Mark closed his eyes.
“Did you ask Susan?”
“She has work.”
“So do I.”
“Rebecca has the children.”
“They’re teenagers.”
“Well, your father is more comfortable with you.”
There it was again.
“Mom, I can help coordinate it,” Mark said. “But I’m not flying back every time there’s an appointment.”
Her voice hardened.
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
“You have the list.”
“That list?”
“Yes. That list.”
“We shouldn’t have to hire people when we have children.”
Mark went silent.
Then Patricia finally asked the question beneath everything else.
“Who’s going to take care of us?”
He looked tired rather than angry.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out, Mom.”
She said nothing.
Then he added softly, “You always said I could.”
After the call, he stared at his phone.
“That sounded better in my head.”
“Do you regret saying it?”
He rubbed his face.
