It had only been mentioned once, but it had been enough. I made millions, and I paid for her care. Logan did well for himself, but it didn’t make sense for him to worry about it when it was nothing for me.
And I would do it a hundred times over to make sure she had the best.
Angela knocked softly on the door, stepping inside with that kind but serious look that made my stomach clench.
We knew what was coming.
“Hey boys,” she greeted gently. “How are you doing?”
“We’ll be fine,” I said. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“The cops left, and there’s no harm. They know to check with us when they get calls from here, but I guess the dispatcher was new.” She shook her head. “She had a good day yesterday. We did some music therapy, and she wrote down memories she had from the songs. Nothing but smiles and recollections from your childhoods. Apparently, Logan was a pain.”
We laughed because we were supposed to, and she continued. “It must’ve triggered something when she dreamt. I’m glad she didn’t hurt herself more.”
“Does she need to be monitored more? Checked more often?” Logan asked.
“We are going to do more check-ins with her now. Instead of every three hours, we’ll do two.” She got a serious look, and I tensed. “We might want to talk about removing her cell phone. She’ll still have the plug-in, but she was calling the old warehouse, asking for your father.”
The temperature in the room dropped, and I hated the disease with so much passion that I could punch a hole in a brick wall. I swallowed loudly and met her eyes. “Okay.”
“She’ll put up a fight when she’s doing well. She loves getting texts from you boys.”
“Can she have it during the day?” Logan asked, presenting the perfect idea. “She’s out and about in the recreation center, and it would be easier to manage during the day. I send her pictures all the time, and I-I don’t want to stop.”
“We’ll do that, yes. We’ll see how it goes and if that works, then we’ll keep it status quo.” She came up and gave us each a hug. “You are both great sons. I hope you know that.”
“It doesn’t always feel that way when she’s trapped in her mind,” I said, getting another rush of anger at the injustice. “But thank you. We appreciate your kindness.”
She smiled. “I assume you’ll both be here until she wakes up?”
“Yes,” we said at the same time.
“Good. I’ll check in with you in a couple of hours, but let me know if you need anything.” She paused before leaving the door and gave us a smirk. “There are snacks in my fridge. Help yourself.”
Logan smiled at her and didn’t explain when I raised an eyebrow. “Snacks? What kinda snacks?”
“Mind your own business,” he teased and eyed my outfit, and things seemed normal again. She would be okay—we, our family, would be okay. It’d be hard as hell and a different version of normal, but we’d get through it.
We put on the news. but neither one of us seemed to be listening, and when she stirred a couple of hours later, she was so happy to see us that I fought tears. Today wasn’t the day she forgot her sons. It could be the next one, or in a year, but it wasn’t today, and we hung out with our mom for hours, watching NCIS and ordering pizza. We left with the promise of stopping by soon, and a weight was lifted off my shoulders knowing she needed to stay there.
If anything, I could move closer to the facility so I could see her every day. I filed that plan away for later and drove home. It wasn’t until I’d showered, napped and did an intense workout that I realized Michelle had texted me.
Michelle: Hi, it’s Mitch. I hope you’re okay and your family is okay. I keep thinking about you. Not in a possessive relationship way but in an I want to see you to make sure you’re fine way.
She would say that. I rolled my eyes and couldn’t stop my lips from curving up at the sides.
Michelle: I’m working until midnight and have to be back by seven tomorrow morning, and I won’t get off until four. But then I study. What I’m saying is, tomorrow from four until five, do you want to get together?
Brooks: Are you asking me out?
Michelle: Never.
Brooks: Well, then I’m quite busy between four and five.
Michelle: No, you’re not.
Brooks: You don’t know my life.
