She tilted her head to the side, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “If you’re trying to flatter your way into my pants, it just might work.” She started for her truck, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you tonight.”
Chapter 7
Phil turned ontothe winding road that led to Mossy Oaks Care Facility, traveling under the canopy of moss-laden oak trees that shaded the drive. She rounded a curve, and the yellow-and-white French Chateau-style building came into view. It looked more like a resort hotel than a twenty-four-seven care facility for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
Phil signed in at the front desk, taking a couple of minutes to chat with Evelyn, the receptionist who made her mother homemade praline candies at least once a month. Phil was completely indebted to this staff. Just thinking about the care they bestowed upon her mother made her throat tighten with gratitude.
When she reached her mother’s room, Phil found her staring out the window at the grounds below.
“Mom?” she called.
Her mother turned. Sabina Phillips looked at least five years younger than her sixty-two years. She smiled, and hope blossomed within Phil’s chest.
“Hello, Agatha,” her mother returned.
Phil managed to suppress the defeated sigh that nearly escaped. She’d prayed for a rare glimpse of lucidity today.
“No, Mom, it’s me, Phylicia,” she said, walking over to her. She took her mother’s hands and led her to the small seating area, gesturing for her to take the seat that provided the same view of the grounds.
Phil often wondered what her mother saw when she looked out there. Did she recognize the people as the same residents she dined with on a daily basis, or were they strangers to her addled brain, as her own daughter had become?
Phil pulled in a deep breath and pasted on a smile. “How are things going today?” she asked.
“Oh, I’m good. I loved the strawberry preserves you made for me, Agatha. I can never get Mama’s recipe right.”
Phil contemplated pushing her mother to remember, but decided against it. She didn’t have much time for this visit, and if she pushed too hard, her mother would likely become agitated. She would be her aunt Agatha today, even though her mother’s younger sister had died of breast cancer over a decade ago, at the young age of forty-eight.
“Did you eat the preserves the way you usually like them?” Phil asked.
Her mother’s smile took on a mischievous edge as she nodded. “Over ice cream. I spent the entire week picking up after Percy. I figure I deserved a treat.”
“Nothing wrong with treating yourself,” Phil said. “And Percy appreciates you picking up after him.”
“Oh, I know he does.” The smile turned naughty. “He has his ways of showing me.”
Okay.They so were not going there. In these past few years, ever since her mother had begun to mistake her for Aunt Agatha, Phil had learned way more about her parents’ very healthy sex life than sheeverwanted to know, especially since she wasn’t carrying on in the family tradition.
“You need to get rid of that no-good man of yours,” her mother said. “If Lewis doesn’t want to marry you after fifteen years, he never will, Agatha.”
“I know,” Phil answered. Her aunt’s longtime on-again/off-again boyfriend had made Kevin look like a prime catch. One thing she could say about Kevin was that he had never cheated on her—as far as she knew, anyway. Phil hesitated a moment before saying, “I have gotten rid of him.” She bit her lower lip. “I’m, uh, seeing someone else.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Really? Who is he? Someone I know?”
“He’s pretty new to town,” Phil answered. “But he’s very sweet. And I really like him. A lot.”
“Oh, Agatha. I’m so happy for you. Does he treat you well?”
“So far,” Phil said. “We’re going on our first date tonight.”
Sabina sprang from the chair. “So what are you doing here? You should be getting ready for your date.” She captured Phil’s wrist and pulled her up. “You can come back later and tell me all about it. We’ll have time to chat. Percy will be in his workshop all day, doing his best to turn my baby girl into a tomboy.”
“Hey, she’s notthatmuch of a tomboy,” Phil interjected.
“She’s just like her daddy. But Phylicia loves it, so I don’t mind.”
Phil’s heart became so full it hurt. “You were always so understanding,” she said, running a finger gently down her mother’s cheek. She pulled in a deep breath. “I’ll be back in a few days. We’ll have some of that ice cream.”
“Okay, Aggie,” Sabina said. “You have a good time tonight.”
