back to what's normal for me, anyway."
Mozart chose that moment to hop back into her lap, demanding attention. His loud purr carried through the phone.
"At least the boys are taking care of you." Sabrina laughed. "Give them extra pets from their favorite human sister."
"You goofball! You're their only sister, human or otherwise." Mandy scratched under Mozart's chin, making his purr grow louder. "And they're always well taken care of, you know that."
"I do. But I still worry about you being alone out there."
"It's hardly the Wild West. And besides, I'm not alone. I have my furry nurses." Mandy smiled as Bach leaped down from the desk and joined them, curling up against her hip. "And I'm managing just fine."
"So how's everyone doing up there?" Mandy settled deeper into her recliner, fingers absently stroking Bach's soft fur. "I miss my grandbabies."
"Oh! I meant to tell you - Julie just got promoted at work!" Pride rang through Sabrina's voice. "She's happy as a pig in slop at that accounting firm. They moved her up to senior accountant last week."
"Accounting." Mandy echoed, and shook her head in wonder. "Are we absolutely sure she's related to me? I can barely balance my checkbook."
Sabrina snickered. "Yes, I know. Oh! And you'll never believe what Kyle did last week. That boy of mine got it into his head that he wants to be a rodeo star." Sabrina's exasperation carried clearly through the phone. "He was out in the pasture trying to ride Goldie."
"Goldie? Your best milk cow? The one that you sent pictures of with the blue ribbons from the county fair?"
"The very same. There he was, hanging onto her neck, whooping like a cowboy in some old Western, while she's just standing there."
"Oh no." Mandy could picture it all too clearly - her seventeen-year-old grandson perched precariously on the confused dairy cow.
