Page 20 of The Wish List
There was still no definitive answer as to whether May would be able to live on her own again. Beth felt selfish for wondering what that would mean for the future.
Trinity and Freya likely expected Beth to be the one to take care of their mother. She understood that reasoning because she was the one who’d stayed in town, but she hated the thought of giving up her dream to finally leave Magnolia.
Freya was worried about what their mother had written in her updated and expanded anniversary edition of the book that made her famous. Beth didn’t know, and she didn’t care. The book meant that her mother would have something to keep her busy and occupied in the months ahead, which helped lessen Beth’s guilt. She was a grown woman who’d spent her life taking care of other people. She shouldn’t have to feel guilty but couldn’t quite shake the emotion.
The future she so desperately craved was in jeopardy. And she didn’t know how to handle that. The door to the room opened. Shauna Myer, her twin sons and Declan walked in. Beth was at a loss for words.
“I hope it’s okay that we stopped by,” Shauna said with a bright smile, looking adorable in overalls with a long-sleeve red T-shirt underneath and her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She moved slowly on her crutches, and Beth couldn’t help but notice that Declan did his best to avoid making eye contact with Beth.
“I called the room earlier when your sister was here,” Shauna explained. “She said your mom would be up for visitors. Zach and Timmy have been anxious to see her.”
May made a noise of assent, clearly excited to see the two boys, who ran toward the bed.
“Hi, Miss May,” Timmy said, pressing a kiss to her mother’s cheek.
“Hi, Miss May.” Zach patted her arm, not as much the kissing type as his brother. “We brought Christmas stories to read to you.”
Her mother grinned as the boys took turns pulling books out of the tote bag they’d placed at the foot of the bed. Beth’s instinct was to warn them to be careful, which would make her look like more of a wet blanket than she already appeared to be.
“I have way too many,” Shauna said, hitching a thumb toward the overflowing box of decorations Declan held. “I noticed the room didn’t have much in the way of holiday cheer when I was here yesterday.”
May’s neighbor had also visited yesterday? Beth hadn’t made it over because she’d had to work a twelve-hour shift so one of her coworkers could stay home with her sick daughter.
As someone without kids or a husband, Beth often picked up shifts from other nurses who had family responsibilities. Normally, she didn’t mind, but it did get old sometimes, mostly because she’d wanted to be someone with those sorts of obligations.
“That was nice of you,” she told Shauna.
The woman gave her a strange look, like she was waiting for Beth to add some sort of dig at the end of the compliment. Declan seemed to be enthralled with the pattern of the carpet. Coward.
“I was just about to heat some food for Mom.” Beth’s smile was genuine as she watched the boys snuggle up on either side of May. “I’ll leave her in your capable hands for a few minutes if that’s okay?”
Shauna nodded. “Take all the time you need.”
Beth swallowed. She needed hours or weeks or months or a lifetime to figure out her life and her conflicted feelings about her mother.
Instead, she went to the small communal kitchen at the end of the hall. It felt stupid to have tears in her eyes as she took out the carton of leftovers from Il Rigatone. She didn’t want to let emotion get the best of her.
“You holding up okay?” Her breath caught at the sound of Declan’s voice.
“I’m fine.”
“Liar.”
“You don’t have to keep me company. I’m sure you’d rather be with Shauna and the boys.”
He shrugged. “We have plenty of time together. They’re happy visiting your mom. She doesn’t know me other than I’m the random guy who showed up to Thanksgiving dinner. I figured I’d give them space.”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to get to know you. I didn’t realize how close she was to your girlfriend.” She sighed. “There are a lot of things about my mom I didn’t realize, even though I live only a mile away. I guess I was too wrapped up in my own life and problems to pay close attention to her. Badly done on my part.”
“I think that’s how it’s supposed to be with kids, even grown-up ones. For the record, Shauna isn’t my girlfriend.”
Beth hit the button to start the microwave as she turned to face him fully. “Really? Those two boys look like you. I just figured...”
“No.” The word was spoken with a significant amount of force. “They aren’t mine. She and I have been friends since we were kids, but we never...it isn’t like that between us.”
“Okay.” Beth suddenly had the feeling she needed to offer him some comfort as if Declan Murphy were a wild animal she wanted to calm. “I did apologize, by the way.”
“Shauna told me.”
