“So, how are things with Allie?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I see. Well then, on to the reason I called. Do you have errands to run tomorrow or will you be on the phone all day?”
“Both. Mother insists she does not need someone staying here.”
“And Allie isn’t volunteering?”
“No, and she has a full morning on Wednesday so she cannot take Mother in for her appointment.”
“Then we will do as I suggested. I will come pick her up and if she is not dressed, she will go in her housecoat and slippers.”
“Better you than me.” Gillian blew out a sigh. “I just hate to leave her and let her sink right back into the way I found her.”
“I understand that. But we have more of a plan in motion now. I know Adam will come help me.”
“And Mrs. Gonzales says she will come every day to check on her. I gave her a key also. And no, I’ve not told Mother how many keys I have given out. Of course that might get her out of bed in pure fury.”
“Have I mentioned, Gillian, how grateful I am that you came?”
That stopped her. “I—ah, thank you. I’m grateful, too. Right now my life isn’t going the way I’d planned, but—well, we shall see.”
“Do you have to return to New York?”
“Yes, I think I do.”
“You don’t sound too positive.”
“I know, but I’ve never been in a position like this before.”
“Are you coming back?”
“Most likely, but I’m not sure how soon I can manage it.” She pulled out a chair and sat down. “One thing for sure, I will buy new phones for this house. Being shackled to the wall is torture.” As she’d hoped, he chuckled.
“Call me tomorrow when you know your schedule and I will come stay with Dorothy while you are gone. If I talk long enough, she might get up just to get away from me.”
It was her turn to chuckle. “Thank you, I will.”
After she’d hung up the phone, she went to stand at the sliding door, looking out at the sorry yard. Well, at least it was in better shape than when she had arrived. And so was her mother. Be thankful in the small things. She’d read that somewhere. If only Allie would cooperate. If only Mother would cooperate.
At least she made the hummingbird happy.
The first call Monday morning was to Scot Hudson, her former boss in New York City. When she said she was coming in on the red-eye, he paused before answering.
“You needn’t be there when the doors open, you know.”
“I know, but I just want to get it over with. Do you know what you are going to do next?”
“I’m going to take a much needed vacation; my wife has been busy studying travel brochures.”
“And then?”
“Sign up with a headhunter, call in whatever favors I can, and update my résumé.”
She wanted to ask if he had any prospects but decided it didn’t sound like it.
“When I land somewhere soon, I will let you know. I’d hire you in a heartbeat.”
“Thank you.” Just the knowledge that he considered her that valuable brightened her Monday morning. “Will you be in the office?”
“Nope. I’m cleaning out my office as I speak, and after our meeting tomorrow, let’s make it at Kathleen’s Café, Joyce and I will be on a plane to somewhere. I did say ten thirty, right?”
“Yes.” So much for changing the meeting day. “Good for you.” They hung up and she dialed Shannon’s number only to get the answering machine. After leaving a message regarding her plans for Tuesday, she attached her cell phone holster to her waistband before going to the back door to look out at the yard.
The hummingbird perched on the feeder outside the kitchen window, alternately feeding at the yellow plastic port and staring around for possible invaders. A variety of small birds clutched the perches on the tubular seed feeder. If only Mother would come out here and identify them like she used to do. A blue jay sat on the flat feeder, enjoying the sunflower seeds. Funny how some things Gillian remembered even though she’d not thought about the birds since the last time she visited.
At eight a.m., she started the phone calls to the service agencies. No one had anyone available today. She would have to come in and fill out forms. Did her mother have long-term care insurance? And yes, her mother was seventy-three and on Social Security, which at this point seemed very unsocial and not too secure.
She made the coffee, oatmeal, and two slices of toast, placed the items on a tray, and carried the tray to the bedroom. Once her mother was awake, Gillian settled the tray across her mother’s thighs and picked up her coffee mug along with one of the bowls of oatmeal with a spoon. She took hers to the chair and sat down to eat.
“The hummingbird is enjoying the feeders. What kind did you say she is?”
“Anna’s. I don’t know why you wasted your time putting them out. No one will be here to fill them.”
“I talked it over with Enzio and Mrs. Gonzales. They have agreed to refill the feeders and come and check on you every day. It doesn’t look like I can get someone in to take care of you for tonight.”
Dorothy looked up, her eyes slitted, her brows flat out. “I told you, I do not want someone here. I don’t want anyone here.”
“Well, you have a choice. Either someone here or I’m sure Dr. Isaacs is going to insist on a nursing home or an assisted living facility.” She didn’t say she was going to visit several of the assisted living places in the afternoon. She’d hoped Allie would come with her, but once again her sister hadn’t returned her phone call. “You cannot just stay here and let your life slip away.”
“Allie will come.”
“I hope so. But she said she cannot come every day or stay here nights.” And besides that, she was being a total snit. Gillian ate her oatmeal and sipped from her coffee, leaning over to pick up the bedroom phone when she heard the kitchen ringer. She answered the greeting, and then held the handset out to her mother. “It’s Dr. Isaacs.”
She watched as her mother glared at first her, then the phone, and held it to her ear.
“No.” Pause. “No.” Pause. “I don’t think so.” Another glare and she handed the phone back to Gillian.
“She’s not cooperating.” Dr. Isaacs did not sound surprised.
“I guess you could say that.” Gillian wished she’d opened the blinds all the way. “She ate a little last night and has her breakfast in front of her now, but she’s still in bed.”
“Did you try to locate a caregiver?”
“I called all the referrals, but no one can come today.”
“No one is going to live here,” her mother said.
“You heard that?” His chuckle said he did.
“Well, will she be here on Wednesday?”
“Yes, I’ve made arrangements for someone to bring her.”
“Good. I’ll talk with her then. Have you checked into any assisted living homes?”
“This afternoon, but I can’t really see that happening.” She hung up after he said good-bye and returned to her coffee, glancing over to see how much her mother had eaten. Never had she thought she would be here, literally forcing her mother to eat.
“I am not moving.”
“Then you have to make the effort to get strong again.”
“You just don’t understand.”
Gillian flinched at the whining tone. When had that started? If only Allie were here to answer these questions. Staring at her mother, she shook her head. “No, I guess I don’t.”
“I’m dying. I had a stroke and I’m dying.”
“Have some more of that toast. You make the best peach jam. I found it in your freezer.” I will ignore the whining. I will ignore the dying. I will… The doorbell ringing interrupted her affirmations.
“Who could that be?”
“Not Allie, she has a key.” Gillian headed for the front door, recognizing the tall form through the taut lace curtains. She unlock
ed it and pulled it open. “Adam, how wonderful to see you. Come in.” She stepped back for him to enter. You have no idea how glad I am to see your friendly face.
“Good Monday morning to you, too.” He looked into her eyes and dropped his voice. “How bad is it?”
“You don’t know me that well; I should be able to fool you.”
His grin brought a warm feeling to her middle. “Your eyes give you away.”
“You are too perceptive. I can hide a migraine from a boardroom full of clients when I have to.”
“You aren’t dealing with your mother then. Business is different.”
She led him into the kitchen. “The coffee is fresh. We had peach freezer jam on toast. Would you like some?”
“Sounds good. How is our patient today?”
Our patient. She smiled back at him. “Which one, Mother or me?”
“There is a difference between patient and patience.”
She poured his cup of coffee and plunked two slices into the toaster. While she’d never been a comfort food addict, that second piece of toast felt more like a necessity than a choice. “You on your way to work?”
“Yes, I thought of going in early, but I wanted to see you again before you left, so here I am.”
“Thank you. You have no idea how grateful I was to hear that doorbell.”
“Any news from New York?”
“My boss has cleaned out his office and will be heading somewhere on a vacation with his wife by tomorrow afternoon, after he meets with me. I am hoping he has both more information for me and a possible job lead. When he returns, if he finds a position and can hire help, he will call me. In the meantime, I’ll clean out my office tomorrow.” And then I start looking for another position. The thought of no job made her stomach clench.
“Will that be a big job?”
“Four or five boxes I imagine.” She buttered and spread jam on the toast and poured herself a fresh cup of coffee. “So, how does your day look?” Anything to change the subject. Taking a chair at the table, she sat down and they both took one of the halves of toast she’d cut.
“Normal. There will be a stack of stuff in my inbox, a pile of pink slips of calls to return, and hopefully all the staff will be there. I’m going to need a new clerk, one of my best and most dependable women is nearing her mandatory pregnancy leave. Finding good part-time help is difficult.”
“Like finding someone to come in to take care of Mother for tonight. Pretty impossible.”
“Does she need someone at night?”
Gillian shook her head. “I check on her before I go to bed and I sleep through the night. But I would hear her if she called for help.”
“How about one of those alarm buttons I’ve seen many older people wearing around their necks? They seem like a wise choice for someone who wants to live alone.”
“Live is the questionable word.”
He huffed and shook his head. “This is so hard to understand, to accept. My mother fought like a tiger to live…”
“And my mother just wants to die.” She pushed the plate of toast over to him. “I can’t understand it, either. My mother has always been so strong. Demanding for sure, but she’s the last person I would have expected to act like this.”
“Is Allie coming over?”
Gillian shrugged. “Enzio will come and stay here while I check out retirement—or rather, assisted living facilities. He says he’s going to keep on talking to Mother until she gets up to get away from him.”
He glanced at his watch. “Sorry, but I’d better be heading out. What time do you leave for the airport?”
“Sevenish. Hopefully after the traffic.”
“Can I have your cell number?”
“Sure.” She picked up her purse and dug out a business card. “I should have given you this before. Not that I have a position there, but the cell number is accurate.”
“Do you mind if I call you?”
She stared at him. “Not at all. I’d be delighted.”
“Good.” He put the card into his chest pocket and stood. “Dad and I’ll be checking on Dorothy.”
“I know. Thank you.” She followed him to the door. He paused on the stoop.
“Come back soon.”
From the look in his eyes, she realized he wasn’t thinking about her taking care of her mother. This was personal. She watched him stride down the sidewalk and around the front of his SUV. What would…Stop it, Gillian. You live in New York and he lives in Martinez, California, opposite ends of the country. And on top of that, he loves boating and monster dogs. And you love life in the big city. Don’t you?
Chapter Fourteen
She hadn’t said when she’d be back. Or if she was coming back.
Adam closed the door on his thoughts and turned into the parking lot of the nursery in Pittsburg, upriver from Martinez. Never in his wildest dreams had he pictured himself running a nursery. But since it helped his dad, it was worth every minute. Besides, which, he enjoyed the business.
As he made his way to his office cramped between the cut flower and arrangement division and the designer pot displays, he greeted both employees and customers and kept a sharp watch to see if any plants needed watering or were looking wilted. Nothing cost them customer satisfaction more than neglecting the plants.
“Adam, when you have a minute, could we talk?” Suzanne, his soon-to-be-on-leave favored employee, asked as he went by.
“Sure, but after noon, okay?”
“No problem.” She turned to the next customer, not happy about being confined to the cash register since she loved working outside helping customers choose the perfect plants.
He shut the office door behind him. He usually had an open door policy, but he needed a few minutes of quiet reflection. Now, if a certain New Yorker would just stay out of his mind, along with the sight of his father’s weary eyes as he left in the truck for the other store. Adam and Gillian had a lot in common, dealing with an aging parent.
A miraculously short stack of pink slips disappeared in a few minutes with most being completed; only two messages left on answering machines. He flipped through the papers in his inbox, dealt with two, and left the remainder for later.
“Come along,” he told John, one of his assistants, on the way out to the fall flowers. “You go get the forklift and I’ll join you out by the deciduous trees.”
“Another yard display?”
“That’s right. I have the plan right here.” Adam slapped the pocket of his short green apron, the first thing every employee donned as soon as they opened their locker. He’d planned out one display to show a fall garden, using the colorful foliage of both trees and shrubs against a background of solid evergreens in their large containers, along with various size pots of chrysanthemums, flowering cabbage, and other fall bloomers. Last June a man had come in and bought the entire summer-theme display. Although yard displays took up a lot of time, that extra effort did wonders for the bottom line.
The main delivery trucks arrived on Tuesdays and Fridays, so Adam could use the trees, shrubs, and flowers already in stock and fill in with the new plants when they arrived.
“I asked Ricky earlier to clear out some space near the front of the yard,” he told John.
“I helped him; we’re ready to go.”
“I think we’ll use a couple of those artificial rocks, too.” Within minutes he had the trees chosen and tagged with green tape, doing the same for the rocks. He decided the pond area needed sprucing up, too, so he jotted himself a note. Moving on to the shrubs and evergreens, he tagged them, too. What else did he have to put in the display that had been hanging around for a while? Nowadays garden art played a big part in yards, and they had a good selection of that, too.
As John brought in the trees, they set them in place and began filling in around them with the shrubs and smaller flowers. By the time lunch rolled around they’d finished, and already customers were commenting on their work. They surrounded other displays of plan
ts with solid masses of chrysanthemums, including all colors and varieties. Where people usually might buy one or two gallon-size plants, now the shopping carts were leaving full to overflowing. Seeing a solid mass of color made buyers want the same. One plant wouldn’t achieve good results.
“Did the pumpkins come in?” he asked.
“They did. Are you serious that we are going to carve them?” John tucked his leather gloves back over the ties of his apron.
“Carve and plant them. I saw a great idea in Sunset magazine. So if things slow down, set Carlos and JD to carving the tops out and cleaning out the seeds. When they have a few done, I’ll show them what I want or I’ll put on a demonstration for the customers.”
“Okay.” John took the forklift back behind the main building, and Adam went in search of Suzanne.
She joined him in his office as soon as a replacement could be found for checkout duty. “I have a problem,” she said quickly.
“Okay, what’s up?”
“The doctor says I need to get off my feet more, to ask for earlier leave. I hate to do this, Adam, but…”
“Consider it done.” He glanced at his watch. “You’re nearly finished for today, right?” At her nod, he continued. “Were you on the schedule for tomorrow?”
“I was supposed to open.”
“I see.” He pondered for a moment. “You just take care of that baby. We will deal with the rest.”
“I hate to leave you in the lurch like this.”
“I know. That’s why I value you so highly. Prompt employees are getting fewer and harder to find. Keep us posted on how you are doing.” He stood and came around the desk to shake her hand. “Don’t look so sad. All will be well.”
“That’s what you always say.”
“That’s only because it is true. Payday is tomorrow. You want to come by for your check or shall I mail it?”
“My husband can pick it up after work, if that’s all right.”
“It will be at the front desk as usual.” He watched her leave. Who could he depend on or train to take her position? John was already working full time. He went down his list of employees. Most had been there over a year and many for several years. His father believed in treating his employees well, like he did his plants. If only he took care of himself as well as he did his businesses.
On Hummingbird Wings Page 11