Page 60 of The Damaged Hearts Bargain

“You were doing my job,” Cal said quietly. “I should have been doing it.” She felt Lucy reach out and take her hand. She was speaking the truth. Not that she could have done it, she couldn’t have come back. Still though, she had to recognize that Deb had stepped up.

Deb leaned back against the kitchen counter. “Families are complicated things,” she said calmly. “It’s not for me to judge anything and I don’t. Dementia is hard on everyone, and watching someone fade away piece by piece is… well, it’s something that a lot of people can’t watch. There’s no shame in it, Callan.”

Cal’s stomach twisted. That wasn’t exactly the situation, but she really didn’t want to go into specifics. Deb turned back and poured the tea.

“So, um, how exactly does this work?” Lucy said brightly. “I’ve never done it before.”

“Me neither,” Deb said, handing her a mug. “But it was a reallykind thought, Cal. I was close to your mum, I’d like to have something to remember her by.” She handed Cal a mug of her own. “And actually, I do sort of have something in mind, if that would be alright? Feel free to say no, of course.”

“Anything,” Cal said.

“Might be easier if I showed you,” said Deb, picking up her tea and carrying it toward the stairs.

She came to a stop in Cal’s mother’s bedroom, looking down at the green jade box on the dressing table.

“It’s not real,” Cal said quickly.

Deb smiled. “It doesn’t matter, love. It’d be a nice memento, if you don’t mind.”

Cal’s stomach twisted again. That box. That stupid box. She’d be glad to get rid of it if nothing else. “I don’t mind in the slightest,” she said. “To be honest, I can’t wait to see the back of it.”

“It was always your mother’s special box,” Deb said, picking it up. “It’d mean a lot to have it.”

“Not a problem,” said Cal. She took a drink of her tea not sure what was supposed to happen next. She shot Lucy a look.

“How did you get into nursing?” Lucy asked, taking the reins of the conversation.

“Oh, it was years ago,” Deb began.

And Cal relaxed as Lucy took over the rest of the visit. It was nice, she thought, to have someone to rely on in these situations. Nice to have someone to… understand her perhaps.

Deb looked at her watch. “I’ve got to run,” she said. “Got an appointment to change some bandages in half an hour. Thanks for the tea.”

“I think we should be thanking you for that,” said Cal. She showed Deb out and then Lucy was wrapping an arm around her waist.

“That must have been tough,” Lucy said.

“A little,” agreed Cal. “I guess… I feel guilty about not being here. Even though I know I couldn’t have been here, if that makes sense?”

“Not really,” Lucy said. “I mean, I don’t understand everything.” She paused, looking down at Cal. “But if you say you couldn’t be here, then I believe you.” She smiled a little. “That box was sweet, you really didn’t mind Deb taking it?”

“Mind?” Cal said, heart racing at the thought of it. “That box started everything.”

Lucy’s face creased into a frown. “What do you mean?”

It really was too much to get into. And Cal didn’t want to spoil the rest of the day. So she grinned. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Now, I believe we have a room to finish packing up. Or at least we do if you’re at all interested in that surprise I’ve promised you?”

“Mmmm… bribery, I like it,” Lucy said turning toward the stairs. “What’s the surprise?”

“Do you understand what the word surprise actually means?” Cal asked.

Lucy laughed as Cal followed her up the stairs.

Chapter Twenty Five

“Ican’t be in two places at once, Luce,” George said.

“Well, neither can I,” said Lucy, sitting on one of the cafe chairs. “And I’ve got to work so it’s a no-go from me.”

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