My Mother's Secret - A Sequel To The Summer of 1993

Sick Babies

   Mom came over.  She helped me get the tree out and for a woman who was twice as old as most mothers, she was doing well.  Except she kept coughing.   She looked good.  Her belly looked smaller.   She looked sexy in a tee shirt, turtleneck, and jeans.   She made being plus sized fun.  I don't  know if it was Johnny  or dad,  She and dad were growing their relationship.  It was never really based on anything good. It was sex for both of them. We were decorating my small house, but she kept coughing and Joey was breathing a little too funny for my liking.   So,we went to the hospital.   I am glad we did.  Joey had RSV and so did mom.  She was pretty sick.  They wheeled in a bed for her, and that is how she spent her weekend.  I did call Johnny for that.   She said he was sorry and hoped they are better.   He asked what his name was.  Joseph Charles, named after a neighbor she was fond of.   Johnny didn't say much. 

    I had come to terms with the fact he "made" me and Steve raised me.  Steve was shaken as he had "never seen your mama that sick."   In fact, Joey recovered quicker than mom. Mom was still dragging when she came back to work to noon on Tuesday. We went to lunch every day as she was part time for the time being. She took a demotion.   I picked her and dad up, we dropped dad off at work, we dropped the babies off at daycare, and we went to the Y.  At ten thirty we quit, showered and went to lunch, usuall at the Taco Bell on Michigan Ave.  We would drive to work.  I would pick up dad, the babies, and then mom.   We would eat dinner at my house and then drive them home and the next week she would do the same.   It was a binding time, as Jackie and Tim would come over.  Mom never mentioned Johnny.  Well, in front of dad.  

   She got the mail for the day and in it was a card and a check for $1,500.  Mom cried.  "I thought he forgot me," she said.   I had a weird feeling that things would happen for them but not in the near future.   Mom was strapped.  She missed work,  she dipped into her savings, and had to ask her parents for help.  She'd rather die than do that....      she went to the township trustee and was humiliated.   Because of her car, the woman called her a "scammer".   Bills were behind and that was very much appreciated by my mom.   I thanked him privately.  He asked how she was.  I told him "tired".  He said, "I didn't mean to book on you all.   Your mom is married and I see someone.   Please understand."  I admitted I was pissed at first, but he sent $2000 faithfully to help my mom out.   I put it in the bank for her and she never looked, but she was surviving on part time at the court house  and the wig shop.  There were no discount designer wigs.  Patti gave her the pink wig she wanted for Christmas. We were helping them. I was glad to.

I knew something was going to bring Johnny and her together, but it would not instantaneous.