She sent me a picture of them on her feet.
BROOKE
I love it, Cade.
You always put my Comfeet first
I smiled a cheesy grin at my phone.
CADE
Merry Christmas, B
BROOKE
Merry Christmas
18
BROOKE
Fun Fact #44: “Roman Emperor Julius Caesar officially established January 1 as the start of the new year in 46 B.C. to honor Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions.”
New Year, New Brooke.
I knew it sounded trite, but after the drama of my past year, I was more than ready to turn over a new leaf.
My covered sessions with Cheryl had passed, so now I was checking in with her once a month.
One of my biggest resolutions was to get back in touch with my mom. I called her one day when I was off.
“Hi, sweetie,” she answered. “This is a pleasant surprise. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to check in. How are things with you?”
“Well, mostly good. Work is well, work. Normal things happening there. I broke my wrist last month,” she finished, as if it was a side note.
“Mom! Why didn’t you tell me?”What was up with the older generation throwing out major life news like it was a casual update?
“Well, I didn’t want to disrupt your life, Brooke.” She spoke matter-of-factly.
“This is definitely something worth updating me on, Mom.” I tried to keep the eye roll out of my voice. “How did it happen?”
“Well it was the silliest thing, really—I was just carrying in a big load of groceries from the car, and I guess I put too much weight on my wrist. I felt so silly. I am glad you called, though, because I’ve been meaning to reach out. The doctors were concerned with the break, so they ran some tests.”
“Okay—what kind of tests? Mom, are you alright?” Concern leached from my voice.
“I am, I promise hon. It turns out—I have osteoarthritis.”
I was stunned silent for a moment. My mom had always seemed so impervious to injury or illness. She was probably one of the healthiest people I’d known. She liked to joke that her family “came from sturdy stock.” It might have been shortsighted on my part, but I never really expected her to face any health issues. Certainly not at this age.
“So,” she went on through the phone, “the doctor asked me if I had any family history, and I’m sure she meant parents, grandparents, that sort of thing, but of course my mind went to you.”
“Yeah... how are you dealing with it, Mom? Are you following all the doctor’s suggestions?” I instantly went into nurse-mode. My mother was nothing if not stubborn.
“I am, I am, trust me. It’s the worst in the morning. I wake up so stiff and... Honey, I’m just so sorry.” It sounded like her voice had clogged with emotion, as if she was on the verge of tears.
“What?” I blurted out. “Why are you sorry?”
