Page 69 of A Whole New Trick

The sound of The Price is Right crowd cheering echoes through the room. It’s the only thing stopping the piercing sound of silence from permeating the room—that and the heart rate monitor beeping quietly beside Mom’s bed.

Dad’s mouth snaps closed. “Anna, I didn’t?—”

“Go,” Mom’s tone brooks no argument. “I want to spend time with my sons, and I don’t want there to be any tension while I do. It’s not good for my health.”

Dad’s jaw snaps closed. He wants to say more, but he won’t risk doing anything to upset Mom. At least in that, I respect him.

“I’ll go to the cafeteria.”

Mom nods. “I’ll call you when you can come back.”

Dad looks at me and Eli. I brace myself for the words I see forming on his stern lips. But he bends down, kisses Mom on her forehead, and then stomps out of the room.

I wait until he crosses the threshold to walk over and close the door behind him.

When I turn back around, Mom has pulled Eli into another hug. My mind flashes back to Mom holding Eli just like that after he was cut from the All-Star Hockey Team in sixth grade. He’d been crushed. He made the team the following year, but Eli says that rejection stuck with him above all the rest because it was his first.

It also stuck with me because it was the first time I felt guilty about how our father compared my younger brother to me.

I wish I’d shown Eli more of my struggles or at least told him about them. I’d adopted the role of a perfect big brother when I should’ve strived to be more honest. Eli put himself through so much shit under a misguided attempt to be like me.

“I’ve missed you, bug,” Mom murmurs into my brother’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too, Mom.”

“How bad is it? Really?” I ask.

Mom sighs. She releases Eli. He straightens and wipes a lone tear from his cheek before seconding my question, “Please don’t lie to us, Mom. We want to know because we care.”

Her gaze fills with affection as well as sadness. “I know you do, boys. And I mean what I said, I’m fine. These symptoms are nothing new. Some days are worse than others, and the doctors want to monitor me a little more now that I’m getting up there in age, but I am fine.”

I’m not convinced.

Eli’s expression says he isn’t either.

My brother and I have two choices. We can insist on learning the truth about Mom’s condition. We can spend the rest of this visit forcing her to share what she obviously doesn’t want to share, or we can enjoy this time with our mom.

Eli and I share a look. Silently, we come to the same decision.

“I’m trying out for the Ranchers this year.” Eli sits on the mattress's edge, turning to face Mom. “My trainer is optimistic that I’ll make it.”

“And so is half of the team that works out with Eli,” I add proudly. “You’ve worked your ass off, and it shows.”

He ducks his head. “Thanks, man.”

“I’m so happy for you, bug.” Mom pats his hand. “I know how bad you want this.”

Eli nods.

“And you.” Mom looks at me. “I can’t believe you’re here in the middle of playoffs.”

“Some things are more important than hockey.”

“Oh, you.” Emotion clogs her throat. “Are this much of a sweet talker to that new girl of yours?”

“Morgan is great,” Eli interjects before I can speak. “She keeps Dane on her toes. Just wait until you hear about how they met.”

I glare at my meddlesome brother, silently telling him to shut up.

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