Sunday, June 7, 1992:
Kami and I made love and talked most of that Saturday night and Sunday morning. It was wonderful, and we couldn't get enough of one another. Our conversation ranged over a variety of topics, but it always seemed to come back to my Mom. She was much more optimistic about my chances with Mom than I was. She seemed genuinely eager for it to happen.
"It's really special. You'll know what I mean, when it happens. My first time with Daddy is something I'll always remember. David was the same way. I love watching him and Mom make love," she said.
"Yeah, I bet."
"It'll be okay, baby. I promise. I think it's on her mind, too," she continued.
"You really do?"
"Yes, she's looking at you, baby, and she's liking what she sees. She's just feeling guilty about what she's thinking," Kami said.
"Maybe so, I just don't want to fuck everything up."
"You'll be fine. Just let things take their course. Don't pressure her. Keep complimenting her. Keep letting her see you," she suggested.
"Okay, I'll try," I offered.
"She'll keep letting you see more of her too, I think."
"I hope so," I agreed.
"Me too."
We slept for a couple of hours, before I woke a little after 6. I'd told her I'd slip out, as I needed to get home before Mom. I grabbed my things and walked downstairs. I was surprised to see Richard walk in the front door.
"Hello, Brad. Leaving already," he asked.
"Yes, sir. I need to get home before Mom gets off work."
"Oh, I see. You should probably hurry then. Thankfully, we had a very slow night, and several of the nurses were planning to leave early."
"Damn, I better go then," I said.
"Yes, you should. Did you have a good night?"
"I had a great night," I smiled.
"I thought you might," he laughed.
"Richard, I was thinking last night, after we met. I'll see if I can talk to Mom about her family. See what we can find out," I said.
"I would appreciate that, but please be careful. Your mother may not want to talk about it."
"I understand, and I will be careful," I said.
"Good, have a great day," he said.
"Yes sir, you too."
"Bed is calling me." We shook hands and he let me out the front door.
I didn't obey many of the speed limits on the way home. Fortunately, I pulled in the driveway and Mom's Honda was nowhere in sight. I slipped in the house, put up my clothes and hopped into bed like I'd been there all night. Maybe 15 minutes later, I heard Mom enter the house. I got up and brushed my teeth before I walked into the kitchen. I hadn't bothered with a shirt, just my baggy sleep shorts. She was making herself some cereal.
"Morning Mom," I said.
"Morning baby, you're up early," she said. I watched as her eyes looked me up and down.
"Yeah, I woke up when I heard you come in," I lied.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was trying to be really quiet," she said sincerely.
"It's okay. I needed to get up for work anyway."
"You want me to make you something to eat," she asked.
"No, you sit down and relax. I'll make some eggs. Would you like some?"
"Sure, that would be really nice," she smiled. I couldn't help noticing, she'd done her makeup before her shift. Before Dad died, she rarely left for work without looking her best. I remembered her saying many times, that she did it because so many of the patients she saw were clinging to life, and she wanted them to see a kind, pretty face. She'd stopped, but I hoped she would start doing it again. Seeing her look so beautiful, I thought that if I looked up and saw her from a hospital gurney, it would give me the will to keep fighting.
She sat at the table and started on her cereal. As I got the butter and eggs from the fridge, I turned to see her watching me. She simply smiled and focused back on her breakfast. I quickly scrambled some eggs, and I noticed out of the corner of my eye, that she kept looking at me. I smiled inwardly, thinking that Kami had been right. I put the eggs on two plates and took them to the table.
"Very nice, that's service, and from a handsome young chef, too," she smiled.
"Thanks, Mom."
"No problem sweetie. I don't know if you should cook with your shirt off. You don't want to get splattered and burned," she smiled. The look in her eyes reminded me so much of Angie.
"I didn't put that much butter in the pan," I replied.
"Smart man," she said.
I sat down to eat my eggs. "So, how was your night," I asked.
"Boooorrrrriiinnngggg," she replied.
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah, in trauma you're thankful for the slow shifts, just because, but when you're already half asleep...," she smiled.
"I understand."
"If Dr. Bennett hadn't kept walking by the desk making jokes, we'd have all fallen asleep," she laughed. "He's hilarious."
"Yeah, I bet so," I agreed. I hadn't seen much of his sense of humor, but I knew a lot more about him than Mom, I thought.
"So, how long are you working today," Mom asked.
"Probably just a few hours. I need to unload the delivery truck and a few other things."
"Oh okay. I'll be honest, I'll probably be out a while. I only got a 2-hour nap yesterday."
"That's fine Mom. Just rest. We'll make dinner tonight," I offered.
"That sounds like a great idea. Maybe you could bring a steak home for a us," she suggested.
"I could do that, any preference," I asked, with a smile.
"How about a nice, big Porterhouse, that was always your Dad's favorite. He'd eat the strip and I'd get the filet," she smiled back.
"Okay, consider it done. I'll cut it myself," I laughed.
"Good," she continued to smile.