“As soon as I get the breakfast things cleaned up, I’m on it.”
All morning, Carol did her best to stay one step ahead of heraunt. By the time she had the bathroom spotless, she had no doubts that Maria was one of the most driven women she’d ever met. Even with one arm, she was a force to be reckoned with. But when Carol found her nearly toppling over as she used her good arm to sweep pine needles from the hardwood floor onto a dustpan she was balancing on one foot, she had to step in.
“Let me do that.” She took the broom and handed Maria the dustrag. “Why don’t you dust instead?”
“Yes, yes, I’m afraid I’m making more of a mess than anything. But I want to help. I feel so useless.”
“I doubt anyone has ever considered you useless. Don’t forget that yours is a temporary condition.”
“I suppose you’re right. But it does make me feel old. I hate feeling old.”
They chattered back and forth as they worked together, but when Carol got out the vacuum cleaner, she encouraged Maria to sit down.
“But I haven’t wiped the woodstove yet.”
Carol took the dustrag from her and quickly wiped down the woodstove. “There. Now let me get the vacuuming done without having you underfoot.” She pointed to Maria’s favorite chair. “You need a break.”
“Yes, I suspect I could use a little rest.”
“Thank you.” Carol smiled victoriously as she turned on the vacuum cleaner. She was just finishing up the area rug in the foyer when she thought she heard a phone ringing and then her aunt speaking loudly. Turning off the noisy machine, Carol listened. After a few seconds, she realized Maria was talking to her sister. Curious but not wanting to eavesdrop, she headed for the kitchen to make them both a cup of tea. As the kettle heated, she couldn’t help but notice that Maria wasn’t saying much, just the occasional “yes, uh-huh, I understand” peppered in here and there, which seemed to suggest that Mom was doing all the talking. Hopefully she wasn’t being too hard on her sister.
Just as the kettle whistled, the phone conversation came to an end. Maria thanked Rosa for calling her. Then, as Carol poured hot water over the loose-leaf tea in the teapot, she heard Maria’s footsteps behind her.
“Sounded like you were talking to my mom.” She turned with a stiff smile, setting the teapot on the kitchen table. “So I thought we might both need a cup of tea.”
“Tea and sympathy?” Maria sat down with a deflated sigh. “My sister ... she can be a bit contrary.”
Carol laughed as she set cups on the table.
“There’s a tin of shortbread in the pantry,” Maria told her. “I think I could use some.”
“Good idea.”
When they were both seated with tea and cookies, Carol asked her aunt if she wanted to talk about it.
Maria’s eyes got teary. “Rosa must really think that I’m evil. She blames me for everything that’s gone wrong in her life. And I agree that I wasn’t a very good mother to her—”
“You weren’t her mother though. You were a kid. You’d lost your mother too. My mom is so egocentric. Of course, she blames you. She can’t take the responsibility for herself.”
“Well, I’m to blame for that too. I never made her take responsibility as a child.”
“But she’s not a child now. Even if she acts like one. And think about it, Aunt Maria. Mom was a pretty pathetic mother to me growing up. And, well, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I didn’t turn out too badly.” She grimaced. “I hope.”
Maria beamed at her. “You turned out perfectly.”
“Well, I’m not sure I’d say perfect. But thanks.”
Maria picked up a second cookie.
“Maybe the good news is that Mom wanted to talk to you,” Carol added. “I assume she called you.”
“She did.” Maria sighed. “Caught me by surprise too.”
“So, in her way, maybe she’s trying.” Carol sipped her tea.
“Maybe. And it might be my imagination, but I think she was a little more reasonable at the end of the conversation.”
Probably not reasonable enough to apologize for her bad behavior. That would be too much to expect of Mom.
