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ChapterTwenty-Three
“Drea, have you seen Mom? I haven’t seen her anywhere downstairs. I checked the porch, and she’s not there either.” Jo grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured herself a cup of coffee before going to sit across from Andrea at the island.
“No, I haven’t. Did you check if she’s upstairs in her room?” Andrea asked, taking a sip from the cup she held in her hands.
“I did. That’s the first place I looked, but she’s not up there.”
“Who’re you looking for?”
The sisters looked to the entrance to see Cora standing there with an expectant look.
“Mom isn’t in the house or outside,” Jo informed her.
“Oh, I saw her on my way from the inn earlier. She said she was going for a walk and would probably stop by the garden for a bit,” Cora informed them. “Also, Marg wants you to look at a few ideas she has for the guest rooms,” she spoke, looking at Andrea.
“Great. I was heading over after I had my coffee.” Andrea drank the last of her coffee before rising from her seat and heading to the sink to wash the cup.
“So, why are you looking for Mom?” Cora asked Jo.
“No reason. I was a little concerned when I couldn’t find her.
Cora gave her a sympathetic smile. “I worry too. “It’s so scary to think about a future without her in it.”
Jo shuddered at the thought. She released a sigh. “I’m grateful for the time we’re getting to spend with her now, but to think that at any minute this sickness can take over her body and turn her into a complete vegetable is completely heart-wrenching.”
“It is terrifying,” Cora agreed, gaze cast down to her clasped hands on the island’s surface. “But there isn’t much we can do about it. We just have to make each day count as we’re making new memories with her and the family.”
Jo released another lengthy sigh. “I just don’t understand why she can’t see that being a part of a trial would be a good thing— something that could prolong the quality of her life.” She got up and went to the sink to wash out her cup. She turned to see Cora still staring at her clasped hands.
“It is her choice, Jo,” she said, finally looking up at her. “We might not agree with it, but if this is what will make her happy, then… we just have to back off. I kind of understand why she doesn’t want to do it, though. If I was in her position, maybe… just maybe, I would want a good year to spend surrounded by the love of my girls and my family, rather than being a part of an experimental trial that very well might not work.”
Jo folded her hands over her chest as she leaned against the sink, mulling over her sister’s words. “It’s just hard to know that all of this will be coming to an end soon.” She exhaled. “Seeing Mom so fragile and vulnerable, I don’t know… it just scares me a lot, and then I start thinking about Charles and Nick and Dad, and I just…” She rested her chin on her chest as she stared at her feet, too overwhelmed with emotions to continue.
Cora walked over to her sister and enveloped her in her arms. “It’s okay, Jo—”
“But it’s not,” Jo cried in anguish. “I’m about to lose another person I love, and I can’t… I’m scared, Cora.”
Cora placed her hands on either side of her sister’s face and raised her head to look at her. “Listen to me, Jo, I know this is a lot to handle in such a short period of time, but I also know that you’re strong. You can handle this, and you don’t have to do it alone because we will be here for you— Andrea and I and the rest of the family.”
Jo shook her head in understanding, willing a smile on her tear-stained face. “Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll support Mom’s choice. Thanks for the talk. I needed that.”
Cora gave her an understanding smile before pulling her into another hug. “Any time, Sis.”
“I’m gonna go look for Mom,” she announced to Cora as they separated.
“All right. I’m gonna grab something to eat and take a shower. Jamie is taking me into town later.”
Jo grinned as she nodded, then exited the kitchen and made her way to the back door. She took her time strolling down the path that led to the garden admiring the lush green meadow-like grounds and the forest of trees in the distance that created an imaginary border around most of the property. It was beautiful and serene, and when she made it to the garden’s gates, she could see why this was one of her mother’s favorite places to be. The entrance itself was inviting with brightly colored flowers of the vines that intricately wound themselves around the arbor above the wooden gates and glimpses of an enticing view through the spaces in their frame. She walked up the cobbled stone path and pushed the gates to enter. As she walked through the garden, she couldn’t help but stop to plant her nose against the blooms, appreciating the light fragrant scent emanating from them.
Jo could hear voices further up the path. She looked up to see what looked to be her mother and Jamie standing under the trellis draped in ivy vines that formed a gateway to another part of the garden.
“Hi, sweetie,” Becky greeted Jo the minute she spotted her walking toward her.
“Hi, Mom, Jamie,” Jo said.
“Hi, Jo,” Jamie greeted her back with a warm smile.
Jo returned the smile before fixing her gaze on her mother. “I thought I’d come and keep you company. I didn’t know that you already had that.”
