LITMIR.BIZ

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will be mopping floors, but it won’t be Maxine.”

      “Thank you for being brutally honest with me.” Molly’s sigh was shaky. “Now, I have to be brutally honest with her.”

      “If you want to wait, I’ll drive out to the ranch. We’ll gang up on her.”

      A doctor who made house calls? No way. Yet he had offered, though Molly wasn’t about to take him up on that offer. She could handle Maxine, but it wouldn’t be easy. No matter. Her mother had no choice but to comply.

      “Thank you for your kindness, but let me have a go at it first. If she bucks me, you’ll be the first to know.”

      “Call me any time.”

      When the conversation ended, Molly held the receiver for a few moments longer, then replaced it, feeling as though she was moving in a daze.

      She had dreaded having this session with the doctor because she knew it wasn’t going to be encouraging. Since her arrival yesterday, she had come to realize her mother was indeed in dire straits, with no easy fix.

      Now this morning, she had the unpleasant task of breaking the bad news to her mother. Molly was just thankful Trent was with Maxine. Bless his sweet heart, he had rarely left Maxine’s room since they had arrived, seeming to have forgotten the horses and cattle with which he’d been so fascinated. But then Maxine had played with him non-stop. Knowing Maxine was exhausted, Molly finally had to call a halt to their togetherness.

      Putting off the inevitable wasn’t going to make things any easier, Molly reminded herself. Squaring her shoulders with resolve, she left her room and headed toward Maxine’s, though not without first taking a furtive look around. While she certainly didn’t expect Worth to be lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce on her, she still found herself somewhat rattled every time she left her room.

      She had no idea what time Worth returned home last night, but she knew it was late, having heard him open the door to his room. It didn’t matter where he went or what he did. Their relationship was past history and she had no right or reason to care about his whereabouts. Her aim was to avoid him at all costs.

      Only problem with that, she was staying under his roof.

      Pushing that unsettling thought aside, Molly knocked lightly on Maxine’s door, then went in, only to pull up short. Her mother was asleep while Trent lay sprawled beside her, coloring in his coloring book.

      “Hi, Mommy,” he said in a soft voice. “Granna felled asleep.”

      “It’s okay, honey.” She reached for him and lifted him off the bed, then gathered the books and colors. “I want you to go to our room and color there for a few minutes, okay?”

      Trent made a face. “I don’t want to.”

      She smiled. “I know, but again, it’ll only be for a few minutes, then I’ll come and get you. I want to talk to Granna alone.”

      “Why can’t I stay?” he whined.

      Molly gave him a stern look. “Trent.”

      With his bottom lip poked out, he took the stuff, and without further ado, made his way to the door.

      “Don’t go anywhere else. Stay put in our room.”

      “Okay,” he mumbled.

      Molly stood watch until he was down the hall and the door closed behind him. He was so precious. Rarely did she ever have to scold him, but she didn’t want him to hear this conversation she was about to have with her mother. She feared Maxine’s reaction would not be favorable.

      “Mom,” Molly said, gently touching Maxine on the shoulder.

      Her mother’s eyes popped open and for a moment, she seemed completely disoriented. Then when she apparently recognized Molly, she smiled in relief, only then to frown. “Where’s Trent?”

      “He’s in our room. He’ll be back shortly.”

      “What time is it?” Maxine asked, her frown deepening.

      “Almost noon.”

      “Oh, dear. I can’t believe I even went to sleep, much less for that long.”

      “It’s okay, Mother. You need all the rest you can get.”

      “No, what I need is to spend time with my daughter and grandson before I go back to work.”

      Molly was quiet for a moment, her mind scrabbling for a way to tell her mother the truth without breaking her heart. “Mom—”

      “You’re going to tell me I can’t go back to work any time soon, aren’t you?” Maxine’s eyes were keen on Molly.

      “That’s right,” Molly declared with relief.

      “No, that’s wrong.”

      Molly’s relief was short-lived. “I—”

      “I’m going to be just fine. I know I pulled some muscles in my back—”

      “That you did,” Molly interrupted flatly. “And according to the doctor, your recovery won’t be quick or easy.”

      Maxine’s chin began to wobble. “I refuse to believe that.”

      “It’s the truth, Mother, and you have to face it. More than that, you have to accept it. Now if you didn’t already have osteoporosis, then maybe things would be different.”

      “But what about my job?” Maxine wailed. “Worth has been so good to me, but he’ll hire someone permanently to take my place. He’ll have to, only I can’t bear that thought.”

      “Mom, let’s not beat that dead horse again. Worth is not going to replace you.”

      “Has he told you that?” Maxine’s tone held a bit of belligerence.

      Molly hesitated. “No, he hasn’t.”

      “So you don’t know what he has in mind.” Maxine’s voice broke.

      “Oh, Mom, please, don’t worry. It’s going to be all right.” Molly caressed one of Maxine’s cheeks.

      “He doesn’t know—” Again Maxine broke off.

      “The whole story about your back,” Molly cut in. “Is that what you were about to say?”

      Maxine merely nodded.

      “Ah, so you told him what you wanted him to know, what you thought he wanted to hear.”

      Maxine reached for a tissue out of the nearby box. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

      “Look, Mom, it’s not as grim as you think.”

      “That’s because it’s not you.” Maxine paused, then added quickly, “For which I’m grateful. I couldn’t stand it if it were you in this shape.”

      “Yes, you could. You’d just come and take care of me like I’m going to do for you.”

      “You can’t,” Maxine wailed again. “You have a child and a job. And your life. You can’t—”

      “Shh,” Molly said softly. “Enough. I’m not going to give up my life, for pity’s sake. Just rest easy, I have a plan.”

      “What?” Maxine’s tone was suspicious.

      “I’ll tell you later.” Molly leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek. “Right now, I’m going to send Trent back in here unless you want to go back to sleep.”

      “Not on your life. I want to spend every moment I can with my grandson.”

      “By the way, I spoke to Dr. Coleman.”

      Maxine’s chin wobbled again.

      “Hey, stop it. I’ll tell you about that later also. Meanwhile, keep your

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