it’s past your bedtime, so run along. I’ll spend some time with Frances and make sure she’s okay. Try not to worry.”
Despite Karen’s reassuring words, Daisy still looked worried. “She’s always been like our unofficial grandma, you know. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”
“Neither do I,” Karen replied. “We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t. Now, scoot, sweetie. I’ll stop by to tuck you in as soon as I’ve checked in with Frances.”
In the living room, the TV was on, the volume low. Frances’s eyes had drifted closed. Karen flipped off the TV, then sat down in a chair across from her. Silently, she studied the face of this woman who’d been like a surrogate mother to her or maybe, given her age, a grandmother. Her own mother might have been a mess, but Frances had been a rock, her support unwavering, even when Karen had thought she was going to completely fall apart and lose everything—her marriage, her home, her job and, worst of all, her children.
Frances looked peaceful as she dozed. Her color was good. Karen tried to reassure herself that a few slips of the tongue might not mean a thing. There might be a reasonable explanation for being slightly confused about her surroundings, as well. She also knew it could all be symptomatic of more, a ministroke, perhaps, or, far worse, Alzheimer’s. That would fit with what she’d observed when Frances had tried to make French toast on her last visit.
Please, not that, she prayed silently. Watching this strong, wonderful woman slip away by degrees would break her heart.
Just then Frances’s eyes blinked open. For a moment, she looked confused, but then she managed a faint smile. “I must have fallen asleep on the job. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Karen said. “Everything’s fine.”
“How long ago did you get home?”
“Just a few minutes ago.”
Frances glanced at her watch. “It’s early. I’ve heard about those margarita nights. They usually go on till all hours.”
“Maybe everyone’s just getting too old to hang out really late during the work week,” Karen said, unwilling to admit she’d left early to check on Frances. “How was everything here?”
“Fine. I helped Mack with his math homework, then we all had milk and cookies and the two of them went off to bed.”
“You should have gone into the guest room and gotten some sleep yourself,” Karen said, still studying her with concern. “I hope they didn’t wear you out.”
“Heavens, no. I’m still up to solving a little bit of math, at least for a second grader. I’m not sure I’ll be up to it once they start doing algebra. I couldn’t do that very well even in my prime.”
“Neither could I,” Karen said with a laugh. “I sure hope Elliott can.”
“Is he home yet? I should probably head home,” Frances said.
“I’m not sure when he’ll finally wander in. I got a ride home with Raylene. Why don’t you stay here tonight? I put a clean nightgown out for you again, and there are toiletries in the guest bathroom.”
Frances hesitated, then finally nodded. “Maybe that would be best,” she said. “And if you don’t mind, I think I’ll head in there right now.”
“Sure,” Karen said. “Good night, Frances. Thanks for staying with the kids tonight.”
“It’s been my pleasure, as always.”
After she’d gone, Karen stared after her. There’d been nothing amiss in their conversation, no hint of confusion. Even so, she couldn’t shake the sense that Daisy’s concern had been justified. For the second time, she resolved to keep a closer eye on Frances. If something else happened, as difficult as it might be, she’d have to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.
* * *
Elliott was relieved to find Karen already asleep when he got home from his evening with the guys. Once she’d texted him that she’d gotten a ride home with Raylene, he’d stayed on at Cal’s so they could all go over the numbers for the gym one more time. Though he
Despite Karen’s reassuring words, Daisy still looked worried. “She’s always been like our unofficial grandma, you know. I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”
“Neither do I,” Karen replied. “We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t. Now, scoot, sweetie. I’ll stop by to tuck you in as soon as I’ve checked in with Frances.”
In the living room, the TV was on, the volume low. Frances’s eyes had drifted closed. Karen flipped off the TV, then sat down in a chair across from her. Silently, she studied the face of this woman who’d been like a surrogate mother to her or maybe, given her age, a grandmother. Her own mother might have been a mess, but Frances had been a rock, her support unwavering, even when Karen had thought she was going to completely fall apart and lose everything—her marriage, her home, her job and, worst of all, her children.
Frances looked peaceful as she dozed. Her color was good. Karen tried to reassure herself that a few slips of the tongue might not mean a thing. There might be a reasonable explanation for being slightly confused about her surroundings, as well. She also knew it could all be symptomatic of more, a ministroke, perhaps, or, far worse, Alzheimer’s. That would fit with what she’d observed when Frances had tried to make French toast on her last visit.
Please, not that, she prayed silently. Watching this strong, wonderful woman slip away by degrees would break her heart.
Just then Frances’s eyes blinked open. For a moment, she looked confused, but then she managed a faint smile. “I must have fallen asleep on the job. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Karen said. “Everything’s fine.”
“How long ago did you get home?”
“Just a few minutes ago.”
Frances glanced at her watch. “It’s early. I’ve heard about those margarita nights. They usually go on till all hours.”
“Maybe everyone’s just getting too old to hang out really late during the work week,” Karen said, unwilling to admit she’d left early to check on Frances. “How was everything here?”
“Fine. I helped Mack with his math homework, then we all had milk and cookies and the two of them went off to bed.”
“You should have gone into the guest room and gotten some sleep yourself,” Karen said, still studying her with concern. “I hope they didn’t wear you out.”
“Heavens, no. I’m still up to solving a little bit of math, at least for a second grader. I’m not sure I’ll be up to it once they start doing algebra. I couldn’t do that very well even in my prime.”
“Neither could I,” Karen said with a laugh. “I sure hope Elliott can.”
“Is he home yet? I should probably head home,” Frances said.
“I’m not sure when he’ll finally wander in. I got a ride home with Raylene. Why don’t you stay here tonight? I put a clean nightgown out for you again, and there are toiletries in the guest bathroom.”
Frances hesitated, then finally nodded. “Maybe that would be best,” she said. “And if you don’t mind, I think I’ll head in there right now.”
“Sure,” Karen said. “Good night, Frances. Thanks for staying with the kids tonight.”
“It’s been my pleasure, as always.”
After she’d gone, Karen stared after her. There’d been nothing amiss in their conversation, no hint of confusion. Even so, she couldn’t shake the sense that Daisy’s concern had been justified. For the second time, she resolved to keep a closer eye on Frances. If something else happened, as difficult as it might be, she’d have to have a heart-to-heart talk with her.
* * *
Elliott was relieved to find Karen already asleep when he got home from his evening with the guys. Once she’d texted him that she’d gotten a ride home with Raylene, he’d stayed on at Cal’s so they could all go over the numbers for the gym one more time. Though he
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