Megan and Emily flew to Los Angeles the following morning and
immediately went to the hospital. As
they walked into her room, Mrs. Meagher opened her eyes and smiled. Megan leaned down and kissed her mother on
the forehead. “Hi, Mom, Emily and I have
come to see you.” Her mother smiled and took
their outstretched hands.
That afternoon, other family members came
for short visits. Laughter could be
heard as family stories were repeated. Her
mother rallied and her eyes brightened, but she could no longer speak as a
result of the stroke.
About 7 p.m., Megan suggested they step out
and give her mother a rest. She leaned
over and whispered, “I love you, Mother”.
Megan saw her eyes close and her head turn to one side as she felt
a slight squeeze from her mother’s hand.
A few minutes later, as the sisters chatted by the door, the doctor walked
in to check on his patient. He leaned
down with his stethoscope, then looked at them and said, “She’s gone.” Megan and her sister kissed their mother’s
forehead one last time, and stood holding on to one another.
The next several days were filled with
necessary decisions and arrangements—all made in the face of grief. Megan’s father appeared strong, but everyone knew
it was a cover. Three days later, a
memorial service was held and two days after that, Megan and Emily were back in
Maple Village.
On Sunday morning, Megan woke at 8--surprised she'd slept so late, and
yet still feeling exhausted. She
immediately thought of her mother—her death just didn't seem real. Megan had talked with her father the day after
their return and he sounded lonely, but encouraged her that he'd made plans to meet with some
of his friends for lunch.
Megan walked out onto her deck. What a beautiful morning! Yet it seemed a contradiction—everything
coming to life, but death so much a part of her current thoughts. She’d lost friends—all much too young to
die; but losing a mother, even at her elderly age was so different. It left a hole that nothing else would
fill. Megan had shed very few tears, but the void
felt far larger than anything else she’d experienced—even her divorce.
Just then her cell phone rang. Answering she heard Chloe’s voice. “Megan, I want to invite you and Emily out
for lunch today—about 2 if that will work.
I’ve taken the liberty of also inviting Isabelle and Rachel, and Diane
and her boys.” Chloe had gotten
acquainted with Diane as they were all helping Isabelle with the bakery.
“We’d love to. I haven’t even grocery shopped since we’ve
been home. And it will be good to relax
and think of something else.”
As she hung up, Emily appeared from her
bedroom. She came up to Megan and gave
her mother a hug around the waist. “Mommie,
I feel sad.”
“Of course, you do, Em. It’s been a sad few days. But Chloe has invited us out for lunch, and
Diane’s boys will be there too.”
Emily brightened immediately and then
looked up at her mother. “Is it OK to be
just a little happy?”
“Yes, absolutely! I want you to be happy, and I know Grandma
would want that as well.”
When they arrived at Chloe’s house, the
others had already arrived. After hugs
and a few tears, the mood changed as they all sat down to eat. An afternoon of catching up on Isabelle’s
bakery, Diane’s new project, and the anticipation of Chloe’s summer art classes
all reminded Megan of how intertwined their lives were—and how supportive this
group had become.
The next morning at her usual spot on her
deck, Megan looked down at the beautiful roses blooming in Clara Elsworth’s
yard—red, pink, yellow, orange, lavender—all so lovingly cared for. Megan’s thoughts went to the get-together at
Chloe’s the previous day. She realized
that she, too, was being lovingly cared for at this time. Her friends were there in every way she could
possibly imagine.
Suddenly Megan wanted badly to talk with
her mother—to tell her that she missed her so much, but she would be OK. She had a family here in Maple Valley. And right now they were here for her, as a
few weeks ago, they had all rallied around Isabelle and would be there again if Roland ever returns.
As Megan stood looking out over her
deck-view of the valley, she had a mental picture of snuggling down in a
nest. This place is my home--my nesting place--and we care for one another. Isn’t that what life is really about?
She smiled as she thought of the words of A.A.
Milne, spoken through his two famous characters: “I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,”
said Pooh.
“There there,” said Piglet. “I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.”
Yes, thought Megan, Life, etc. comes bringing laughter and tears. She'd make it through this and the other et ceteras that come. And while in the middle of these et ceteras, tea and honey will do.
The End
