Page 4 of Cause and Effect

“Wow, Mom. This is great.” Sara smiled, still holding the handle of her suitcase.

“It sure beats that apartment we were living in,” Sophie said.

“Oh my God! There’s a backyard!” Stella screeched from the kitchen.

Sophie and Sara went running. “Girls!” I shouted. “Boxes, now!”

“But, Mom,” Sara whined.

“Girls, come here.” I gestured all three of them over to me. When I had their full attention, I knelt in front of them. “This is our new home now, and as soon as we get unpacked, you can go play in the backyard. Deal?”

“Fine,” all three said somberly, lowering their heads.

“Good. Let’s get the boxes from the car. The moving truck will be here soon.”

The one thing I wished the house had was a pool for the girls. That was the only thing they liked about living in an apartment in San Francisco.

When we brought the last of the boxes into the house, the moving truck pulled up.

“The moving truck just pulled up. You three can go play in the backyard.” I smiled at the girls.

“Yay! Thanks, Mom,” they all said in unison.

“When are Grandma and Grandpa getting here?” Sara asked.

“They’ll officially be here tomorrow.” I patted her head. “Go on with your sisters and explore the backyard.”

“Where do you want this desk and bookcases? one of the movers asked.

“That all goes in the guesthouse in the back.”

After the movers were finished, I walked to the guesthouse and stared at my desk and the white bookcases lining one wall. All boxes labeled “Books” sat in the middle of the space. I opened one of the boxes and started putting my books on the shelves.

“What are you doing?” Stella and her sisters walked in.

“Putting my books on the shelves.” I smiled. “Since everything has arrived, why don’t you three unpack your bedrooms?”

I’m hungry,” Stella whined.

“Me too.” I smiled. “How about I order a pizza?”

“Yeah!” All three of them shouted with excitement.

It was ten o’clock, and I had just tucked them into bed. I went into the kitchen, poured a glass of wine, and then started the water for a bath. I was exhausted and finished for the day.

As I sat in the bubble-filled tub, sipping my wine, I thought about how my parents would move into a home they rented close to us tomorrow. Ever since Jason passed away, they have been there for the girls and me. They were my babysitters and best friends, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them.

Before Jason’s death, they moved to San Francisco to care for my grandmother, who was battling Alzheimer’s. As much as I wanted to stay in North Carolina, I knew I needed their help, so I worked as a public defender in San Francisco. I knew I didn’t want to stay there long-term, so I rented an apartment for the girls and me by my grandmother’s house, where my parents lived. I didn’t particularly like San Francisco, and after my grandmother passed away, I sat my parents down and talked with them. I told them that I wanted to live in Los Angeles and work for a prestigious law firm. After I got the job at The Hamilton Group, they put my grandmother’s house up for sale and rented a house about ten minutes from where I lived. They didn’t want to buy anything until after the house sold.

I wouldn’t lie. Raising three girls, ages ten and nine, was hard. But we made it work. The girls missed their father so much as did I. I never thought when I got married and had the girls, I would be a widow at the age of thirty-one.

“Morning, Mom. How do I look?”I asked, running my hands down my new black pantsuit.

“Beautiful as always,” she poured herself a cup of coffee. “Are the girls still sleeping?”

“Yes. But only let them sleep for another hour.” I kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you when I get home.”

“Have a beautiful first day of work.” She smiled.

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