Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
I wheel my mom up the ramp, and we’re greeted by Lovey. “Hey! Hi!” She abandons her post and rushes over, pulling me into a hug. “I saw your mom’s name on the intake sheet, and I hoped I’d still be here when you arrived.” She turns to my mom, her smile warm as she extends her hand. “Hi, Mrs. Marks. I’m Lovey, a friend of Winter’s.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Mom smiles nervously.
“Lovey’s dad is one of the coaches over at the Hockey Academy. Her brother is Officer Butterson.”
“Oh, he came to visit me in the hospital and brought me this.” She lifts the aloe plant in her lap. She refused to let me put it in a box. “He’s quite handsome. Like a Ken doll.”
Lovey laughs. “That’s an excellent description. Come on. I’ll show you around and we can get you settled in your room.”
We’re introduced to several staff members. There’s always a nurse on duty, and a doctor on call, as well as nurses’ aides to assist the patients. The center has a physical therapy clinic, a dining room with the daily menu posted, and access to a snack and salad bar all day. There’s also a common room with a huge flat-screen TV, two shelves full of books, and a games and craft area.
“The daily schedule is posted here every morning. If there’s anything you want to participate in, just let one of our staff members know, and they’ll help you register. We also collaborate with the library, so if there are events you’d like to attend, we can arrange to get you there.” Lovey points to a screen listing various activities scheduled throughout the day, including meal times, and a second schedule with the library’s calendar of events.
When I start to push Mom’s chair toward the hallway that leads to the patient rooms, she pats my hand. “Wait.” She squints at the screen. “GED classes? Is that something anyone can sign up for?”
Lovey, bless her heart, doesn’t even flinch. “Absolutely. Clover Sweet is the head librarian. She can get you enrolled if you’re interested.”
“That might be nice.”
“Great. Once you’re unpacked, we can work on setting that up.”
Lovey shows us to my mom’s room and gives us a quick tour. It’s like a small, self-contained studio apartment, complete with a private, occupational bathroom.
“If you need anything, just let one of the staff know.” Lovey winks at me on the way out. “I’ll text you later, okay?”
“Yeah. Thank you.” It comes out a little choked.
“We got you.”
She closes the door behind her. Mom presses her fingers to her lips, on the edge of emotion. “It’s so nice here.”
“It really is,” I agree.
“It’d be easy to get used to this, wouldn’t it?” she whispers.
“The having help or the peacefulness?” I ask.
“Both.”
Over the next few days, mom settles in at the Sunshine Center. Yesterday she attended her first GED class. Clover helps run the literacy component of the program, and this evening she offered my mom some one-on-one support.
The three of us are gathered at a table. BJ lent me his laptop so I can type up my assignments wherever I am. My mom and Clover are sitting beside each other, sharing a set of earbuds. Clover’s introducing her to audiobooks, so my mom can listen and read at the same time.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to check the message.
lessons done, I can pick u up if ur still at TSC. Parents r out w friends. I need to make good on TFT, which still applies since it’s Thursday.
I glance over at my mom and Clover, who are focused on the reading tablet in front of them. I snap a quick pic.
at the library. How adorable is this?
❤️ Mav is here so we’ll head ur way in a bit
sounds good
I slip my phone into my bag and finish the final question for my assignment.
“I like this narrator’s voice,” Mom whispers. “It’s almost like I’m part of the story.”
“He’s a personal favorite. He could read a grocery list and I’d listen all day long,” Clover says with a smirk.
“His voice really is lovely.”
Clover and I share a smile. It’s nice to see this side of my mom, one where she’s not on edge, worried about pissing my dad off, or figuring out how to afford groceries and pay the bills.
I’ve just electronically handed in my assignment when the peacefulness is broken.
“Lucy! I know yer in here! Where r’you?”
I stiffen at the obvious slur in my father’s voice. I haven’t seen him over the past week, careful to avoid the Sunshine Center when he’s visiting.
Mom yanks out her earbud, eyes wide with panic. “Is that Clay?”
I nod, and my mom’s face falls, her voice dropping to a whisper. “He sounds drunk.”
It’s Thursday night, which is payday at the ice cream factory. He always stops at the Town Pub for a few pints before he comes home.