AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Carolina grabbed a bottle of protein drink for her mother and poured a large glass of water with ice for Sage.
“Here you go.” She handed the bottle to Mamá.
“I hate that.” She pushed it away. “It tastes awful.”
Carolina’s fingers tensed around the glass she’d brought out for Sage. “Dr. Laster wants you to drink it.”
“I don’t want it.” Mamá sounded like an ill-behaved child.
“Mamá, please.”
Her mother crossed her arms, refusing to take the bottle. “I want…champagne.”
“Who doesn’t? We don’t have any bottles in the house.” And she wouldn’t leave her mother alone.
“You’re father always brought me champagne.” Mamá stuck her feet on the wicker ottoman. “I’m cold. Can you bring me a throw?”
“Sure.” She went outside and handed Sage the glass.
“You all right?” he whispered.
She nodded. “I… I don’t want her to be like this. I’m sure it’s the tumors talking, but…” She wanted her to be the mother she’d imagined. Not the selfish woman always focused on her own needs and not her daughter’s.
“Hang in there.” Sage brushed her cheek. “I want to finish the railing and then, if you have things to do, I’ll sit with her.”
“I thought I would make dinner.”
“You go do that.”
“I’m cold,” her mother called.
Sage gave her a small smile. “I guess you’d better get her a blanket.”
Carolina left, grabbed a soft throw from the sofa, returned and spread it on her mother’s legs. “How’s that?”
“Finally.”
“What would you like for dinner?” She ignored the bite in Mamá’s voice.
“Fish. I want fish that Poppy caught and brought home for me.”
Fish? Carolina hadn’t bought any fish. She wanted to give up. But that wouldn’t feed her mother. Guess she’d have to go the market.
A car pulled into the left-hand drive. Both she and Sage watched a tall woman climb out. Mamá stroked the fringe on the throw. Up and down. Up and down.
Oh, God. Don’t let her have a seizure.
She knelt and clasped her mother’s hand. “Mamá, are you okay?”
“Of course.”
The woman came up the steps. “Hello.”
Sage nodded.
“Rosa?” the woman asked.
It was one of the hospice nurses they’d met in the hospital. Carolina couldn’t remember her name. “Hi. Come in.”
“What a lovely screened-in porch.” The nurse stepped inside. “We met a couple of days ago. I’m Tania Brown.”
“Hi, Tania.” Carolina held out her hand. “Mamá, say hello.”
Mamá looked up. “I’ve got a handsome man painting my house. I wish he would take off his shirt.”
Sage’s head jerked at Mamá’s loud comment.
Tania winked at Carolina and thankfully ignored Mamá comment. “Did the equipment arrive?”
“Yes, the bed and lounge chair are here.”
Tania looked at the steps up from the drive. “Rosa, did you have any trouble getting up the steps?”
Her mother waved away the question.
“Sage and I helped her,” Carolina said.
“I didn’t realize that would be such a barrier for mobility.” Tania made a note on an iPad. “How are you feeling?”
Her mother didn’t answer.
“Any pain?”
Mamá shrugged.
“I’m here to help, but you need to tell me how you’re feeling.”
Mamá stared at Sage. And it went that way for the remainder of Tania’s visit.
Carolina swallowed her tears. This was her life now. It had been foolish to think bringing her mother home would stop the progress of Mamá’s cancer.
Tania took it in stride. “Here’s my card. It’s got my cell phone number on it.” She held Carolina’s gaze. “Even if I’m not on call, call me—for anything.”
“Thank you.”
“My partner, Debbie, will be out tomorrow to visit you, Rosa.”
Carolina walked Tania to her car.
“Debbie will spend the afternoon with your mother. Feel free to leave and run errands.” Tania touched her shoulder. “How’re you holding up?”
She could lie and say she was fine, but she wouldn’t. There’d been too many lies in her life. “It’s hard.”
Tania gave her arm a squeeze. “I want to make sure you know, it’s not a good idea to leave your mother alone.”
“I know.” Carolina sighed.
