“Come on, John.”


“We’ll be there in a minute,” Ronnie said, standing close to Rose’s chair. Once they were alone, she leaned down for a kiss. “I think Susan’s warming up to you.”


“I don’t know. When you touched me, she looked like she swallowed a bug.”


“But even after that she let John sit on your lap and call you Aunt Rose.”


“Mmm, that’s true.” She allowed Ronnie one more kiss before reaching for her crutches. “Did you call for the pizzas yet?”


“Damn, I knew I forgot something. What did everyone want?”


“Two large mushroom, two supreme, and you wanted your pepperoni and mushroom,” Rose said. Susan’s shrill voice came from the living room. Apparently there was a battle of wills going on between her and her twelve-year-old son, Ricky.


Ronnie shook her head. “I had better get out there Can you call it in for me? It’s three on the speed dial.”


“Sure.” Rose picked up the phone and pressed the button while Ronnie went to prevent World War Three. She got through on the first try and placed the order. She hung up and had just positioned her crutches under her arms when the phone rang. Thinking it was the pizza place calling back, Rose picked it up. “Hello?”


“R-Ronnie?” She did not recognize the voice but she certainly understood the tone. The woman on the other end of the phone was crying.


“No, this is Rose.”


“Would you please tell Ronnie that her mother is on the phone? I-it’s very important,” Beatrice sniffed.


“Hold on just a second.” Realizing she couldn’t hold the phone in one hand and use her crutches, Rose set it down on the counter and worked her way into the living room.



Susan had hold of Timmy and Jack was holding Ricky as the two boys hurled insults at each other. “You cheated.”


“Did not!”


“Did so!”


“Did not!”


“Enough!” Ronnie’s voice boomed over the squawking. “I don’t care who cheated or who’s turn it was. If you two can’t play nice I’m going to shut it off.” The threat had not stopped the two brothers from bickering again and again.


“But he started it.”


“Timothy!” Both his parents yelled.


“Ronnie.” Rose leaned on her crutches. “Your mother is on the phone.” As the tall woman passed her, she spoke in a lower voice. “She sounds like she’s been crying.” That caused the dark-haired woman to hesitate for a second before picking up the phone. A crying parent never meant anything good.


“Mother? Mo-…Mother…Mother, stop crying. I can’t understand you.” She silently motioned for Rose to get Susan. “Okay, tell me again, slowly.” The redhead entered the kitchen just as Ronnie was piecing together what her hysterical mother was trying to tell her. “Are they sure? Okay, okay Mother, slow down…what did he say?” She turned her back to the other woman and leaned against the island. “Mother, listen carefully to me. Did he say for sure that it was Tommy?” At the mention of her brother’s name, Susan’s hand went to her mouth.


“Did something happen?”


“Who called you?” Ronnie asked as she waved her sister away. She had enough to do trying to understand what Beatrice was telling her. “No, Susan’s here. We’ll stop by and pick you up. Yes Mother, we’ll be there in fifteen minutes. No. Don’t call anyone else. If they need to be called, I’ll do it later. No, don’t call a cab. We’ll be right there. Yes, I promise…bye.” She pressed the off button and set the phone down on the counter.


“Ronnie?” Susan took a step forward. “Did something happen to Tommy?” There was no response. “Ronnie?”


“Tommy…” Her back to them, she gripped the edge of the island. “He was going eastbound in the westbound lane of the Thruway.”


“Oh my God,” Rose whispered. Ronnie pushed herself to a standing position and faced them.


“Rose, I need you to watch the boys until we get back. I’m sure they’ll just eat pizza and play video games.”


“Of course,” the young woman replied. “Anything. You know that.”


“I’ll get Jack and our coats,” Susan said, her voice shaky. She left the room to get her husband. Rose hobbled over to her tall companion. For several seconds, neither spoke. Finally Ronnie broke the silence.


“I don’t know how late we’ll be. Try to put them to bed by ten. There are plenty of rooms for them to choose from.”


“I’ll take care of it,” Rose promised. She reached up and cupped the older woman’s cheek. “I love you.”


Ronnie gave a shiny-eyed smile. “How do you know just what to say?” She pulled her love close and kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, Rose. Don’t kill the kids or play any game that involves tying you up, okay?”


“I think I can handle them. You have more important things to worry about.” She felt Ronnie step back and realized Jack and Susan had entered the room.


“I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”


“They can’t have any caffeine or sugar after seven. John has to be in bed by eight and the other boys can stay up until ten.” Susan said as she rifled through her pocketbook. “I can’t find the keys. Jack, where are the keys?” Her lower lip quivered and her hands began to shake.


“I’m driving,” Ronnie said firmly, snatching the keys from her sister. The change in her tone caused Rose to look at her. Where soft curves accented the strong jaw, taut muscles clenched just beneath the surface. Ronnie’s back was straight, her stance commanding. Gone was the soft, sensitive woman Rose was privy to. In her stead was the executive, the leader of a multi-million dollar company and head of a powerful family. Although she understood the need for the two identities, Rose still wished desperately that Ronnie did not have to be the caretaker all the time. She hated the way the pressure and strain drained the energy out of her beloved. Watching them leave, Rose could only pray that everything would be all right.



* * *

The chime of the clock woke the dozing woman. Rose reached for her crutches and stood up. A quick rubbing of her eyes helped her see that it was three o’clock. There had been no phone call yet, not a word. She went out to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. No doubt when Ronnie returned she would want some. Soon Rose was smiling at the peaceful sound of the coffee maker. Ricky and Timmy had decided to continue their fight, forcing Rose at one point to send them to separate corners to cool off. That action earned her a colorful string of words from Ricky. Only the threat of repeating them to his Aunt Ronnie managed to quiet him down. At bedtime she took the easy way out and let each boy pick his own room to sleep in. Her arms still ached from working her way up the stairs twice before Ronnie’s nephews finally fell asleep.


Rose passed the time by drinking coffee at the kitchen table and rereading the daily paper. Tabitha popped in from time to time, demanded attention, then left. Three days worth of newsprint and half the pot of coffee slipped by before Ronnie’s Jeep pulled into the driveway. She got up on her crutches and went to the door, opening it in time to see Jack helping his wife and mother-in-law out of the vehicle. “Oh Lord,” she whispered, knowing the worst had happened. Ronnie took over for her brother-in-law and helped Beatrice inside. “What rooms did you put the boys in?” she asked as she passed.


“The rooms on either side of yours and the one at the end of the hall,” Rose said, choking back a lump in her own throat. Until she saw the crushed look on their faces, she had been holding on to the hope that Tommy had somehow survived the accident. Ronnie nodded and looked at Jack.


“The room on the left near the end of the hall is empty. Put her there. I’ll put Mother in my room.” She took the matriarch’s pocketbook and set it on the counter. “Mother? Come on, I think you need to lie down for a little while.”


“But I have to call…”


“I’ll take care of letting everyone know. You need to lie down.” She saw Jack leading his wife out of the room. “Come on, we’re going upstairs now.”


“Horrible…it’s just so horrible…” Beatrice cried.


“I know, Mother. Come on now.” Ronnie led the grieving woman away.


Fifteen minutes later she returned to the kitchen. “Rose, do you think you can make a pot of coffee?”


“I already did. Your cup is on the table.” Ronnie looked at the familiar mug, then at her companion. “I figured you’d need some coffee,” Rose said with a shrug. “I’ve had a bit myself.” They both looked over at the nearly empty pot.


“That was good thinking.” She rubbed her eyes. “What time is it anyway?”


“Almost six-thirty.”


“I guess I should wait an hour or so before I start calling everyone.” Ronnie wrapped her hands around her mug and stared at the beige liquid. Uncertain what to say, Rose remained silent, giving her companion the time she needed. Blue eyes shone with unshed tears but remained focused on the coffee. After an extended silence, Ronnie began to speak. “The witnesses said he turned into the off ramp instead of the on ramp.” Her lower lip quivered and she blinked rapidly.

“He was picking up speed and hit a dump truck just before the entrance to the highway.”


“Ronnie, I’m so sorry.” She put her hand on the strong forearm.