“I feel the same about you.” I cleared the counter of the breakfast dishes. “Elise will be here tomorrow. Justus is coming Monday. And I think Harper said next week too. Until then, I’ll be here with you and Julia.”
When we’d received the news about Julia, I was the only one who could comeandstay. My siblings had all visited at different times, but they had obligations at home, jobs that required them to be there, families to attend to. Harper was single, but he was a physician. His patients needed him.
“Harper is coming tonight, actually,” Mom said. “His assistant rescheduled his clinics for the week so he could be here.”
“That’s good,” I told her. “He loves Julia so much.”
Of all of us, Harper had the closest relationship with Julia. They’d bonded immediately, which had surprised all of us because my oldest brother had never been easy to connect with. He’d made it a point to fly to Michigan every month after Julia’s initial diagnosis and conferenced with her doctors from Atlanta. He’d never shared that with us, though. I just happened to overhear a conversation he’d had with Julia about an event they’d attended during one of his many visits. The fact that Harper was arriving earlier than planned, told me that my brother thought it wouldn’t be long.
Mom sighed and dropped her gaze. She ran her thumb over the edge of the countertop. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said softly. “He wouldn’t change his travel plans if…”
I squeezed her hand. “Don’t say it. Let’s just enjoy her while she’s here.” I brushed a tear from her cheek. “I’ll fix her something light to eat in case she’s hungry. Take your time in the bathtub.”
Once Mom left the room, I finally let the tears fall. It wasn’t the first time I’d cried that day, and I suspected it wouldn’t be the last. The more time that passed, the weaker Julia became. She barely ate anymore and didn’t talk as much as she had even a few days ago. No matter how many times I’d told myself that things could turn around, my heart knew better. And I hated it.
Several minutes later, I carried a tray with cottage cheese and peaches, a banana, and her favorite tea to her room. “Mama J,” I called as I entered the dark room. “I brought you something to eat.”
Julia opened her eyes and smiled. “Hey, Pretty.”
“Good morning.” I set the tray down and flicked on the bedside lamp. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“But you have to eat.” I shifted her and raised the head of the mechanical bed up. Once Julia was released home to hospice care, they’d had to move her into the guest room on the main level of their two-story home because she required so much equipment and because she could no longer walk. And even though they couldn’t share the same room anymore, Mom moved her favorite recliner in the room so she could sleep near her wife. “I can help you.” I spread a napkin out. “Just a few bites?”
“No, Pretty.” Julia met my gaze. “No need.”
I swallowed past the lump that formed in my throat. “Okay,” I rasped. “Maybe you’ll feel like eating in a little bit.”
“Ice cream?”
“Is that what you want?” We’d all decided that Julia could have whatever she wanted, even if it wasn’t the healthy choice. “I can bring you Cold Stone?”
She beamed. “That sounds wonderful. For dinner.” She reached out to me, and I took her hand. “Have a seat.”
I sat down on the recliner and turned on the television. “What do you want to watch today? A Western? Hawaii 5-0?”
“Pride and Prejudice,”she answered.
I must’ve watched all adaptations of the Jane Austen classic fifty times since I’d been there. She loved old movies, but this one made her especially happy. “Sure. Which version?”
“The latest one.”
“Gotcha.” It didn’t take long to find that version since it had been saved to the DVR for easy access.
We sat in silence watching the movie for several minutes before she squeezed my hand to get my attention. I jumped up. “Are you in pain?”
“I’m fine, Pretty. Sit down. Let’s talk.”
I did as I was told. “Okay.”
“I love you so much, Charlye.” Hearing her say my real name was jarring. She’d called mePrettyfrom the moment I’d met her, even though I’d acted so ugly toward her. When Mom introduced us all those years ago, I’d childishly refused to accept Julia. Not because she was a woman, but because she wasn’t my dad. The woman lying beside me, though, never gave up. She swore to me then that she would win me over, and it didn’t take long before she’d done just that. Now, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. Shewasmy mother too.
“I love you too,” I whispered through my tears, because I knew this would probably be my last chance to tell her everything I wanted her to know. “I’m so sorry if you ever thought I didn’t.”
“Never.” She shot me a watery smile. “I always knew.”
“Thank you for making my mother so happy.”
