Andrea smiled back at her.
“I’m going to make breakfast for mom. Do you want anything?”
“No, thank you. I think I’m gonna go lie down for a bit,” Julia replied, pushing away from the island.
“Okay, sweetie. I hope you feel better soon.”
With one final smile, Julia turned and headed out of the kitchen. Andrea turned to the refrigerator removing the ingredients to make her mom a shake and a simple breakfast of mashed potato omelet. Since Becky’s ALS made it to stage two, her symptoms had been progressing rapidly. Currently, she barely had functionality in her right hand, her mobility on hold was slowly going as well as her speech and swallowing solid foods had become increasingly difficult. Sooner than later, they were going to have to feed her intravenously. She sighed solemnly. Sometimes it proved to be too much just to think about the future— to face the inevitable.
After everything was set up, she placed them on a tray and walked across the hall to the bedroom Becky was currently occupying. Balancing the tray in one arm, she knocked on the door twice before turning the knob and using her shoulder blade to push it open.
“Good morning, Mom,” she greeted Becky with the brightest smile she could muster.
Becky’s lips upturned in a small smile as she tried to raise herself into a sitting position.
“Wait, let me help you.” Andrea rushed to place the tray on the overbed table and put her hands under Becky’s arms, supporting the weight to lift her up in the bed. When she was situated. Andrea used the levers to bring the bed up so that her mother’s back was almost at a ninety degree angle.
“Th-th-thank y-you s-s-sweeeetheaart.”
“You’re welcome,” Andrea replied cheerily, even as bands of sadness tightened across her chest. “Ready to eat?”
“Mhmm,” Becky replied.
Andrea used the spoon to scoop up some of the semi-solid mash and brought it to her mother’s lips. Becky took the spoon into her mouth before the food slowly disappeared. Andrea watched her carefully, noting the faraway look in her dull brown eyes.
“Are you all right, Mom?”
Becky turned to her daughter with a small, sad smile. “I w-wa-was th…thinking of y-your father.”
Andrea nodded in understanding. “I miss him too,” she said, voicing what her mother couldn’t. Her mother looked down at her frail hands, which seemed to have shrunk to half their original size since Andrea returned. She wanted to bring Becky closer, to hug her tightly and never let go, but she knew that would only lead to her bursting into tears, and that would, in turn, sadden her mother. She didn’t want that. Becky was already suffering enough as it was.
“I know dad is pleased that we get to spend this time with you. Nothing mattered as much to him as your happiness,” she spoke soothingly.
This time Becky’s lips upturned in gratitude. Andrea reached over to place a kiss against her temple before resuming feeding her. Just as she finished, Cora popped in and took over.
After making a shake for herself, Andrea left for the inn. she remembered Marg had mentioned wanting her input on the lounge area she was planning to set up for their guests to use to complete whatever work they would have taken with them. However, just as she was about to enter the lobby, Ben stepped through the door holding Marg close to his side while she held her right hand loosely in her left hand as it rested against her chest. From the look on her face and the way she grimaced with each step, it was obvious she was in pain.
“What happened?” Andrea asked in alarm.
“I fell and hit my hand against the edge of the reception desk,” Marg replied.
“I’m taking her to the emergency room,” Ben added immediately after.
“Of course, go, go,” Andrea responded on alert mode. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle the front desk,” she informed them.
“Thanks, Drea,” Marg replied gratefully, even as she winced in pain.
“No need to thank me, Marg. Now go,” she responded, all but pushing them toward the parking lot.
“I’ll let you know how it went,” Marg called back as Ben ushered her away.
For the next couple of hours, Andrea spent the time going over the reservations calendar and updating the guest list.
“Thanks for making Willberry Inn a part of your experience here at Oak Harbor. I hope you had a wonderful time and hope to see you again.” Andrea smiled as she delivered the inn’s signature farewell speech to the lovely couple standing before her as they checked out.
“Thanks. We had a great time here, and we’ll definitely be heading back here,” the female with light brown hair replied as the man at her side continued to stare affectionately at her.
A smile played at Andrea’s lips as she noted how the gentleman stared at the woman, the more bashful she became.
