Page 45 of Love's Harvest
After he left, Sarah walked out of the room to search for some coffee, leaving her mother talking quietly to her father.
Later, while her mother talked to a nurse in the hallway, Sarah gave her father a hug.“How are you, Dad?Are you going to be okay?”
He looked at her with a new uncertainty.“I’m going to do what the doctors and nurses tell me to do.And I’m going to follow your mother’s advice and do some of the recovery in Florida where I won’t have to worry about the store.”
“Yes, Mom has indicated that’s what she wants.”Sarah hid the fact that she didn’t feel ready to take over the store.Somehow, she’d figure everything out.Because she’d do anything to keep her parents happy and healthy.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A couple of days later, after thanking Aaron for his continued concern, Sarah helped her father enter her parents’ house and was thrilled to see that he moved well.A physical therapist had helped him with exercises that made mobility easier.His usual jovial mood, however, was impaired by the constant questions he had about the store.
Sarah felt trapped between her parents’ wishes.Her father wanted information and her mother wanted him to stay away from anything to do with the store.After she got her father settled on the couch, she faced both her parents.
“I know you, Dad, are concerned about the business.There’s no need.I’ve talked to the staff, including Wyatt and April, and they’re all willing to put more hours into the store for the holiday season.I’ve also asked Dani Collister to step in to help us.She’ll handle a lot of the sales you used to handle.Things pertaining to construction.She’s thrilled to help out during this quiet time for her.”
“What about the girls?If you’re going to be spending more time at the store, who’s going to help out with them?”asked her mother.
“I may still rely on you at night,” said Sarah.“But GG Wittner found me a babysitter through the assisted living facility.A nice, older woman named Lucille Nordby.She’s staying at The Woodlands because her much older husband needed to be there.She, herself, is bored and wants to get out and do something.She’s physically able to handle the girls.”
“Oh, my!You’ve been busy,” said her mother.
“Yes, I didn’t want you to worry about anything.That will get us through the holidays, and then we’ll make more permanent arrangements as you prepare to go to Florida,” said Sarah.
“What about the financial records?”asked her mother.“I can train someone to take over for me.”
“That person would be me,” said Sarah.“I know a lot about it but would feel better if you had time to train me thoroughly.”
“Sarah, I’m really proud of you,” said her father.
“Me, too,” added her mother.“It’s what we always wanted.”
“One step at a time,” said Sarah, aware neither of her parents were simply going to walk away from their business.But this time of recovery and subsequent trip to Florida would make it easier on all of them.
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Sarah brought the girls over to her parents’ house so they could see their PopPop.
Watching them give him hugs and the drawings each had made brought sentimental tears to her eyes.They were very gentle with him as she’d requested.
On the way home, Mia and Emily asked a lot of questions about their grandfather being sick.Sarah kept the details simple but explained that both he and their grandmother would need lots of rest.
Later, back at the house, Sarah overheard Mia and Emily tell Luke that their PopPop needed lots of rest so he could get better.The girls loved their dog so much and wanted to keep him informed.
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Sarah had interviewed Lucille Nordby at the assisted living facility before she introduced her to the girls.But today was the first one where Lucille would pick up Emily and Mia at their preschool, take them home, and watch them until Sarah got home from the store, which closed at six.
Ms.Lucy, as the girls called her, was important to the plans for the store’s future.Standing at five foot three, she was a bundle of energy in a well-maintained body that had enough curves to appear comforting.Her hair was dyed blond and went well with her fair coloring and still youthful face.
Anxious to see how the afternoon went, Sarah left the store in a hurry.
Luke met her at the door wagging his tail, and as she patted him, she inhaled a delicious aroma of something cooking.Chicken perhaps.
Lucy walked out of the kitchen.“I hope you don’t mind.Mia said she was hungry, and I thought I’d surprise you with dinner.”
“Oh, thank you so much!”cried Sarah, giving her a hug.“I dreaded the thought of having to prepare it.”
Laughing, Lucy said, “The food at The Woodlands is very good, but I like to mess around in the kitchen.It’s something I’ve missed doing since my husband and I came to the assisted living facility.Unfortunately, he’s living in the special memory care area for Alzheimer’s patients while I have my own room in the main building.It was the best compromise I could think of.But it has its drawbacks.”
