Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
It didn’t help the first sound I heard when I did manage to doze off was my phone going off. I turned around to try to go back to sleep, but it kept ringing. With an angry growl, I grabbed my phone to turn it off then remembered that it could be Chris calling from the office, so I checked the caller ID.
It was my mother. Even worse. I contemplated ignoring her, but knowing her, she would show up on my doorstep if she wasn’t acknowledged immediately. I couldn’t have her finding Frankie here.
“What?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line followed by an exaggerated sigh. “Is that how you greet people on the phone? I’m quite sure I raised you better than that.”
“If I recall clearly, you left me to my own devices quite a bit.”
Her reply was another pregnant pause, and honestly I wasn’t in the mood to placate her.
“Mother, I’m sure you had a reason for calling me, so would you mind telling me what it is?”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve such an ungrateful son. After everything I’ve done for my children, you all treated me like I’m nothing. First you decided to take off to live your life miles away from home even though I needed you. I haven’t heard from your sister in years, and Kenny took off with that…that woman and because he didn’t listen to me, he’s dead. I don’t even know why you bothered to move back in this area if all you were going to do is keep breaking my heart. I had to bury my youngest child not too long ago, and you can’t be bothered to answer the phone without being rude ad disrespectful. After all I’ve done for you….” There was a sniff that followed her guilt-inducing soliloquy followed by a full-on cry.
A dull throb in the back of my skull slowly moved to the front of it threatening to become a full-blown migraine, and the last thing I needed was this. I had to remind myself that my mother was lonely and grieving. The least I could do was not make things harder for her. I needed to reserve my anger for the person who deserved it: Frankie.
I released a heavy sigh. “Mom, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”
“I raised the three most ungrateful children, one who was had special needs, singlehandedly because God knows your father didn’t give a damn. And this is how you treat me. I don’t deserve this.” Her sobs became harder. I wasn’t sure if she was sincerely crying or playing it up, but she had a point.
“You’re right. I just didn’t sleep very well, and now I feel a headache coming on.”
“You’re not feeling well? Maybe I should come over and cook something for you, take care of you the way I use to when you were a child. You may be an adult now, but you’re never too old to be taken care of from time to time. I could come over now.”
“No! Don’t come over.” I couldn’t imagine how disastrous it would be for my mother to just show up considering her last confrontation with Frankie. “I mean, I don’t want you to go out of your way to come over here. Besides, all I need is to pop a couple of aspirin and get some sleep, and I’ll feel better.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem at all to come over. I don’t have anything on my schedule today.”
“I appreciate it but please take some time for yourself today. I will be sleeping, so all your fussing will be wasted on me.”
She sniffed. “You always were the most independent out of the three of my children. As I said, there’s nothing wrong with leaning on someone from time to time.”
It was then I realized she wasn’t pushing to come over just to take care of me. She was lonely. I needed to be more cognizant of her situation. “Mom, I’ll tell you what, how about I take you out to lunch some place nice this week?”
“Anywhere I want? How about the country club? I haven’t been there since before my sweet Kenny passed. It would be great if the ladies there can see me with my successful handsome son.”
“Of course, Mom. Whatever you want. I’ll be in touch with you later this week.”
“Okay, I just wanted to call to check in on you. You are all I have left, so I worry sometimes.”
I didn’t think now was the appropriate time to mention that she had another child. so I kept my mouth shut. “Of course, Mom. I need to lie back down, but thanks for calling.”
“Of course, sweetie. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Sometimes I thought my mother was addicted to wanting people to feel sorry for her as horrible a thought as it was. After the funeral when we were back at the house to host sympathy givers, she seemed to thrive beneath the many condolences she received that day. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it felt as if those kind words invigorated her in some way. Maybe it was all in my head and there was nothing to it, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it.