“Mom, be careful.” He helped her sit upright. “Take your time.”
“This shit hurts,” she grumbled. “I thought I was leaving here. I’m so glad I had the window open. Dort heard me screaming.”
Andrew sent up a prayer of thanks for Mrs. Fulton. His former teacher had been a thorn in their sides growing up, reporting every misdeed to their hardworking mother. He’d often caught her snooping out her window, watching them talk to neighborhood girls or lighting firecrackers in the street. He’d been punished many times because of Mrs. Fulton. But this time, the older woman’s nosey ways had paid off.
“I’m glad she heard you.” He brushed his mother’s salt-and-pepper hair off her forehead.
“She didn’t fool me, though. I had some company over earlier and she was probably eavesdropping like she always does.”
Andrew laughed. “I wouldn’t doubt it.”
“But I’m glad.” She let out a heavy sigh and burrowed into the pillow. “Did you see that cute nurse I have? I told her about you.”
He shook his head. “Why are you telling a stranger about me and you’re in pain?”
“I’m always your mother—even when I’m in pain.”
“Mom, you have to stop trying to hook me up. I need you to focus on getting better.”
“Don’t tell me what to do. That nurse is a cutie-pie. I worked with her dad at the plant. She has a good head on her shoulders, a good education. Perfect for you.”
Now wasn’t the time to argue with his mother, so he changed the subject. “Have they told you when they can do surgery?”
“Today or tomorrow.” She winced.
“It’s a good thing you decided to retire.”
“I wanted to have fun when I retired.” She pointed at the remote on her belly. “Can you push that button? I need the nurse to come in here.”
Andrew did as he was told. “What’s wrong?”
“I need pain medicine. Now.”
It took a few minutes for the nurse to come into the room. “Hi, Mrs. Weathers.”
“Ms. Weathers,” his mother corrected.
The nurse smiled. “Sorry.” She turned off the nurse alert. “What can I do for you?”
“She’s in pain,” Andrew told the nurse. “Can you give her something?”
“Don’t be so rude, Drew,” his mother told him. “Ariane, this is my son.”
Andrew narrowed his eyes on his mother before turning to the nurse. He smiled. “Hi, I’m Drew.”
Ariane smiled. “Hello. Your mother told me all about you.”
He stared at his mother while answering Ariane. “I heard.”
Sighing, Ariane said, “Ms. Weathers, I’ll ask the doctor about more pain meds.” The nurse took his mother’s pulse, then started the blood pressure machine. Once she was done, she announced, “Good. One twenty over seventy-six.”
“That’s good, Mom,” he said, while the nurse typed notes into the computer.
A few minutes later, Ariane told them she’d be back and left the room. When he met his mother’s gaze again, she was giving him “the look.” The same one she’d given him so many times before, a mixture of disappointment and admonishment.
Andrew sat down on the chair next to his mother’s bed. “What, Mom?”
“I wish you’d be nicer. Isn’t she beautiful?”
