“He's fixing our roof.”
“He can be cuteandwork on the roof.”
Before Kate could respond, they heard a crash from the kitchen. Both sisters ran, finding Pop on the floor, a shattered plate beside him, his hand bleeding from trying to pick up the pieces.
“I dropped it,” he said, looking up at them with confused eyes. “Elizabeth's going to be upset. It's her good china.”
Kate knelt beside him, gently taking his hand to examine the cut. It wasn't deep, but blood welled steadily. “It's okay, Pop. Accidents happen.”
“She loved that pattern. Roses. Always roses.”
Kate grabbed the first aid kit while Dani helped him into a chair. Marcy and Rosa came into the kitchen as Kate cleaned and bandaged his hand.
Kate noticed how thin her father’s skin had become, how prominent the veins were. His tremor was worse this morning,and there was something vague in his eyes that scared her more than any cut.
“Maybe we should call Dr. Cramer,” Dani suggested quietly.
“I'm fine,” Pop insisted, but he was looking at Dani strangely. “You look just like her. Elizabeth. Same eyes.”
Dani knelt beside him. “I'm Dani, Daddy. Your daughter.”
“Dani's in New York. Big city girl now.” He smiled sadly. “Never could keep her here. Too much like her mother that way.”
Kate and Dani exchanged glances. Their father was sliding between times again, mixing past and present into a confusing swirl.
“Why don't you rest for a bit?” Kate suggested, helping him stand.
“I need to check the guests. Breakfast service…”
“All taken care of,” Kate assured him. “You trained us well.”
She got him settled in his chair in the sunroom, tucked a blanket around him. He was asleep within minutes, his bandaged hand resting on his chest. In the kitchen, Dani swept up the broken china, tears running down her face.
“He's getting worse,” Dani said.
“He has good days and bad days.”
“Kate, this isn't just a bad day. He didn't know me.”
“Sometimes he doesn't know any of us.” Kate took the broom from her sister. “It's the disease. It's not personal.”
“How do you stand it? Watching him disappear bit by bit?”
Kate didn't answer because she didn't know how to explain that you don't stand it, you just keep going because stopping isn't an option. Instead, she finished sweeping, noting that the broken plate was indeed their mother's favorite pattern, roses around the rim, delicate and old-fashioned.
Ben came in through the back door, bringing the cold air with him. “Got the snow off the roof and the tarp secured. That'llhold until we can do the proper repair.” He paused, taking in Dani's tears, the broken china in the dustpan. “Everything okay?”
“Pop had an accident,” Kate said.
“Is he hurt?”
“Small cut. He's resting.”
Ben nodded, seeming to understand more than she'd said. Small towns meant everyone knew everyone's struggles. “I'll be back tomorrow to start the real work. Need to get materials today.”
“In this weather?”
“Storm's supposed to break by noon, and they’re clearing the roads. Besides,” he smiled slightly, “the hardware store won't be crowded. Everyone else will be home.”
