At the end, her mother had a couple of hours where she remembered who they were. It was a miracle in Stef’s mind to see her come back to life like that. It was a gift from God she had thought, even though she was still mad at him for taking her mind away in what should have the most glorious years of her life.
She held each of the girls tightly in her arms as though none of what she’d gone through had ever happened. She asked them why they were both there, in the middle of the day, and the girls explained it away by telling her that it was Sunday and they were preparing the family meal, just as they had for the last decade. Emily explained that they were making all her favorite dishes this time.
“Oh how lovely,” her mother had said smiling at them. “Don’t overcook the liver, I hate that, and make sure the oven potatoes don’t get too crispy. I have old teeth you know, not like they used to be.”
“We put the oven on low Mom, they should be just perfect for you,” Emily assured her and then turned away as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Her mother had instilled in them from a very early age that sitting down together as a family was of utmost importance because she needed them all together. She needed to touch base with each of them to see how their life was going, what they were doing, whom they were doing, and why they were doing it. Evie had sliced the cord begrudgingly when each of her daughters had moved out, but she had never ever cut it completely. They were as tied together now as they’d always been.
Evie finally asked where Eddy was and neither daughter had the guts to tell her again that he was gone forever, that he had died of a broken heart a year and a half earlier. They were pretty sure she knew but her mind played these tricks on her. Perhaps it was best this way anyway. So, instead they fabricated a story that he’d just run out to her favorite dress store to buy her something pretty, something she could wear when guests came to call. He had done that often during their long marriage because Evie never asked for things. She was frugal and cautious with their money, but she so loved these surprises.
This seemed to satisfy her curiosity because she lay back on the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. They could see she was gone again, lost in a world beyond their comprehension. Something was different though, something had changed in a matter of seconds. They watched as her mouth softened into a smile. She looked satisfied. A moment later, with her daughters at her side holding her hands, she whispered Eddie’s name, and then her eyes went vacant, gray, and dull.
She held each of the girls tightly in her arms as though none of what she’d gone through had ever happened. She asked them why they were both there, in the middle of the day, and the girls explained it away by telling her that it was Sunday and they were preparing the family meal, just as they had for the last decade. Emily explained that they were making all her favorite dishes this time.
“Oh how lovely,” her mother had said smiling at them. “Don’t overcook the liver, I hate that, and make sure the oven potatoes don’t get too crispy. I have old teeth you know, not like they used to be.”
“We put the oven on low Mom, they should be just perfect for you,” Emily assured her and then turned away as tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Her mother had instilled in them from a very early age that sitting down together as a family was of utmost importance because she needed them all together. She needed to touch base with each of them to see how their life was going, what they were doing, whom they were doing, and why they were doing it. Evie had sliced the cord begrudgingly when each of her daughters had moved out, but she had never ever cut it completely. They were as tied together now as they’d always been.
Evie finally asked where Eddy was and neither daughter had the guts to tell her again that he was gone forever, that he had died of a broken heart a year and a half earlier. They were pretty sure she knew but her mind played these tricks on her. Perhaps it was best this way anyway. So, instead they fabricated a story that he’d just run out to her favorite dress store to buy her something pretty, something she could wear when guests came to call. He had done that often during their long marriage because Evie never asked for things. She was frugal and cautious with their money, but she so loved these surprises.
This seemed to satisfy her curiosity because she lay back on the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. They could see she was gone again, lost in a world beyond their comprehension. Something was different though, something had changed in a matter of seconds. They watched as her mouth softened into a smile. She looked satisfied. A moment later, with her daughters at her side holding her hands, she whispered Eddie’s name, and then her eyes went vacant, gray, and dull.
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