Page 43 of To Catch a Thief

If Sage was smart he would run from the Castillo craziness.

Her mother stared at the television, a vacant look on her face. Seizure? Fear had her running to her bed. “Mamá.”

Her mother’s gaze lifted. Her expression blank, hopeless. “My face hurts.”

“Do you need lotion?”

“Yes.” Her voice cracked.

Carolina pulled the jar from her mother’s makeup bag. Gently, she rubbed cream on the spots that looked like a sunburn. “Is that better?”

“I guess.” Her mother’s skin had a gray cast. Over the last few days she’d been nauseous and had trouble eating.

“I brought you dessert from the restaurant. I thought you could eat it after your treatment.”

“I’m not hungry.” Her mother waved her hand. The veins in her hand showed through her skin. “Set it on the table.”

“Okay.” She bit her lip. Even a few days ago her mother would have asked what the treat was. But since her first radiation treatment last week, she’d become listless. Even the teacup Carolina had given her over the weekend hadn’t cheered her mother up.

Goose bumps pebbled her skin. She wished Sage was there, just to hold her hand, but he had his own doctor’s appointment this afternoon.

“Did you bring me something?” Her mother pushed at her hair.

“I didn’t work yesterday, remember?”

“I want Poppy’s globe.” Her mother pursed her lips. “I gave it to your daddy. I want it back.”

“Mamá, there are so many rooms in Fitzgerald House, I wouldn’t know where to look.” If Mamá asked for more things, she planned to stop at the gift shop again. But she hadn’t seen any globes there.

“The oceans are made from lapis. I love that globe. Poppy brought it here from Spain.” Her mother’s fingers flexed and formed fists.

Please don’t let her have a seizure. “Mamá, take a deep breath.”

“But…”

“Please, Mamá.” She started to hum “Hotel California.” It was the first song that came to mind.

“Your daddy and I danced to that once. It’s a very long, long song.” Her mother got a dreamy expression on her face.

They laughed.

Carolina stopped and pulled out her notebook. “What did you sing in your sets? I need ideas.”

Maybe having her mother come up with songs would keep her from stressing out and having a seizure.

“My song list? Let me think.” Her mother sat straighter. “I opened with Carole King’s ‘Natural Woman.’ Then I would sing—what was it called?” Her mother hummed a few bars, a song that she’d sung around the house all the time.

“Is that ‘Spinning Wheel’? Or something like that?”

“Yes. Yes!” Mamá’s eyes were almost too bright. “At some point I would sing ‘Endless Love’—I loved that song.”

Her mother named classic ’80s and ’90s songs. Carolina wrote them down as fast as they left her mother’s mouth. Some of the songs might work.

“Sometimes I would throw in ’40s music for Poppy and my mother.” Her mother bounced on the bed. “‘God Bless the Child.’ That was always a hit. And don’t forget ‘Summertime.’”

“Your memory’s so good,” Carolina said.

“It’s music.” Her mother shrugged. “Have you been practicing?”

“I don’t have a place to practice.”

“You can’t stop practicing.” Mamá leaned forward. “You don’t need a piano to do your vocal exercises. What did I teach you?”

It had been easy in her apartment in Nashville. Ella had owned a piano.

“I wish I hadn’t sold our piano,” Mamá said. “Wait. There’s an electric keyboard in the attic.”

“I’ll find it.” Carolina should practice. Between her mother and Sage, she’d forgotten the basics. They just didn’t seem important based on what her mother…and Sage…were facing.

After Teri came in with a wheelchair, Carolina pushed her mother down the hallway to the treatment center. As they passed the nursing station, Sage exited the elevator.

“Good timing.” He handed her mother a box of chocolates. “For you.”

“Aren’t you sweet?” She let the box sit in her lap. “Maybe after the treatment.”

Sage took over pushing. Carolina bumped his shoulders. “I think you’re trying to butter up my mother.”

Sage leaned down to her mamá. “Is it working?”

“Oh, you.” Mamá tapped his hand but when she turned around, a smile filled her face. Her mother loved flirting with handsome men.

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