Risk of Falling

She whistled as she waltzed out of the room. Mrs. Stone might prove to be an interesting case.

And seeing Mr. Stone again might not be so bad either.

As long as they didn’t discuss Mama’s house.

* * *

AFTER AN HOUR of short answers and cold silence, Will sighed and rose to his feet. His backside was getting numb from all this sitting anyway. He turned to his mom. “Visiting hours are ending, Ma. Do you need us to bring anything from home?”

Silence.

Tori approached the bed and put her hand on their mom’s, who snapped it away. His sister gestured at Will, probably hoping he could fix this. Just like he fixed everything else. But remembering Miss Bylin’s...Suzy’s advice, he overlooked the slight. “Well, if you think of anything, you have both of our cell phone numbers.”

He kissed his mother’s cheek then waited as Tori did the same. He then put his arm around his sister. “We’ll stop by tomorrow.”

“Don’t bother.”

Tori gasped, but Will nodded. “Lovey.”

“Lovey,” Tori echoed.

Nothing back. He pulled his sister from the room.

Tori began crying as their mother’s door shut behind them. He tugged her down the hall and stopped at the nurses’ station. Suzy popped her head up at their approach and smiled. “How’s my new friend?”

He winced. “The same. Angry. You’ll check on her?”

“It’s my job, Mr. Stone. But I’ll peek in her room a couple extra times.” She came around and gave his sister a tissue, then a hug. “I know this is hard, but it will get easier.” She handed them each a post-it note with a handwritten phone number and smiley face. “This is my cell phone number. Call me anytime. Seriously.”

Tori hugged Suzy. “You’re an angel.”

“You and your family calling me names. Trust me, I’m no angel.” She looked up at Will. “Mr. Stone knows that all too well.”

Tori seemed confused, a question in her eyes. He thrust his hand out at Suzy. “Please call me Will. It’s only fair after putting up with my mother.”

She waved it off. “I took an oath to be there for all my patients. But I especially look out for the new ones.” She eyed the clock. “I’d better go check on your mom. She probably misses you already.”

Tori looked back at the room. “Maybe I should go talk to her. Maybe she’ll listen to me.”

Suzy looked at her. “What’s your name?”

“Tori.”

Suzy put her arm around the woman’s shoulders. “Tori, you’ve done all you can do today. Going back in there right now will only make all of you feel worse. I mean it when I say give her a chance to miss you, to look forward to seeing you again.”

Will nodded. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Suzy peered into Tori’s face. “This isn’t a sprint, but a marathon. You’re going to need all the rest you can get, so enjoy your evening. Go home. Watch some TV. Read a book. Go to bed early. And don’t worry about your mom. She’s in good hands.”

Tori turned into Suzy and hugged her again. “Thanks.”

Will took Tori from Suzy’s arms and helped his sister leave the nursing home. She took a few steps and looked back. Walked a few more, and glanced behind her a second time. When they reached his truck, she opened the passenger side door but stared back at the home. “Are we doing the right thing?”

“You heard Suzy. And I don’t think she would steer us wrong.”

Tori climbed into the pickup truck and fastened her seat belt. “I know you’re right. But I hate leaving her like this.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow. And the next day. And the next.” He started the engine then turned to her. “Suzy said her attitude will improve in a few days.”

“Suzy, huh?” Tori wiped the corners of her eyes, then blew her nose. “You two seemed awfully cozy.”

“We talked when we got the pie and coffee.” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t exactly call it cozy. But she did help explain things.”

“Well, I like her.” She grabbed a new tissue. “She seems so nice.”

She did. And not like the flighty woman he’d met only days ago. “She’s good at her job. And you can see that she’s good with people.”

“I feel better knowing that she’s watching out for mom.”

“I do too.” Despite her house and the disaster in the yard, she appeared competent. Friendly. And he wouldn’t have to worry about his mom.

At least not about the nursing care she was receiving.

CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_d4a29a9e-5b7c-5b2b-8169-025b71ead942)

“I TOLD YOU I wanted eggs over easy.” The breakfast tray clattered to the floor as Mrs. Stone swept it off the bedside table with her arm.

It had been a quiet night, Mrs. Stone falling asleep soon after her children had left. She was obviously making up for lost time. Suzy sighed and squatted to collect the pieces of broken china mixed with scrambled eggs and toast. She loaded the mess onto the tray and took it to the cart by the nurses’ station. She picked up the phone and ordered a replacement breakfast for Mrs. Stone: eggs over easy with wheat toast. Orange juice. Coffee.

The woman had ordered scrambled eggs, but Suzy gave her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she hadn’t heard right.

But she knew she had.

She returned to Mrs. Stone’s room. “I ordered you a new breakfast. Eggs over easy, just like you like them.”

“I’m hungry now.”

“It will only be a few moments.” Suzy checked the woman’s vitals and made note of them on her tablet. Her blood pressure teetered on the high side, but considering her mood, it wasn’t a surprise. “I’m going to deliver the rest of the breakfast trays and return with yours.” She started to walk out of the room.

“I’m sorry.”

It was so soft, she almost didn’t hear it. Suzy nodded. “I’m sorry too.”

By the time she’d finished her rounds and made notes on all her patients, Carly had arrived for the day. “How’s the new patient?”

“We’re waiting on a new breakfast tray after she threw the other one on the floor. I already put in a call to housekeeping.” Suzy shrugged. “I get it. She’s angry, but she doesn’t have to take it out on me or my clean floors.”

Carly put her arm around Suzy. “Don’t take it personal.”