CHAPTER 16
Maddie
Sunday morning and nothing to do.
Greatest Sunday ever!
As soon as they’re done eating, Josh and Keegan fill a cooler with beer and head out to the gravel pits for some bass fishing.
Funny how they never bring home any fish.
Funny how they never have any money to help with the bills but always have enough for beer.
Funny how Dad never has enough to help with the bills but always has enough for poker.
Funny how they expect me to pay for everything.
They know I’ll do it for Mom, so they have nothing to worry about. Must be nice.
By the time I get the dishes done and everything put away in the kitchen, Dad typically wanders in.
He’ll say a few words to Mom, like, “You look like you’re doing better today.
” She never looks better, but I think it eases his conscience for what comes next.
He always tells me, “I have some errands to run. I’ll grab coffee and a doughnut while I’m out.
Call me if you need anything.” At least he doesn’t leave a mess.
I won’t see Dad until who knows when. He’s usually still at the poker tables when I go to bed. I might not see him again until Wednesday or Thursday.
After he leaves, I spend the rest of my Sundays sewing, doing Mom’s laundry, making dinner for Mom, planning her meals for the week, doing more sewing, organizing Mom’s meds, and doing more sewing until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, which is sometime between eleven and midnight.
That’s my life. It sucks, but as long as I’m doing it for Mom, I can deal with it.
In sharp contrast, this is the third day in a row that I’ve been able to sleep in til noon. I feel like a completely different person.
I check my phone. Nothing from Rhonda, but I missed a long message from Riggs that was sent a little over an hour ago.
Riggs: Had to head back to LA, but Ash and I talked and he said he’s falling for Rhonda and wants to get to know her better.
Based on how well things went this weekend he said he could see it turning into something long term.
Interesting, since he’s constantly telling me that relationships are impossible with the way we’re always traveling.
He said he’s never met anyone like her, and he can’t bring himself to walk away.
When I pressed him for his plan, he didn’t have one.
He said he and Rhonda will have to figure it out.
For what it’s worth, Ash has never been interested in a relationship, so this is new territory for him.
Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, I’m always here to help.
And I hope your mother is doing well. I hope you’re doing okay.
I know how rough that road can be, so call or text anytime.
I mean that. Wish I could have said goodbye in person, but I had to leave in a hurry.
Ash will catch up with me in LA on Monday or Tuesday.
If any issues come up with my brother, don’t hesitate to let me know and I’ll do what I can.
BTW, you were a huge help with the kids yesterday. Thanks!
I set my phone down, not sure how I feel about this. It’s so final which means I’ll never see him again. I knew this was how it was going to end, so I’m not surprised, just a little disappointed.
I think we could have been good friends. Maybe. We didn’t have enough time to find out. I guess it doesn’t matter now. What does matter is Ash thinks he can be a one-woman man. I have a feeling I’ll be picking up the pieces when that ends the way I expect it to.
While it’s clearly a good thing that Riggs and I didn’t end up in the same boat, I kind of wish he and I could have had breakfast, or something, one last time before he left. I would have liked to at least say goodbye in person.
Now that I know he’s gone, I kind of miss him.
Maybe I’ll text him every once in a while.
And why not? It would be a pretty good arrangement if you think about it.
I’ll never actually see him, so it’ll be safe.
Although I will miss looking at him. Riggs takes the term eye-candy to a whole new level.
Perhaps I’ll become a fan of his YouTube channel.
I wonder if he’s shirtless in any of the videos.
It should be easy to find out—I’ll just look for the ones with the most views.
Now that I know Ash stayed behind, I don’t bother texting Rhonda. She’ll text me when she wants to.
I get up and look out the window. There are tons of people on the slopes, and it looks nice out. That gives me an idea. I grab my phone and text the boys.
Maddie: Hey, what are you guys doing today?
Glen: Snowboarding. We took lessons. It’s not that hard. You should try it.
Randy: We tried skiing. Snowboarding is way better. You can rent everything you need at the lodge, even ski suits. The prices are decent too.
Damon: If you want, we can show you the basics. We’ll take it slow. I think you’d like it.
Maddie: That sounds fun. I’m going to get some lunch first. Meet you by the lift at two?
Damon: That works. See you there.
I guess I’ll have to rent everything. If it costs too much, I’ll find something else to do.
After enjoying a small order of egg rolls and chow mein, I head to the rental shop. To my surprise, the girl tells me everything has already been paid for. I didn’t realize Ms. Southerby included this along with everything else. I’ll have to let Rhonda know—if she ever texts me.
As promised, the boys take it slow, and it doesn’t take long before I get the hang of it. We start on easy, gentle slopes first, then move up to the big-girl slopes. I’m no Olympic snowboarder, but for my first time, I’m not half bad. And it’s a total blast.
After we’ve been at it for several hours, I start to feel it in my legs.
Reaching the bottom of the last run, I see Rhonda all suited up with her own snowboard.
She’s over by the lift, and it looks like Ash is giving her lessons.
I pull my phone from my jacket pocket and see I missed a text she sent two hours ago.
Rhonda: Hey, did you know Ms. Southerby paid for ski rentals? Ash is going to give me lessons later. You should join us. It’ll be fun.
Maddie: Look to your left.
I wave my hand over my head. She sees me and gives a thumbs-up.
Maddie: Sorry, didn’t get your text til now. We’ve been on the slopes for hours, so I need a break. Have fun!
Rhonda: You too. I’ll text you later.
I get Randy to take some pics of me on my snowboard before I return all the gear. Then back in the restaurant, I order a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake. They have fancier things, but this sounded perfect. While eating, I text Mom.
Maddie: Check out what I did today. It was more fun than I expected.
I send her the pics Randy took.
Mom: So glad you’re able to enjoy yourself for a change. You look well-rested.
Maddie: I’ve been sleeping in till noon every day. Can you believe it? Me?
Mom: If anyone deserves it, it’s you, dear.
Maddie: How are you doing?
Mom: Good. I took my meds and made tomato soup with some toast. Don’t have much of an appetite today. You know how it is.
Maddie: I know, but the doctor said you need to eat more. Has Dad been around? How about Josh or Keegan?
I already know the answer.
Mom: Your father checks in on me like he always does. Haven’t seen your brothers since you left, but you know how busy they are. Roofing is hard work.
I’ve never told her not much roofing gets done but a whole lot of fishing and beer-drinking does. I’ve never told her how the bills get paid. And I don’t need to tell her what Dad does. That’s the one thing she’s well aware of.
Maddie: I’ll be back tomorrow around eleven. I don’t have to work, so we can spend the rest of the day together. I’ll make the mac-and-cheese casserole you like. It will go well with the tomato soup you seem to like so much.
Mom: Maybe just some toast with the soup. We can talk about it when you get back. Until then, stop worrying about me and enjoy what’s left of your vacation. I love you.
Maddie: I love you too.
Strange how much she likes tomato soup now.
Maybe it’s just easy for her to make. She gets so tired so easily.
Josh and Keegan know how to make the casserole I mentioned, and they know how much Mom likes it.
Or liked it. She didn’t seem very interested in it this time.
Regardless, why can’t my brothers make it for her?
She has to eat something. It makes me so mad that none of them will lift a finger to help her.
After dinner, I get another bottle of cheap wine and more chocolate, then head upstairs to change into my bikini. I plan on hanging out in the hot tub until I look like a prune.
I sit on the wood deck of the jacuzzi with my feet dangling in the water and take another look at the photos Randy took of me on the slopes.
I can hardly believe I actually went snowboarding.
It was fun to share the experience with Mom.
Thinking of her, it bothers me that she won’t eat, and that gives me an idea. I bring up Riggs’s number.
Maddie: Hey, how was your drive to LA?
Riggs: Sucked. I hate LA traffic. How was your day?
Maddie: I went snowboarding. It was fun. Ash was teaching Rhonda when I left the slopes.
Riggs: Ash is a pretty good snowboarder. He has no fear, as in none whatsoever.
Maddie: I’m not surprised. Hey, can I ask you a question?
Riggs: Of course.
Maddie: Did your mom lose her appetite during treatment?
Riggs: Yeah, getting her to eat was a real struggle. After her treatments, it seemed like she didn’t like anything. She was losing too much weight, but we ended up trying all kinds of things until we found meals she would eat.
Her appetite changed? It makes so much sense now that I think about it. Why didn’t I see that?
Maddie: What kinds of things did you make?
Riggs: You’ll probably need to try a lot of different things. Mom loved barbecue everything before cancer, but after chemo she hated it. Eventually, we found out that she liked anything pickled. Before, she wouldn’t have touched a pickled egg if you put a gun to her head, but then she loved them.
Maddie: Interesting. I’m so glad you’re telling me this.
Riggs: Sure. Let me know when, not if, you have more questions. I might be able to help.
Maddie: Thanks, I will. And I really do appreciate this.
Riggs: No problem. Heading into a meeting now. Take care.
I’m so glad I texted him. And I can’t wait to try some different things. Getting her to eat more would be such a relief.
I take a sip of wine and ease into the tub. It feels so damn good. If I ever win the lottery, this is how I’ll spend my evenings.
But to increase my odds, I should probably start buying the occasional ticket.