Charlie was true to his word and came over the next morning at about 9am. The three of us were awake, although Shane had banished me from the kitchen and back to my bedroom when I’d ventured out for some juice. She had Jenny bring it in to me instead, although I was feeling a lot better after getting close to twelve hours of sleep. The medication seemed to be helping me too, but the two of them wouldn’t let me do anything. I supposed I could understand that, although it did make me feel a little weak and old.

I’d slept really well after hearing Shane and Jenny go to bed the night before. I’d gotten up a time or two to use the bathroom and get some water, but aside from that, I’d slept like a baby, and hadn’t had any more dreams that I was aware of. I’d passed out so completely that I’d woken up in the position I’d fallen asleep in, so I had a crick in my neck to start the morning off. But at least I wasn’t quite so groggy.

I heard Charlie come in and say hello to Shane, and then there was silence for a little bit until there was a tap on my door. “Come in,” I said to whoever was doing the tapping, although I was pretty sure it was my son.

“Hi Ma,” he said quietly, bringing a bouquet of wildflowers in a vase from behind his back. “Thought this place could use some flowers.”

“Thanks,” I told him. “I just hope you got your poor wife some flowers too.”

“Of course I did,” he said, looking slightly offended. “She sends her best. She feels really bad about not having been to see you yet…”

“I wish she’d stop that. I know she hates hospitals, and she has good reason to. Since I’ve been home Brendan’s been sick anyway. Is he feeling any better?”

Charlie smiled at the mention of his youngest son’s name, and it made me smile too. He was so incredibly proud of all his kids and treated them like they were gold. Brendan was his favorite, although he’d never have admitted that if his life had depended on it. The little guy loved the water and appeared to be pretty gifted intellectually, and he was always happy unless someone else was sad. Then he’d put on his sad face and try to comfort them. I realized that I hadn’t seen him or any of my grandkids for more than a week, and it made me sad.