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I waited, too afraid to ask what he meant.
“I gave her these earrings,” he said finally.
“You gave her Mom’s earrings?”
“She was straightening up the drawers, and she found them and remarked how beautiful they were, and I thought, why not let her have them? Your mother clearly has no use for them anymore.”
“You had no right,” I said, straining to keep my outrage at bay.
“I hadeveryright.”
“These earrings are very valuable, Dad. You don’t think Tracy or I might have liked to have them?”
“So, that’s what this is really about,” he said, shaking his head. “Money.”
“No, that’s not what this is about,” I argued, silently marveling at my father’s ability to turn things around, to put me on the defensive. “I’m just saying—”
“I’m no longer interested in what you’re saying,” he said. “You, of all people, should be very grateful for Elyse, after all she’s done for you. She is not a thief. And I’m not firing her. End of discussion.”
I heard the elevator beginning its slow ascent.
“One more thing,” he said as the elevator doors opened and Elyse emerged with a tray containing my mother’s smoothie and two pieces of toast. “I’d like the key to my house back.”
“Dad…”
He held out his hand. “I don’t want any more surprise visits.”
Reluctantly, I dropped the key into his waiting palm. “I’ll just say goodbye to Mom.”
“Make it quick,” he said. “Your visits upset her.”
I reentered my mother’s bedroom, stood for several seconds at the side of her bed, tears building behind my eyes.
“Tracy?” she asked.
“No, Mom. It’s me, Jodi.” My tears broke free and started streaming down my cheeks. “Goodbye, Mom,” I said finally, patting her hand. “I’ll see you soon.” I walked from the room, down the stairs and out the door.
The next time I saw my mother, she was dead.
