I rubbed a hand over my face. “Hey, Mom.”
“How are you feeling?”
I hit the control to bring the bed up. “Not bad.”
“Would you like a drink?”
I nodded and rearranged my pillows while she stood up and poured some water in a cup.
“You have a lot of fans.” She indicated all the offerings in the room as she waited for me to drink.
“It’s nice. I’ve sent some of the flowers to other patients, and the stuffed animals will go to the kids.” Except for that horrific duck. Didn’t want to give anyone nightmares.
She straightened. “Where’s Katie?” Her voice was level, like she was trying not to let her feelings out.
“Her last exam was this morning, and she had a meeting. Then she had to call her family, tell them she wasn’t coming home for the holidays.”
Mom blinked. “She’s not?”
“She’s staying to help me. I didn’t know what you were doing, and I need her right now.”
She started fussing with the sheets at the foot of the bed. “So, you don’t need me.”
She was trying not to sound hurt, even though she was. But she didn’t need to hate on Katie because she thought I’d forget about her. “Mom, I will always need you. But Katie is important to me as well. She’s promised she’ll try to get along with you, since, you know I love you both.”
She straightened. “I still have my opinion. I can’t just turn it off.”
This week had been a roller coaster, and here I was, heading down again. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m not changing my mind about her.”
“I will give it a chance though. I’m sure she and I will disagree, but I can at least be polite. You’re all I’ve got, and I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t, Mom. Come here.” I held out my arms and she leaned into my hug.
She wasn’t perfect, but she was my mom. She’d done so much for me. I wished she liked Katie better, but if they could try to get along, maybe it would all work out.
“Hello?”
Mom pulled back, and I smiled big as I saw my girl in the doorway. “Hey!”
“Good afternoon, Katie.”
“Good to see you, Mrs. Middleton.” I shot her a glance, but she didn’t look like she was being sarcastic.
“Since you’re here now, I’ll step out for dinner. And it seems I have some additional Christmas shopping to do, if you’re spending it with us.”
Katie’s eyes went round. “Oh, fu—dge. I need to do that too.”
Mom picked up her coat and purse. “I can sit with him for a while tomorrow if you need time.”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
“I’ll be back after dinner, Josh.”
“See you then, Mom.”
I held open my arms again, needing to feel Katie close. She settled on the side of the bed, leaning into me, her hair under my chin. I let out a contented breath. Despite the hospital and the knee and all the other things I couldn’t control, I was happy. Incredibly happy.
“You seem pretty upbeat, all things considered,” she said.
