Happiness Doesn't Wait

Blake

I walk with my mother down the hospital aisles. She takes a hold of my arm and I hold back tears at how weak her legs have become. I smile down at her and she returns it weakly.

"How's work, son?"

"Good, mom. There's been a lot of special guests coming in since that cruise day. I'm happy where I'm at."

My mother does a light chuckle. "Because of your job or because your fiance works there, too?"

I give her a light laugh and smile at the thought of Abi. "Alright. You got me."

"Son?"

"Mhm?" I gently help her get back in her bed and I sit by her side. She takes a hold of my hand and her dark eyes shine with sadness. "If I don't make it to your wedding--"

"No. Mom. Don't." I clench my jaw as I hold back tears. "Don't say that. You will be there on that day."

She tries to say something else, but she sees my sadness and decides to just smile instead. "Okay, son. I can't wait for that day."

"But...Abi and I have agreed to take it slow. She still has a lot of things to pay and I still have father's money to take care of. I want to settle all of that first before stepping into this new chapter in my story."

My mother proudly kisses my hand and says, "I'm so proud of you. I'm sure your father would have been, too." I stand to lean over and give her a kiss on her forehead. Her eyes start to turn heavy and I smile at her. I want the last thing for her to see is that I'll be okay. That I'm fine no matter how much I'm hurting from the inside.

She falls fast asleep and a nurse comes in with a kind smile. "Hello Mister Tavares."

"Hey Grace," I say to her. "How is she today?"

"Better than yesterday," she says. "Chemo can have different effects on people. But today she was good to take a walk. You give her strength."

"Thank you," I say sadly. She takes a few notes on her clipboard and gives me one last nod before walking out.

I check the time on my phone and I write a quick note on a small paper on the side of her bed saying that I've gone to work. But before I walk out of the hospital, I step in the gift shop and buy the prettiest bundle of flowers I can find. I smile at the young volunteer giving me those shining eyes ladies tend to give me, and I step out thinking of Abi's reaction to my gift.

When I get to the restaurant, I look at the schedule and check-ins of the employees. I look for Abi's check-in and see that she is here today. Yesterday she called in sick so she missed work. Hopefully she's not in a bad mood today from her sickness.

I look among the waitresses for one smile. When I see her talking with a family, I immediately notice her exhaustion and a change in her posture. She's not energetic as she tends to be. But I hide the flowers behind my back; hoping that this will make her day.

When she passes by the wall I'm hiding at, I take a quick hold of her wrist and bring her closer to me. She jumps with a scare and frowns when she sees it me. I laugh at her reaction and lay a kiss on her lips. She doesn't kiss back....

"Hey!" I say to her. "Where's that beautiful smile?"

"Blake. I'm busy. I have to go." She starts to walk out of the corner, but I quickly take a hold of her waist.

"Not so fast, pretty lady."

"Blake. Please." I furrow my brows at her odd anger. She doesn't look sick but she is certainly moody.

I take out my bundle of flowers from behind my back and wink. "I hope these babies can bring a smile to your face."

Her eyes grow wide at my words and she slightly turns pale. I start to worry now as nerves make her fingers fidget with the flowers she takes in her hands. "Hey, Abi? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Abi shakes her head quickly at me. She looks worse than a few minutes ago as she swallows nervously. "I gotta go." And before I can say anything else, she leaves me there.

Well, that was weird. She's probably in those lady months like girls call it.

"Blake!"

"Mister Ryan!" I say playfully as Ryan catches up with me. He puts a pat on my shoulder and I can tell that he has exciting news by the shine in his eyes.

"So do you remember those sponsors? From the cruise?"

"How could I forget?" I say with a smile.

"Well. They want us to make a small party the day before Thanksgiving. A fine dining event with gourmet. Jazz music. Dance floor. What do you think?"

"As long as you play, my man, we will have a great night."

Ryan gives me a happy pat on my arm and nods. "I agree. Now let's get these people ready for next week. They need to know that we need our very best!"

"Yes sir!" He gives me one last excited smile before walking off. But just before he turns the corner, the thought of Abi's odd attitude comes to mind again. "Wait. Ryan?"

"Yup?" He stops and turns around.

I clear my throat and softly say, "Do you know if everything's okay with Abi? She just seems a little...off today."

Ryan furrows his brow this time and shakes his head. "Not that I heard of. You know that woman can be the type to make everyone's problem her problem, too."

"Yes, but....I don't know...she just seems a little shaken up."

Ryan shrugs at me. "I'm not sure, Blake. I wish I could help you but if you don't know, I won't either."

I wave my worries away as I smile at Ryan. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure she'll be better by the end of the day."

"Make sure she does, Blake," Ryan says as he starts towards his office. "We need our Head Waitress up and ready for our big night!"

"Yes sir!" I say one last time before walking in my office. I'll do whatever it takes to bring back her smile.