“Otherwise I’d work on it tomorrow, too.”
“That’s fine,” Gillian said. “I’m just grateful it won’t be tied up longer.”
Roger handed Gillian a copy of the work order and another piece of paper. “We have a deal with a local car rental company, so take this certificate with you. That will save you some money there. Does the insurance include rentals in a situation like this?”
“I have no idea. I’ll just pay it and see about that later. Thank you.”
Adam guided her to his SUV and held the door open for her. He might be at the shop before noon at the rate they were going.
“You can just drop me at the car rental if you want to. I know you need to get to work.”
“That’s okay. I thought perhaps we could swing by a coffee shop I know and I’d treat you to a cup of coffee.”
“Add a doughnut and you’re on.”
“Okay. This place has good scones, too.”
Her phone rang and she dug it out of the holster on her purse. “Allie, where are you?” She glanced at Adam and rolled her eyes.
He got the impression this was not a call she wanted to take.
“Gee, I’m sorry to hear that. No, Mother ate a bit for breakfast and grumbled at me when I said we’d do a shower this afternoon. I’m going to buy two baskets of flowers and hang them outside her window. Hopefully watching the hummingbirds will encourage her. Good. Well, keep me posted. I was hoping we could have a family get-together on Sunday.” She slid the phone back into the holster and heaved a sigh. “Well, I don’t have to worry about her coming and demanding that I inform Mother about the car.”
“They’re going somewhere?”
“Out to Half Moon Bay as soon as the games are done. They’ll be back Sunday night.” She raised her hands in the air. “One more thing to be really grateful for.”
“You want to go sailing with my family then? I’m hoping to take the boat out Sunday afternoon.”
“I would like to, but I’m no fun on a boat. I’ll just get seasick and make everyone miserable.”
Adam shrugged. “When you see a doctor, just ask for a prescription to overcome motion sickness. They have some good ones now.” He pulled into a parking lot and parked in front of Mamie’s Coffee Shop. “I’ll get you out there yet.” He wasn’t sure if that was a threat or a promise.
Chapter Twenty-one
Gillian opted for a car with a trunk instead of the sports car she’d first considered, purely because she needed space to haul the hanging baskets. Stopping at the nursery on Alhambra Avenue that she knew belonged to Adam’s father, she purchased one basket of pink petunias and another of red. She thanked the young man who had helped her, especially for the reminder that if a frost was predicted she would need to cover them. After tucking the trailing branches in carefully, she closed the trunk.
Next stop, the Knob Hill Market for some microwave-ready food for lunch and dinner, and salad mixes and fixings. Leaving there she noticed the list of movies playing at the theater across the street. Would there be any chance she could talk her mother into going to a movie?
What had Dorothy’s social life been like? Or did she have a social life, other than the senior center, church, and her garden? She used to belong to some other organization, if Gillian could just remember its name.
“So why didn’t I buy some other bedding plants?” she asked herself as she followed the streets back to her mother’s house. Her mother had many pots that needed filling, and since so many plants survive the winter here, they could be a real brightener for both front and backyards. Fresh plants would bring beauty back until the shrubs and flowers already established grew back or were replaced. She shook her head, amazed that she was thinking along these lines, acting as if she were really going to stay here instead of returning to New York and seeking another job.
Since she’d bought some prepared clam chowder, she decided to serve that for lunch. Did her mother like clam chowder? Maybe the two of them should make a list of Mother’s likes and dislikes.
She drove the car into the garage but didn’t lower the door until she could take the baskets out. “Mother, I’m back,” she called as she entered the house.
No answer. She checked on her mother. How could anyone possibly sleep this much? “Mother.” At least Dorothy’s eyes blinked open without Gillian having to touch her shoulder.
“You came back. I dreamed you left.”
“I did leave to do some errands. But I am back now and thinking we’ll have clam chowder for lunch. How does that sound?”
Dorothy shrugged.
“I brought a surprise. I stopped at Bentley’s and got two hanging baskets so the hummingbirds will feed right outside your window where you can enjoy them.”
“You never give up, do you?”
“Nope. You’re stuck with me so let’s make the best of it. Would you like a shower before or after lunch?”
“Neither.”
“Well, then. I’m hungry so we’ll eat first. Then I’ll hang the baskets and then your shower.” You sound like Miss Merry Sunshine, Gillian thought as she brought the groceries into the kitchen. At least Mother isn’t asking about her car.
After she’d served their lunch and they were eating in the bedroom, Gillian asked, “Mother, how long since you’ve been out of your bedroom, other than to the bathroom? Not counting the doctor’s visit, of course.”
Dorothy blinked and shrugged. “I don’t know. What day is this?”
“Friday. I came home the first time a week ago.” Last Friday, who would have dreamed such cataclysmic changes would occur in her own life in one week?
While Dorothy appeared to be thinking, moving her head back and forth with such small movements, Gillian wondered if there was something wrong. Had Mother had another TIA? “I don’t know.”
“You don’t remember the date you took to your bed?”
“It wasn’t all of a sudden, you know. I just couldn’t see any sense of getting up and I knew that was because of the stroke.”
Gillian let that one pass. Dr. Isaacs had said most people didn’t even recognize they’d had one. “Mother, you still haven’t told me exactly what the doctor said.”
“He checked me over, all the normal things, ordered an EKG and blood work, and said if nothing showed up I was healthy as a horse and to get out of bed and back to life.”
“You told him how you felt?”
“I told him I was dying—and he laughed. He said that he and I were too ornery to die so young.” She locked her arms across her chest, making the dishes on the tray rattle.
“I see.”
“Enzio read to me yesterday. I think he ran out of things to say.”
“Did you enjoy being read to? I know I do. That’s why I either buy or rent audio books. I have several if you would like to hear one.”
“I fell asleep. I think he did, too, sitting in that chair.”
Goodness! We’re actually carrying on a conversation. “Allie called, they are going to Half Moon Bay after Sherrilyn’s soccer game and will be back Sunday night.”
“Oh.” Dorothy pushed the tray away, so Gillian picked it up. Most of the chowder was gone and half of the coffee. She’d done well.
“I’m going to hang the baskets now. I’ll use the step stool in the pantry.”
“You be careful out there.”
“Yes, Mother, I will. Can I get you some juice to drink?”
With a shake of the head, Dorothy turned on her side and pulled the covers up. “You could close the blinds.”
Not likely. Gillian took the tray back to the kitchen and retrieved the key to the side gate from the board where the house keys were carefully labeled. Now that was like the mother she remembered, not this pitiful remnant in the bedroom. She was just heading outside to open the gate, when her cell phone rang. Ignore it and keep going. She could always call back or…she snatched the phone out of the holder on the fourth ring, not bothering to check the caller ID.
“Hi.”
The sound of his voice made her smile. “Hi, yourself. I’m on my way out to hang up the pots I bought at your dad’s nursery.”
“Those big ones?”
“I guess they are the big ones. Two took up most of the trunk.”
“Why don’t you wait and I’ll stop on my way home? They’re heavy.”
This made her smile wider. She who was Miss Independent in New York found herself being assisted by a very nice man. “If I have trouble, I’ll wait.” But I am pretty strong. Hand weights helped with that. Which reminded her. She’d need to buy some here since she hadn’t brought her own.
“The reason I called, would you like to come to church with us on Sunday? Dad and I attend the early service at eight thirty, then we go out for breakfast.”
“What church do you go to?”
“A new nondenominational one on Morello.”
“I’d like to but…”
“But your mother?”
“Yes.” She thought a moment. She’d been running errands, so leaving Dorothy alone for a short while wasn’t a problem. She knew her mother wouldn’t mind at all. Allie would be out of town. “Yes, I’d like to go.” The answer surprised her. She thought she was going to say no.
“Good, this way you’ll get to know my dad. He’s looking forward to meeting you.”
She heard him respond to a question from someone in the background.
“Call you later; I have to go.”
She hung up and tapped the phone against her chin. Strange, or rather surprising, how she was settling into life here. Cleaning house, buying plants, working in the yard, making friends, and now going to church. This wasn’t the way she’d thought it would be at all. Not that she’d given her future a great deal of thought since arriving back at her mother’s house. She should be making plans and decisions, listing her name with headhunters and working on her résumé, especially since she’d never needed one in all these years.
Yes, she’d made decisions all right like which plants to buy, what groceries were needed, what car to rent, and now to go to church or not. But none of those choices would have any effect on her long-term plans. She needed to decide what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. Of course Scot might get a really good thing going again and call her to help him. They worked well together. But could she count on that? Was she wise to depend on a nebulous hope, or should she begin her job search in San Francisco? Soon.
One month. Surely she could take one month here with her mother to help her back on her feet, to return the yard and garden to their former condition so her mother could enjoy them again. Could she believe that all this was part of God’s plan for her? After all, she used to believe that about her life in New York. Was there any good reason not to believe that way again? Just because the company was bought out, it wasn’t her fault. Staring out at the weeds, sticks, and dead plants, surely getting the yard back in shape was a worthy goal, for a month at least.
She shoved her phone back in the holster and headed outside to deal with the baskets. One thing at a time and this was the most important right now. She’d heard someone say, “Just do the next right thing.” The only question was, was this right thing, the best thing? Maybe she should call Adam back and put church off for another week. Was decision remorse the same as buyer’s remorse?
Gillian positioned the folding step stool under the hook, removed the hummingbird feeder, and went to the car for the baskets. The man carrying them both had made it look easy. So much for her weight training; these were heavy. She set the baskets on the concrete apron in front of the garage and fetched the wheelbarrow from the gardening shed by the garage wall. Putting them in carefully to break off as few branches as possible, she wheeled the baskets around to the back. Good thing she had purchased chains for hanging them. Standing on the top step, she attached the end of the chain over the hook and let it dangle. Now to get the wire hook for the basket into one of the links.
Standing on the first step of the three, she held the basket by the sides and aimed for the chain link. By the third try and miss, she set the whole thing back in the wheelbarrow. Surely this should not be so difficult.
Her phone rang and she wandered over to the lawn chairs by the table to sit and talk with Enzio. “Thanks for calling.”
“Isn’t caller ID a handy thing? What are you working on, you sound like you’re puffing.”
“Trying to hang these two baskets of petunias I brought home for the hummingbirds. I want Mother to see them out her window. Maybe it will be an encouragement for her.”
“Do you need a hand?”
“I hate to admit it, but I’m not managing very well on my own.”
“Good, I wanted to come over anyway.”
“You know you don’t need an invitation.”
“A man likes to know he is needed.”
“I think that’s a universal need, not confined to the male of the species.”
“Are you in need of a sinful treat?”
“My dear Enzio, any time is the right time for something sweet. I’ll make some iced tea. It’ll be ready by the time you get here. Bring some for Mother, too. I’ll make sure she is awake.”
“See you in a bit.”
She left the baskets and stopped in the kitchen to turn on the teakettle. Shame she hadn’t started sun tea that morning. It tasted much better than brewed. Now there would be no time for her mother’s shower. Unless they waited till evening after Enzio left. Content with that, she entered the bedroom, then changed her mind before waking her mother. She and Enzio needed to talk.
She poured the brewed tea over the ice cubes about the time he rang the doorbell. Inviting him in, she handed him a glass and led the way to the outside table. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“Does it have anything to do with the rental car sitting in the garage?” He set a white paper bag on the table.
She nodded. “I was involved in a multicar accident on the six eighty late yesterday afternoon. Only the bumpers were damaged on Mother’s car, so today it went in for repairs. I should get it back Monday.” She nodded at his question before he asked it. “I am fine, was nearly stopped when I hit the guy in front and someone hit me from behind.” She sipped her tea. “I’ve not told Mother yet. You know how she is about her car. I couldn’t believe she offered it for me to drive and then this happened.”
“You’ve had some adventures already.” He opened the bag and held it out to her.
“Macaroons.” She reached inside for one. “I love macaroons. In fact I love all Italian bakery things, if you haven’t guessed.”
He took one, too, and leaned back in the chair. “Those are the baskets?”
“Yes. I just need someone to lift them from the bottom so I can slide the hook into the chain link.”
“Won’t take but a minute. The grass is starting to come back.”
Gillian turned to look at the slender spears. “Amazing what a little water can do. Do I need to fertilize it?”
“Not usually at this time of year. It’ll go dormant once it gets cold. In fact there’s a cold front moving down from the north. You might want to plan a cover for the baskets or just not put them up yet.”
“No, I want Mother to see them. The hummingbirds are so feisty.” She nibbled on her cookie. “I was thinking of buying plants for pots and some to put around the front door. Do you think the jasmine will come back?”
“Possibly. Pansies always make it through the winter. Cyclamen is just coming into the stores. Snapdragons are good winter flowers, too, along with primrose.”
“You are a wealth of information. No wonder you and Mother became good friends. Did your wife garden, too?”
“Betina took care of the flowers, I did the vegetables. Now I do it all and it’s not nearly as much a pleasure.” He set his glass down on the table. “Let’s get those baskets up. You needn’t worry, I’ll keep your secret.”
“I plan to tell her, but not until the car is back
in the garage, all restored to pristine condition.” Together they had the baskets hung in a minute, and Enzio trundled the wheelbarrow back to where it belonged. “Amazing how handy four hands are instead of just two.”
“Have you met Angelina Gonzales, next door, yet?”
“Yes, last time I was here and asked her to water the plants and check on Mother.” She studied his face as he stared at the glass in his hands. Something seemed to be bothering him, if the wrinkling forehead was an indication. “What is it, Enzio?”
“I was thinking I would tell you my idea, but I think I must run it by Dorothy first.”
“Good idea or bad?”
His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her. “Oh, I think it is a very good idea, but for now I, too, have to keep a secret.”
“I told you mine.”
“Ah, but this one—I can’t spoil it.”
“Enzio, dear man, have I ever mentioned that I abhor secrets?” At his raised eyebrows, she added, “Mostly ones that I don’t know.”
“Soon, my dear. Soon.” He patted her hand. “Let’s go see if we can irritate your mother.”
Chapter Twenty-two
I can’t come with you to church this morning. She’s dead.”
“What?” Adam found it hard to even recognize her voice between the sobs. “Gillian?”
“Yes. It froze last night and our hummingbird is dead.”
“I-I’m sorry.” Please don’t cry. He tried to subdue the idea that she was really overreacting to the death of a little bird. There were lots of hummingbirds around the area. Listening to her cry made him want to go see her, hold her. No one should have to cry alone, and he was sure her mother was sleeping right through this. “Have you told your mother?”
“No, I’m the one who’s been feeding her, and I brought the baskets for her to enjoy and…”
Does she mean her mother or the hummingbird? Adam stared out the sliding glass door to where his father was uncovering the babies. He’d covered them as a precaution, like he always did. “Did you cover the plants like I suggested?”
On Hummingbird Wings Page 18