“Yes, dear,” she relented, getting up to give him a kiss. On our way out, I put my arm around my mom and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
“Oh Audrey, I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose that man,” she said with a sigh.
“You won’t, Mom,” I said, hoping that my words rang true. I thought about what she’d said. She sounded as if her world would just stop turning if Dad were gone, and it sounded like a real possibility. I mean, if the worst were to happen, I was sure she’d survive it, but the joy would be gone from my mother— at least for a long time. I, however, had already lived a rather satisfying few days without Greg. While I missed what I thought we’d had together, I was more angry and disappointed than feeling like my life was over. I had moments where I hurt, but I had moments of hope, too. Those were so lovely I was wondering now if Greg and I splitting up might not have been a blessing in disguise.
Could it be that he was not the one for me? Shouldn’t I have felt my world might end, even if I did pick up the pieces afterward? I didn’t know if there was an absolute answer to that. My brain was foggy from the jet lag and lack of sleep, so I decided not to focus on any more heavy stuff for the night. The important thing is that my dad was stable and would hopefully recover.
Since I didn’t have my suitcase with my things, I had to borrow my mom’s pajamas, and I took a much-needed shower. I went into my old room and threw myself on my twin size bed. How long was it since I slept there? Greg and I had been living together since we graduated college, so at least 8 years. It felt funny, sleeping somewhere so familiar yet so different from what I was now used to. I checked my phone before I went to sleep, having ignored it all day.
I had a few text messages, and I skimmed through each. Greg texted me after our phone call to thank me for talking to him and telling me he hoped my dad got better soon. Bleh. Then there was Jeanette, but she only mentioned my dad and nothing about Greg or Natalie. I wonder how much she knew. Something at least, if she’d learned my dad was in the hospital.
Then I had a text from Harvey an hour ago asking me what time he could bring my suitcase tomorrow. I sent him a quick reply and put my phone on silent. If anyone had news on my dad, they’d call my mom, and I did not need to speak to anyone else the rest of that night. Exhaustion won me over, and I didn’t even have time to reminisce on the day’s events.
