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“Yeah, I was surprised at how welcoming they were when we went to the wedding last year.”
“It wasn’t an act, I can tell you that. They’ve included me in a bunch of stuff, including a family party that Leo Nash hosted at his house.”
Her eyes almost bug out of her head. “You’re kidding me.”
“I’m not. And then, I got to go up to Leo’s studio and jam with him and write a freaking song with him.”
“Stop it.”
“I can’t. Because then, we put on a little show for the whole family, which is freaking huge. We played some of my songs and some of Leo’s songs. Hell, we even played some of Brax’s songs and a few of Starla’s, too.”
“Starla was there?”
“No. She was in LA, but apparently, she’s related to them somehow or other, and she’s usually at these parties when she’s in town.”
“This is crazy,” Maya mutters, shaking her head.
“I kept thinking about you, wishing you were there because you would have loved it. But you’ll go to the next one.”
Her eyes fill with sadness, and I frown at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t go anywhere these days, Sid.”
“But you said that the medication is working, so hopefully that means you’ll have a little more freedom now.”
“Maybe.” She bites her lip, and tears fill her eyes, and I immediately abandon my suitcase and sit next to her, pulling her hands into mine. “I feel like such an asshole for getting upset.”
“You’re not an asshole. Don’t talk about my sister like that. What’s wrong?”
“I love Mom, you know I do.”
“I know.” And I can already see where this is going. “But you’re not a caregiver, Maya. You’re not trained to be an in-home nurse.”
“No, but damn it, she’s my mom. I should be able to do this. I am doing it.”
“You’re doing an awesome job,” I assure her. “Anytime I speak with Mom or Dad on the phone, they can’t say enough about you.”
“It’s just hard,” Maya says with a sigh and wipes her tears. “I feel like she’s turned a corner, and she has more good days than bad ones now, but the bad ones suck, you know?”
“I know, and I feel like a complete jerk for leaving you here to do this all yourself. Maybe I should let the condo in Seattle go and find a place here. I can write music and take the sabbatical here at home so I can take some of this off your plate.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she assures me. “Absolutely not. I know you’re getting some actual rest out there and enjoying yourself for the first time in a long time.”
“Yeah, while you’re here with all this responsibility heaped on your shoulders. Talk about unfair.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “Maybe you could just come over here more often. Like every other weekend or something.”
“We can work that out,” I assure her and pull her in for a big hug. I hate that she clings just a little too hard, telling me exactly how stressed out she’s been here. “And I’ll talk to Mom and Dad, too. We need to do what’s best for everyone, M.”
She sighs and pulls back, wiping her wet cheeks. “I know. We’ll figure it out. Anyway, I’m so glad you’re here. Now, finish putting that stuff away so we can go down and sit on the deck and watch the water. It’s super nice out today.”
“I think I just heard them drive up,” I say, thirty minutes later. Maya and I grabbed some iced coffees, and we’ve been sitting out on the deck that faces the lake, soaking in the late spring sunshine and watching the brave souls who couldn’t resist taking their boats out on the water.
Sure, it’s sunny, but it’s still cold for boating.
“I heard it, too,” Maya agrees. “They’ll see us out here.”
I’m excited to see their faces when they realize that I’m out here.
It doesn’t take long for the back door to open, and when I turn to see who it is, I grin at my mom, who’s stopped short, staring at me in shock.
“Why, Sidney.” She rushes forward, and I meet her halfway, wrapping my arms around her and holding on. “Oh, baby girl, we didn’t know you were coming home.”
“I know. I made Maya keep it a secret.” I kiss her cheek and then pull back so I can see her. She looks so much better than she did last year. Her eyes are clear, and she doesn’t look nearly as fragile as before. “You look amazing, Mom.”
“Sid?”
I turn and smile at Dad, who looks just as surprised as Mom.
“Hi, Daddy.”
He joins us in a group hug, and before I know it, Maya has looped her arms around all of us.
“I love sappy moments,” Maya says, making us all laugh.
“When did you arrive?” Mom asks as we sit next to each other and continue holding hands.
