The Sisters’ Secrets: Rose. Katlyn Duncan

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СКАЧАТЬ try to force memories on Pearl, and hadn’t for a while now. Calling her ‘Mom’ was only going to cause problems. ‘My name is Rose.’

      ‘Rose,’ Pearl dragged out, tasting the word. ‘Rosemary. Herb.’

      Rose sniffed, pulling herself together. ‘That’s right.’

      Pearl licked her lips and brought the spoon full of grits into her mouth. She mashed it around as some of it spilled from the corners of her mouth. Rose lifted the napkin from the tray and blotted the food from her lips.

      ‘How are you feeling today, Pearl?’

      She muttered something, but the words muddled together.

      Rose thought, for a second, she’d heard her mom say her name. But even if she had, it wouldn’t be about her. Pearl hadn’t recognized Rose in a year.

      While this place was the best for Pearl, it wasn’t helping with her condition. The doctor said she’d never regain her memory, but deep down in a secret part of Rose’s heart, she wanted to disprove that. Her mother, the woman who loved her family with her entire heart and soul, had to be inside there somewhere.

      Rose felt terrible for thinking that way, but coming to visit as much as she could, to remind Pearl of the best part of her life, was the only way she knew how to help.

      ‘I can’t stay long today, Pearl,’ Rose said, glancing at the clock on the wall. ‘But I’ll be back later this week. I wanted to check in with you.’

      Rose placed her hand on Pearl’s uninjured wrist.

      Pearl barely blinked or acknowledged the touch. She merely went on eating and staring out the window.

      Rose stood from her chair, desperate to keep a brave smile plastered on her face. She kissed Pearl’s head and walked away.

      ‘Ms. Barros,’ someone said just as Rose reached the hallway.

      Rose turned, and Jessie stood there. She was much younger than Rose realized. Her heart-shaped face was baby-like. She had a broad smile that made Rose think that this was a newer job for her. As much as the nurses loved and cared for the residents, The Cottage saw more turnover than most of the other sections of the compound.

      ‘Thanks for coming by,’ she said. ‘We haven’t officially met yet.’

      Rose offered her hand. ‘Nice to meet you. Please call me Rose.’

      ‘Does your family live in the area?’

      ‘Just me.’ Rose knew that there was information in Pearl’s chart about their family, but she sensed Jessie wanted to talk to someone. Maybe connect.

      Rose was happy to oblige. It was her way. ‘My father passed away years ago, and my sister lives…’ Rose trailed off. She had no idea where Reen lived now. Reen bounced around to more places than a flight attendant. Hell, she could even be a flight attendant for all Rose knew. ‘My sister lives out of town. She doesn’t visit much.’ Or ever.

      Jessie stuck out her lip. ‘That’s a shame.’

      Bruce, one of the male residents, leaned over his wheelchair, trying to grab a nearby cane.

      ‘You’ve got a runner,’ Rose said.

      Jessie jolted. ‘I better get on that.’ She gave Rose a little wave then took off.

      Rose took one last glance at Pearl before leaving. As Rose walked down the hallway, her chin trembled, and she cursed to herself as she dug into her purse for a tissue.

      Rose was only half an hour late for work that morning. The return traffic was a bit slower, caused by construction and weather. The last-minute repairs were necessary to keep the flow of tourists into the quiet beach towns. The sudden down-pouring rain slowed the cars to a crawl. And it especially did nothing for her mood.

      The Siren restaurant was on the far side of The Burrow, right on the water’s edge.

      It was the only mermaid-themed restaurant nearby, adding to the lore surrounding the town. Tourists loved the sea-themed decor and the aptly named menu items – Under the Sea-weed Salad, Dive-In Antipasto, Boatload of Nachos, to name a few.

      Rose parked near the street, not wanting to take away the closer spots from customers. Entering through the back of the restaurant, she punched in on the time clock before removing her coat and placing her sopping mess of a jacket onto the hook by the door.

      ‘Rosie, that you?’ Missy called from the kitchen.

      ‘Yeah,’ Rose said and pushed through the double doors into the kitchen. ‘Want me to start in the dining room?’

      ‘How’s Pearl?’ Missy asked.

      A pinching sensation in her chest stopped her in her tracks. It was a good thing Missy was busy cleaning the counters. Even though Rose had washed them the night before, Missy was a perfectionist and germophobe. While she worked, she kept her blonde hair back from her face with a battered baseball cap.

      ‘She’s fine,’ Rose said.

      Missy turned, digging her hand into her hip. Her freckled cheeks flushed. ‘They called you this morning because she’s fine?’

      Rose grabbed the bucket of clean utensils. ‘She fell, I guess. Sprained her wrist. But she’s okay.’

      Missy chewed on her lip and stared at her shoes before lifting her gaze to her best friend. ‘Glad to hear it.’

      Rose sighed. Missy knew well enough to leave some things alone.

      A rumble of thunder vibrated the utensils in the nearby clean bucket.

      Missy tsked. ‘Not sure we’re going to get a lot of customers today.’

      Rose grabbed the bucket and held it against her hip. ‘I can handle it once the rest of the staff comes in if you want to leave early.’

      Missy nodded. ‘Jake’s supposed to call today.’

      ‘What time? I’m sorry I dragged you out of bed.’

      Missy waved a dismissive hand. Jake’s phone calls from overseas came sporadically, but Rose knew Missy didn’t want to miss one conversation with her husband who was on tour in the Middle East.

      ‘I’ll get the dining room set up,’ Rose said, grateful for the reprieve. She pushed through to the dining room and pulled the cords of each of the shades that covered the massive bay windows, giving customers a view of the stretch of ocean. The outside patio seated most of the customers. In the summer months, people packed those seats from lunch through to dinner. Between the awning and the view, most preferred sitting outside. With the constant breeze across the Atlantic and the fans hung from the canopy, it was the perfect place to share a meal.

      As she took the chairs from on top of the tables lining the interior dining room, Rose recalled the last meal she had with Mom at the house. It wasn’t her fondest memory of her mother. Pearl had snapped in the middle of the meal, shouting, and telling Rose to get out of her house. After ending up on the sharp end of a plastic knife – thankfully Rose had switched them a week before СКАЧАТЬ