Promises to Keep by Nan Rossiter (best android ereader .txt) 📕

“To come as soon as I can.”

Ali swallowed. Why would her mom leave such a cryptic message?

The hospital was fifteen minutes away, but they made it in ten, and as they hurried toward the entrance, Ali’s phone chimed and she looked at the screen. “Your mom is in a different room—it’s on the third floor . . . she’s been moved into the . . .” Ali stopped reading because the next words her mom had written were hospice unit.

“She’s been moved into where?” Mason asked, looking over.

Ali swallowed. “A room on the third floor.”

Mason didn’t even stop at the security desk, and because the guards had seen him so often and knew his mom wasn’t well, they didn’t stop him. He pushed the button, and they waited, watching the light indicate the elevator’s slow descent, seeming to stop at every floor. “I’m taking the stairs,” Mason said finally, turning away in frustration. He and Ali—because their moms both worked there—were very familiar with all the different halls and doorways, and he pulled open the heavy metal door and took the steps two at a time with Ali at his heels. They reached the nurses’ station, and Mason immediately recognized one of his mom’s friends.

“Hi, Mrs. Carroll, do you know which room my mom is in?”

The older woman looked up and saw Mason. “Oh, Mason, dear,” she said, getting up to give him a hug, but Mason was already backing down the hall. “Your sweet mom is in room 310,” she said, gesturing behind him. “It’s the last one on the right.”

“Thank you,” Mason said, sprinting down the hall.

Ali watched him go, and then searched the woman’s kind eyes. “How is she?” she asked quietly, but Sally Carroll just pressed her lips together and shook her head.

Ali nodded, tears springing to her eyes.

“Your mom is with her.”

Ali brushed back her tears as she walked down the hall. Mason had been right—his mom had been hanging on until he graduated. She peered around the door and saw him standing next to the bed holding her hand while her own mom looked on. Sue looked up, saw Ali in the doorway, and got up. “I’ll be right outside, Mason,” she said. Mason nodded and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Hey, hon,” Laurie said weakly, and even though her breathing was labored, she mustered a smile. “You did such an awesome job today.”

Mason bit his lip, tears welling up in his eyes. “You shouldn’t have come,” he said. “It was too much . . . it took too much out of you.”

Laurie shook her head. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” she whispered. “I loved it. I loved everything you said.”

Mason shook his head and tears spilled down his cheeks. “I need you, Mom,” he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

Laurie squeezed his hand. “Mason, I love you more than you’ll ever know, and I will always be with you.” As she said this, she reached up and touched the middle of his chest. “Right here. I’ll be watching over you—just like in that old song you love so much.”

Mason swallowed and shook his head. “Please don’t leave,” he whispered.

Laurie reached up and gently brushed away his tears. “You are an amazing young man, and you’re going to be an amazing pilot . . . and I’m going to be with you on every flight, making sure you’re doing it right,” she teased with a grin.

Mason bit his lip, feeling his heart break. “Oh, God, I can’t do this,” he cried in anguish.

“I know it hurts, sweetie, but it won’t always feel like this. When your grandpa and grandma died, I thought I was gonna die, too . . . but I didn’t. . . . And then you came along and filled my heart with more love than I ever thought I could feel. That’s how life is. . . .”

She winced in pain, and Mason squeezed her hand. “I love you so much, Mom,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“I love you, too, Mason.” Her eyes brightened. “Don’t forget your promise . . .”

Mason shook his head. “You are my mom,” he said defiantly. “Nothing is ever going to change that.”

“I know, sweetheart. I would never want that to change. I just want you to try.”

He shook his head slowly, trying to understand.

“Promise me?” she said, eyeing him.

He nodded solemnly, and she touched his cheek. “You’re the best son a mom could ever ask for, Mason. You’ve blessed my life with so much joy and light and love.”

“You’re the best mom,” he whispered, his vision blurred by tears. “You’ve blessed my life more than you’ll ever know.”

She smiled and squeezed his hand, and then her breathing slowed.

“Oh, God,” Mason cried out.

Hearing him, Sue hurried into the room and put her arms around him while Ali stood by, watching.

“Oh, Mason, hon,” she whispered, realizing her friend’s life was slipping away. “I’m so sorry.” But Mason just sobbed inconsolably, his shoulders sagging with grief.

21

“MAYBE YOU’RE DEHYDRATED,” MAEVE OFFERED WHEN GAGE CAME INTO the kitchen the next morning, rubbing his temples.

“Maybe,” he said, reaching for the Tylenol. He shook a couple of capsules into his hand, popped them in his mouth, and downed them with the rest of his coffee. Then he kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for making my lunch,” he said, picking up his cooler. “Love you.”

“Love you, too. Feel better.”

“Thanks.” He stepped out into the summer heat with Gus happily trotting beside him, and as he glanced at the Adirondack chair in which he’d been sitting just six hours ago, he shook his aching head.

Maeve poured a cup of coffee and watched him pull away. Gage had mentioned not being able to sleep, but she hadn’t even noticed him missing from their bed. She had slept like a rock, risen early, caught up on her morning devotionals, showered, and made lunch for both of them, and she still had a half hour before she had to leave for work. She toasted an English muffin, spread it with some homemade marmalade she found