Page 66 of Make Me Trust Again
Thankfully, my sister doesn’t probe further. I get out of the truck, holding open the door for Shadow, who’s been holding her head out the window this whole time. She jumps out and brushes against the side of my leg in the process.
Becky slides her bag over her shoulder as she walks to the back door and pulls Jackson out of his car seat. She shifts him onto her hip while the little dude watches around intently. His big green eyes meet mine, and he lets out a bubbly sound.
“He’s grown so big,” I say as we walk toward the front door.
“He’s his father’s son, that’s for sure.” Becky gives me a pointed look. “Maybe that’s your sign to come over more often, Uncle Chase. It wouldn’t kill you to stop by for dinner every once in a while. God knows what monstrosities you’re eating.”
“I’m almost thirty, I can take care of myself.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. I know you’re a neat freak, but we both know you can’t boil water without burning it. Knowing you, you’re probably eating some boxed food.”
Her nose furrows in disgust at the mere idea. Not that I can blame her. Some of the boxed food is questionable at best, but it’s not like I care. I’ve eaten way worse than that. Not that I’ve been eating much of those the last few days anyway.
It seems like those plastic containers keep finding their way to my porch lately. I know I should tell Rose to stop doing it. But that would require going to her place, and that’s the last thing I want to do when I need to put some distance between us.
“What’s with that face?”
Glancing at Becky, I find her narrowed eyes on me.
“Nothing.”
If possible, she squints even further. “Mm-hmm…”
“Has anyone ever told you how annoying you can be?”
Becky tilts her head to the side as if she’s thinking about it. “Not lately.”
“Well, this is your reminder.” Pulling the door open, I hold it for Becky to enter first before following after her. A couple of nurses are sitting at the front desk, and they smile at us when they see us coming.
“Oh, who do we have here?” the older nurse coos at Jackson. While most babies would hide from the attention, this kid just grins wider. “Just look at him. Hello, there, handsome. Your grandma will be so happy to see you.”
“And we’re happy to see her, right, Jax?” Becky wiggles her fingers at her son, who giggles before she shifts her attention to the nurses. “Is Mom in her room?”
The other nurse shakes her head. “They just had a little snack, so she’s out in the garden.”
“How is she doing?”
“Good. A little hazy, but she’s been present today.”
We thank the nurses and make our way to the small garden in the back. She spent a lot of time there, I guess because it reminds her of home.
Mom’s Alzheimer’s has gotten worse in the last year. These days she’s been stuck in the past more than living in the present moment, so we take any chance we can get to come when she is herself—Becky more than me. I think I look so much like my dad that sometimes it confuses her and pulls her back to the past. But today I’m willing to risk it, considering it’s been a while since I’ve seen her.
Becky smiles at one of the nurses, who’s monitoring a handful of people playing checkers in the living room as we go out onto the terrace. Mom is sitting on a bench under one of the trees, her head tilted back as she watches the sky, a distant expression on her face.
My stomach tightens, my hand landing on Shadow’s back.
“Hey, Mom,” Becky greets softly as we come closer.
I hold my breath as she slowly turns her attention to us. There is a blank expression on her face for a moment, but then she smiles.
“Rebecca.” Mom’s gaze shifts to me before it goes to Jackson. “And you brought me company.”
She lifts her hand to nuzzle Jackson’s cheek, but he has other plans. He extends his hands, making Mom chuckle. “Look at you, so big.”
Becky gently shifts Jackson into our mother’s arms, and a smile illuminates her face as she looks at her grandson.
“He’s growing so fast.” Becky takes a seat on the bench next to her. “I can’t believe he’ll soon be one.”
