A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter 18

The drive was long and uneventful to Vail.  It was  around 8:30 when we finally made it to my Mammy Connelly's house.

"Jordan!" I heard her cheer as we walked through the door.  She was a good three inches shorter than me, and she wrapped me into a hug.

"Mammy Connelly!  It's been a long time!" I told her.  She let me go and hugged Brian and Grams.  

"Come on kids!  Let's go up to the rooms."  She slowly led us up the stairs.  The house that she lived in was fairly large.  Since it is just her, there are a lot of extra rooms in the house for when family comes.  More than likely, when Rosie gets on break, she will be sharing a room with me.  Grams got the room across from Mammy Connelly's since it was closest to the stairs, Brian got the room next to the bathroom, and I got the attic room, which has always been my favorite.  There's a small wood stove in a corner and a lovely circular window that overlooks Vail.  When my sister and I were younger, we'd crawl out the window and talk while watching the lights flicker and the stars shine.  Vail was where we learned how to ski, and skiing is one of my favorite things.  When Rosie finally gets here, we will probably go skiing at least three times a week.

I set my suitcase on the floor and skipped back down the stairs.  Brian was sitting in the armchair in the living room while Grams was sitting on the loveseat near the fireplace.  I sat down by her.

"Hola," I said.  "Where's Mammy?" I asked, my brow furrowing with thoughtfulness.  

"In the kitchen.  She was going to make us some tea," she replied with a smile.  I laughed.  My Mammy was always making tea for people.  It was almost as though she were British.  Trust me, when I go to Maddi's house, I drink more tea in a day than I usually do in an entire month.

"Were you going to help her?" I asked sarcastically.  Mammy constantly finds it necessary to show us that she can do everyday tasks so she will not be forced to go to a nursing home.

"Of course not.  I don't even ask anymore.  I just sit and let her do her thing," she chuckled.  Brian and I laughed.  "So, when does Rosie come in?" she asked.

"In a couple days," Brian told her.  She nodded. 

"Well, I have missed you guys so much," she smiled.  I pulled into a half hug since the couch made it awkward, and when I pulled away, I couldn't help but noticed how different she looked now.  She had bags under her eyes.  Her normally bright blue eyes were grey and dull, and her hair seemed to lose its radiant sheen.  Her laugh wasn't as carefree as it was a year ago.  I noticed an increase in wrinkles on her face.  More fine lines crinkled around her eyes, and her eyelids sagged as though she were perpetually tired.

I couldn't help but see that Brian had changed in almost the same way.  He looked tired.  Tired of everything that threatened to crash down around him.  As I sat studying him, he stood up abruptly.

"Well, I'm going to head off to bed," he announced flatly.  I stood as well, hoping to talk to him.  

"I'm going to be right behind you," I said in the same tone.  "Let's tell Mammy first."  We both ventured out to the kitchen where she poured tea.  

"Hello," she cheered, her voice always chipper.  She added two sugars to mine and a bit of cream to Brian's.  "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, we were just going to be off to bed," Brian said.  She nodded and handed each of us our tea.  

"Alright, well, sleep tight, and don't let those bed bugs bite," she chuckled.  She kissed us both on our cheeks and let us on our way.

"Do you need help, Mammy?" I asked as she finished putting tea together for her and Grams.  She shook her head.