“Yes.”
Then, immediately, she said, “I’m sorry I’m down here.”
Of course she apologized.
“Gabriel said they needed the room. I didn’t want to cause trouble.”
“You did not cause anything.”
“Danny wanted to watch the game.”
“I know.”
“I can manage down here.”
That sentence nearly broke me because I knew she meant it. My mother could endure almost anything if enduring it meant nobody else had to adjust.
“You are not staying here.”
“Sara, what about Gabriel?”
“I’ll handle Gabriel.”
I helped her stand. She had lost weight during treatment, and the stairs exhausted her. She apologized as we climbed, apologizing for moving slowly and for needing my arm.
When we reached the guest room, Gabriel and Danny were still there.
I looked at Danny.
“Thank you for visiting. You need to leave now.”
He glanced at Gabriel.
Gabriel started to speak.
“Danny. Please leave.”
He stood and left without arguing.
Gabriel looked at me.
“Sara.”
“Get out of this room.”
“This is my house.”
“Leave the room, Gabriel.”
He studied my face, then walked out.
I helped Mom into bed, checked her medicine, and discovered she had missed a dose. I made ginger tea and sat with her while she drank it.
“I shouldn’t have let him move me,” she whispered.
“Mom, you have cancer. You are on chemotherapy. Managing Gabriel’s behavior is not your job.”
“He’s your husband.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to cause problems between you.”
“You didn’t.”
“He said the game was important.”
I stared at her.
“The game?”
She nodded.
“I didn’t want to be the reason for a fight.”
“You are never the reason for this fight.”
She looked tired.
“I’m not sure Gabriel sees it that way.”
“I know.”
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