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Grinning, I took it from her, and helped her sit up while everyone on the porch chuckled, watching us. “Now, I need to catch my breath,” she sighed, fanning herself.
“I didn’t want to pull out my secret weapon, but you left me no choice, Mother,” I teased and she smiled, eyes brilliant with joy… until they fell on my chest.
“What happened?” Glancing down, I noticed that with our wrestling, the chain holding the Dragon ring had slipped out, and the golden band now hung over my shirt.
“Where did you get that?” she asked, startled, dread replacing the light that had embraced her a second ago. “Who gave you that ring, Braxton?” Mom asked, concern capturing her expression.
“Um, it was Evie’s but she gave it to me. Why?”
Blinking, she looked out onto the flower garden. A pensive look crossed her features and she became silent, like she was processing what she had just learned.
“Honey, is everything okay?”
Taking a deep breath, my mom turned to look at Grace. “I’m fine, just thirsty from all the laughing.” She clutched her throat. “My throat is suddenly scratchy. Can I have some water, please?”
“Of course.”
Grace reached for a water bottle on the small table between them, and opened it, handing it to her. As my mom lifted it to her mouth, her grip wavered, and the bottle crashed on the tile floor, spilling all over it.
“I’m so sorry,” Mom offered, mortified while I picked up the bottle.
“Don’t worry,” her nurse assured. “I’ll go get her a new one. Be right back.”
Nodding, I sat down next to Mom again, dropping a few napkins on the floor to take care of the spill. The moment we were alone, Mom’s hands gripped my face, forcing me to look at her.
“Listen to me, baby. When Evanna comes back, you go with her. Do you understand?”
“What?” Her words stunned me for a moment. How did she know Evie’s full name? Or that she was gone? I hadn’t told her anything about it.
“This is not the time for uncertainty, Braxton,” she scolded. “I’m sorry there was no time to tell you what you needed to know.” Regret and sadness colored her words. “But there isn’t time now either. If the ring made its way to you, it’s too late to turn back.”
“Mom, what are you talking about?” I held her arms, worry tearing through me. Was this another one of her episodes? “Let’s count things in the present,” I suggested, glancing around us to a family that was visiting. “The red jacket, the kids, the plane,” I offered when the sound of the seaplane flying over the bay echoed in the distance.
“Baby, listen to me!” she begged. “It’s not your father she needs. It’s you. She came here looking for you. When she comes back, and she will come back, you must believe her and go with her.” When her gaze dropped to my chest, she yanked the chain, breaking it, and handed me the ring. “Put it on and you will understand. Put talisman on, Braxton.”
The urgency in her eyes worried me. Her words perplexed me, but I ignored it all. “The red jacket, the kids, the plane,” I repeated calmly, nodding for her to say it with me. “The red jacket, the kids, the plane.”
“Is everything okay?” Grace asked, finding us again.
“The red jacket, the kids, the plane,” my mom repeated, and kissed my cheek, then rested back on the bench, chanting the words again and again. “I’m fine,” she finally assured her nurse. “I’m just tired, can we go back to my room, please? I want to take a nap.”
Grace looked at me, but I nodded. “Yeah, she was just confused for a moment, but the exercise helped.”
Sighing in relief, Grace smiled and handed the new water bottle to my mom. “I’m glad it’s working for her.”
“Me too.”
“Bye, baby.”
Mom reached for me, silently calling me for a hug and I eagerly wrapped my arms around her, squeezing her again. The warmth and love in her embrace captured my soul, and even if for a moment, I felt like a child again—when Dad was still with us, and she was well… When we were happy.
Leaning back enough to look into my eyes, Mom observed me for a few moments, a look of utter bliss and accomplishment capturing her face. “I’m so proud of the man you have become, Brax, and I know your Dad is too. You have surpassed all we ever thought you could be.” Her fingers gently caressed my cheek, pleased by what she saw in me. “I love you so much, baby. Thank you for being such an amazing son.”
Mom hugged me again, this time with such fierce emotion that it engulfed my being. My arms tightened around her, cherishing such a special moment between us. It had been so long since one of my visits ended on a good note. It gave me peace, and I sensed that for the first time in a long time, she felt peace too.
“Remember, when Evie comes back, go with her. You are all that’s left,” she whispered in my ear and kissed my cheek, pulling away.
Speechless, I watched the male nurse nearby carry my mom onto her wheelchair, rolling her into the building. The next second, my father’s last words mimicked my mother’s in my mind.
“Get him out of here. Save him! He’s all that’s left...”
