Marcella squeezed her tight. “I love you, too, darlin.”
Joey almost burst into tears at the term of endearment that she hadn’t heard in so long. “How are you?” Her voice cracked with emotion. The clarity could last an hour, or it could last for thirty seconds.
“Oh, I’m fine. Just sitting here thinking. I really miss your father, you know.”
“Here.” Joey shoved the book to her mother. Time was of the essence, and she wanted it all out. “I brought you this.”
Marcella opened the cover and ran her fingers over the inscription, much as Joey had. “He loved books. I remember the day he got this. He was so proud, almost as if he thought the author was his best friend.”
“Where were you when he got it?”
A moment of quiet as Marcella stared back out the window.
“Mama?”
A blink and vacant eyes looked back at her. “Who are you?”
Joey’s shoulders drooped. Just that quickly, it was over. “I just wanted to bring you a book to read.”
Marcella looked down in her lap. “Oh. Thank you.” She stared at the cover. “I don’t think I’ve ever read this one.”
“Enjoy.” Joey backed out of the room. She knew from experience that if she hung out too long, her mom would get nervous. “See you next time.”
“Okay,” Marcella called after her. “Thanks again.”
Tears welled in her eyes. Sometimes the moments of clarity were a real kick in the ass, but she knew she didn’t want them to end.
“Ms. Preston, can I see you?”
Joey’s heart dropped as she followed the director of the facility to her office. Ms. Jeffers was a nice woman, but she ran a tight ship and didn’t call a meeting just to chitchat.
“What’s up?” Joey asked as she took a seat in front of the huge mahogany desk.
The woman folded her hands all prim and proper. “I’m afraid we need to discuss finances.”
Exactly what Joey had been afraid of?
“Okay.”
“Your mother’s account is empty. As you know, we need enough in escrow to bill against.”
“But I just made a deposit not too long ago,” Joey protested weakly. It had been the remainder of her father’s life insurance money, and she had known it would only cover a month or so. Apparently, the “so” was up.
“Four months ago.”
Joey had been so busy with the horses that more time had passed than she realised. “Oh.”
Ms. Jeffers cleared her throat. “I understand our rates are higher than some others in town…”
“I’m not moving her. The other facilities stink.” Literally is what she meant. Every home she had toured smelled of urine with a musty undertone. Except Pine Oaks. The most expensive assisted living facility in town.
“Then I’m afraid you’re going to have to refill your mother’s account. This month is already past due.”
Joey dug her winnings out of her pocket and pushed it across the desk. “Here. This should help.”
Ms. Jeffers very efficiently collected the cash and counted it. “This covers half a month.”
“I know. It was a small purse because it was local. I just need a short time to get the rest.” She had no idea how or where, but sitting right there wasn’t going to allow her to think clearly.
