Page 18 of Truce Of The Matter

Me: Me too but shouldn’t you be focused on cookies or something.

Rex: I can do both.

Me: I bet you can.

Rex: You will learn soon enough.

Me: Can’t wait. Come by the restaurant for dinner. I’ll be there.

Rex: Bet.

“Mmhm. He’s got you smiling,” Monae says and I can’t deny it. I am smiling and I love it. I need to smile through all of this with my mom.

We continue to enjoy our breakfast, coffee, and catching up for about another hour, then we part ways. She’s off today and she and the kids are headed to the mountain to go ice-skating. I drive to my parents' house and pick up Daija. When we make it to Golden Age, it’s a little after eleven and time for my mother to eat lunch. While I sit with Daddy and check in on him just to make sure he’s maintaining, Daija looks over the menu options so she can help my mother choose her lunch.

“I’m not hungry,” my mother groans and my dad frowns.

“Baby, you gotta eat something. They told me you didn’t eat any of your breakfast this morning.”

“When I’m hungry, I’ll eat. I’m just not hungry right now. I drank my coffee and had a glass of orange juice. I’m fine. Daija, order your dad something so he can eat it.”

“Momma, you gotta eat something. They have a tuna salad on here. That’s light.”

“God only knows what they put in that. I’m not eating that.” She struggles with straightening up in the bed so I stand, walk over to her, adjust the pillows, and help her sit up.

“Momma, you know Daddy doesn’t like skinny women so you better eat something before he leaves you,” I tease and she sucks her teeth.

“You know I’m not going nowhere but you do need to eat. Get her a fruit salad; they have one on the menu,” my dad says.

“I’m not eating it unless you eat,” my mom snaps.

“Alright. Get me the tuna. Do crackers come with it?”

“I can ask for crackers, Daddy. Anything else? They have a turkey sandwich; you may like that, Daddy, instead of that tuna.”

“I don’t need all of that,” he huffs.

“I’m still ordering it. Momma may want the sandwich later before dinner.”

“Don’t be wasting these people’s food,” my mom says but I mouth to Daija to order it all anyway and she nods.

Food can be ordered a number of ways here at Golden Age. Meals for the day can be placed in the morning with the dietitian when they visit the room. Food orders can be called in during the windows of the meals. Lunch is served from eleven to one. And finally, you can place all orders on the app. She’s ordering on the app.

“I’m going to have the kitchen prepare dinner tonight for the staff. I know this is a five-star facility and the staff is amazing but a little food goes a long way. If we treat them right, they will definitely take care of your mama.”

“It’s Thursday so have them fix some salmon croquettes,” my mom says and we all still. Her recollection is all off and it seems to be getting worse.

“It’s Saturday, baby. But we still make the croquettes on Saturday too. That’s a good idea,” my dad says then stands. “Truce, let’s talk about the order,” he says and we walk out together. When we do, he closes the door and I follow him a few steps down the hall. “I wanted to tell you what happened. She had a small, small seizure late last night,” he whispers but my response is loud as hell

“Wait! What!” I yell, totally taken back by his revelation.

“Shhh.” His hand lands on my back and he coaxes me further down the hall. ”It was minor. The doctors told me this morning.”

“But why didn’t they call us when it happened? This is supposed to be round the clock care so they need to keep us informed around the damn clock.”

“Truce,” he scolds.

“Sorry, Daddy, but that’s unacceptable. They should have called.” He tries to calm me by rubbing my back but it’s not working. I’m infuriated and want answers. “No wonder she didn’t know what today was. I’ll be back, Daddy.”

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