Page 3 of Lennox

Charlene

The familiar scent of antiseptic and the faint hum of hospital equipment greet me as I push open the door to my mother's hospital room, balancing a tray laden with food in my hands. Natural light filters through the window, casting a golden hue over the room.

"I hope I've got your order right, Mom," I say with a grin, setting the tray on the overbed table. I’ve opted for sandwiches and soup today, something light and easy. I slide the table over her lap, making sure she can reach everything comfortably.

My mother, propped up by a couple of pillows and the mechanized bed, chuckles softly. "You always do, Charlie." The smile on her face makes the deep lines of her skin seem more pronounced, each one a testament to a life fully lived. Her sparkling brown eyes, a shade lighter than mine, scrutinize the food. "Looks delicious."

Shaking my head, I pull a chair close and sit beside her. "It's just cafeteria food, but it'll do."

Taking a bite of her sandwich, my mother chews thoughtfully, watching the patchwork of flowers and shrubs in the small bed outside her window. How I wish I could give her more than this bleak view. I want to give her and every patient in the hospital a whole garden, if only the hospital board would listen to my suggestions.

My moment of contemplation ends quickly when her eyes land on me with a twinkle of mischief. "You know, when I was your age, I had a line of suitors waiting outside the door," she says, her playful smirk revealing the joke.

I can't help but laugh, rolling my eyes in mock exasperation. "Oh, I'm sure. But times have changed, Mom. These days, suitors slide into DMs instead."

Her chuckle is hearty, but she continues, not letting me off the hook so easily. "I just worry about you, Charlie. You're such a catch, and I hate the thought of you spending all your free time in this hospital."

Poking at my soup, I try to maintain a light atmosphere. "Well, considering I work here, it's kind of hard to avoid the place. And besides," I add, "I have you to keep me company."

Mom winks, her voice dripping with feigned drama. "Oh, darling, but I won't be around forever. One of these days, I'm going to leave you, and who will you share your terrible cafeteria soup with then?"

The words are said in jest, but there's a weight to them—a reality we both know is looming. My heart constricts, and I have to swallow past the sudden lump in my throat. "Guess I'll have to find some poor soul to subject to this culinary torture, huh?"

She squeezes my hand, her touch warm and grounding. "That's the spirit. Just remember, they'll have to pass the 'Mom Test' first."

Forcing a smile, I nod, my voice soft. "Always, Mom. Always."

Mom sips her drink, eyes drifting again to the window. There's a moment of silence, the kind filled with unsaid words and thoughts that dance just beneath the surface.

"You know, Charlie, I often think about you moving back here," she says.

I interrupt gently, "Mom, it's home. Always has been."

She meets my gaze, her eyes clear and straightforward. "But you had options, places you could've been. I'm grateful you're here, but I don't want you putting your life on hold because of me."

I set down my fork, leaning back in my chair. "This isn't me giving up on anything; it's me choosing what matters right now."

She sighs, nodding slightly. "You get that stubbornness from your father, you know. I just hope you're finding some happiness in all this, too."

I shrug, glancing towards the window. "I will, Mom. Don’t worry about me.”

“Can’t help it.”

A soft knock at the door precedes Nurse Nora's entrance. "Sorry to interrupt your lunch," she says, her voice light, but there's a seriousness in her eyes as she approaches my mother's bedside.

My mother puts on a brave smile. "Never an interruption, dear. Just a break from Charlene's terrible taste in cafeteria food."

Nora chuckles, her gaze briefly meeting mine before turning to the machines beside the bed. "Vitals are looking stable today, Mrs. Mitchell. The medication seems to be doing its job."

"And the long-term?" I ask, my voice steady. Years in the hospital have taught me how to keep my emotions in check, especially when discussing a patient's condition, but it's different when it's family.

Nora pauses for a moment, her lips pressing together as she chooses her words carefully. "We're doing everything possible to keep her comfortable and monitor any changes. It's a day-by-day situation, Charlie. You know that."

I nod, swallowing the unease that always bubbles up during these conversations. "Thanks, Nora."

She gives my mother's hand a gentle squeeze. "You keep fighting, okay? And no more complaints about the food, alright?"

My mother lets out a mock gasp. "But it's my favorite pastime!"

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