AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hours later, a doctor came out to see me. “Ms. Andrews?”
“Yes,” I jumped up from my chair. “Is my mother alright?”
“She had a seizure, and we’re going to have to admit her.”
“A seizure? What would cause that?”
“There are a small percentage of lupus sufferers that have seizures. Were you aware that she was having a flare up?”
Guilt consumed me until my knees gave out and I sank onto the chair. “No. She tries to hide it from me, but I should have known. She’s been tired.”
“Does she take all her prescribed medication?”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know. She skimped in the past, but I thought I’d talked her out of it. I was trusting her to take them.”
The doctor sat next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “She’s your mother. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t think to parent your parent.”
“She worries about the cost of things.” I wondered if I should have said that. Would the doctor change her treatment if she didn’t think I could pay?
“That’s normal. Many parents don’t want to be a burden either. But, her condition is severe. We’ll monitor her tonight and run some tests tomorrow. It’s possible she’ll need a more aggressive treatment.”
I translated that to mean more money. “I understand. Whatever she needs.”
“Would you like to see her?”
“Yes, please.” We stood, and she led me back through locked doors to a triage area.
“She’ll be moved to a room shortly,” the doctor said as she pulled the curtain back.
My mom lay in the bed, her eyes closed. She looked so old, even though she wasn’t even fifty yet.
I took her hand. “Mom.”
Her eyes fluttered open, before they watered and filled with guilt. “I’m sorry, baby.”
I kissed her hand. “Don’t be sorry, mom. You’re going to be all right,” I said, trying to keep from crying. “We’re going to get you right as rain, and then you’ll come home.”
“My clients.”
“Don’t worry about them. I’ll take care of them.” I didn’t know how, except to not sleep while I cleaned and simultaneously tried to start a restaurant.
“I’m such a burden.” She started to weep. I knew fear and fatigue were a part of her despair.
“No, you’re not. You’re my rock, mom.” I kissed her head, and vowed I’d do whatever it took to make her life easier.
15
Kade — Friday
I arrived at the restaurant in the early afternoon. The designers had done a great job pulling the restaurant together. The walls and décor were done, the tables and chairs were in, and the bar had been refurbished. An advantage to buying an existing restaurant was how quickly it could be turned around and reopened, especially when funds were plentiful. Granted, this was considered a loan, so we worked to be as frugal with the funds as possible without sacrificing quality.
The only challenge was Morgan. First was the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking of her. Second was how distracted and distant she seemed. After our encounter a few days ago, I thought we were on a track to keep seeing each other, but since then, I had hardly seen her at all. And when I did, she insisted we meet only in the late afternoon, then she’d rush off once we’d discussed business.
I checked my watch, noting that it was three o’clock, the time she’d given me for our meeting today. But she wasn’t here yet. Did she even want this place? Annoyance flared. I was willing to take this place over, but Beth and Ash had done a lot to get this set up for her; the least she could do was take as much interest in it as we did.
The door opened and she came rushing in. She looked a bit harried as she made a B-line toward me. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair, pulled back in a ponytail, looked a bit wind blown and messy. It was sexy, but clearly not the look she’d been going for.
She blew out a breath. “I’m here. What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Are you okay?” I asked, motioning for her to sit in a booth in the back.
“Yes. Just really busy.”
“Too busy to help in the opening of your own restaurant?” My voice was a bit terser than I’d have liked.
Her head snapped up from where she’d been pulling out a folder from her bag. “No. I’m here. And I reviewed the applicants for the manager job as you asked me to.” She put the folder on the table.
“This is your restaurant, Morgan.”
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment I thought she might contradict me. Instead, she bit her lip and I thought maybe she’d cry. What the fuck was going on?
She shook her head. “You’re right. I’m here, and I’m ready. All of these applicants look pretty good.”
I watched for a moment and then nodded. As annoyed as I felt at her lack of dedication to the restaurant, all I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and kiss the ever-loving breath out of her. I might have done it, too, except the door opened and a well-dressed middle-aged woman walked in.
