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“Catalina!” I call out.
I hear her open my bedroom door a minute later, “What’s going on?”
She’s looking at my bag as I quickly zip it up and grab a pair of my black skinny denims to wear.
“How long was I out this time?”
She looks at me with a mixture of concern and disapproval.
“A long time. You were out stone cold in the bathtub. I took you to your bed and was going to call the doctor, but you seemed so peaceful, as usual. You are probably just exhausted.”
From what?
I hardly do anything!
“I’ll be gone for a few days,” I see her expression, and she’s about to object.
“I’ll always keep thinking about the what if,” I add, knowing what she’s thinking.
She frowns even more.
“If I feel uncomfortable, I’ll get back in my truck and head home.”
I know she cares, and I want to reassure her.
“What about Storm and his physio?”
“There are therapists for dogs in LA, too.”
“Your safety!”
“Catalina,” I sigh. “Sometimes, you need to step back and let me live a little.”
“I care about you. Is that bad?”
“I’m also your employer. You’re not a guest here or my mother.”
I watch her wince at my words. I know she’s sacrificed a lot to stay with me all these years, and I never asked her, but she felt I needed her. So I kept her on for as long as she wanted to stay even though, in reality, I hired her only because I was a minor when I started out in this industry, and one of the terms of my emancipationfrom the court was that I hire an adult caretaker to live with me until I was 18.
But I’m 28 now and hardly a child.
Moving close to her, I take her hand in mine and gaze into the eyes of the woman who’s stuck by me through thick and thin. When I fled my old life, she ran with me, no questions asked, and for that, I will always be grateful.
Silver strands interweave with the strands of darker hues in her hair. Over the years, she’s transformed, and her locks reflect how she’s gracefully navigated into her age.
Her eyes, once bright with the exuberance of youth, now hold a depth that mirrors the wisdom accumulated through the years. They sparkle with a unique radiance, an inner light that only time could bestow. The subtle crow's feet that fan out from the corners of her eyes speak of countless smiles shared with me over the years.
And cries. We had a lot of those.
Especially me.
“I respect your opinion, Catalina. Just don’t force it on me. I’m a grown woman.”
“I know, darling. I’ve seen you transform into the beautiful woman you are. I’ve been there during your highs and your lows. I might be on your payroll, but I am the closest person you have as family.”
“I appreciate you. But I need to do this, and you need to understand.”
“Shall I pack a bag?”
