“What on earth?Is that for me?” Mom asks when she sees me carrying in her new Echo Show.
“Yep. Just like I told you yesterday,” I say, hoping to remind her about our conversation about me leaving. To be with Iris. In two days.
It’s been a week since I made the decision. Four days since Paula and her sister decided to buy the tiny house from me so they can hire a caretaker for their property. One day since I bought my plane ticket.
But it’s round trip. Just in case.
“Do you know where I’m going?” I ask, watching Mom’s expression as I set the box down.
“Yes,” she says, smiling. She doesn’t look embarrassed or rattled. Maybe she really does remember. “You’re going to be with… to be with…”
I smile back. “With Iris.”
Mom’s smile grows, and she nods quickly. “Yes, Iris. I just couldn’t think of her name.” She touches her right temple. “Iris. The movie star.”
I laugh. She really does remember. “Yeah, the movie star.”
She points to the Echo Show. “Is that a little… a little…” She searches for the word before pointing to her television.
“A TV?” I offer. She nods. “It’s more like a phone.”
“Oh.” She looks surprised and unsure.
“Yep. You can tell it to call me, and it’ll call me.” I watch her for any signs of overwhelm. This might be asking too much. After researching all of the options, this one seemed to be the most straightforward, especially with the drop-in feature that’ll let us video call her without her needing to answer. I’ve set it up on her coffee table, aiming at her little settee, so the camera is pointed away from her bed and bathroom to preserve her privacy.
Calling us might not be something she can manage on her own, but the executive director said the staff could help her to place calls if she has trouble.
Twenty minutes later, I have the device set up and linked with an account I’ve created for her. I’ve entered all of the contacts she’ll need: Me, Val, Val’s husband Will,Nonc,and Lorraine.
“Come see, Mom,” I say, calling her over.
With graceful steps, she crosses the room, a light smile on her lips as she takes in the bright screen.
“Look at that,” she says, a little awed. “It’s a little TV.”
“It’s a video phone, Mom.”
Her eyes widen in wonder. “How’s that?”
I lean closer and whisper in her ear. “Tell it to call David.”
She eyes me with disbelief, but Mom has always been one to play along. “Call David,” she says to the device.
The screen responds, flashing my uncle’s name and then a female voice says, “Calling David.”
Startled, Mom steps back as the Echo rings just like a phone. But it just rings once beforeNonc’sface fills the screen.
Mom gasps.
Noncgrins. “Hey, Gina.”
Mom covers her mouth, but I can see she’s smiling. She drops her hand. “Hi David. I can see you.”
Noncchuckles. “I can see you too. And this is how you’ll be able to see Beau when he moves.”
Mom looks at me. “Will I be able to see her, too...the one...the one…?”
I nod. “Iris. She’s the one,” I say.
