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Author: Kathleen Irene Paterka
thought.
CHAPTER TWO
BAY BEAT
____________________________________
The James Bay Journal
____________________________________
WELCOME HOME! Ms. Cecilia Rose Gallagher, a native of James Bay and associate attorney with the prominent Michigan law firm of Arthur, LaCross and Mindel, P.C., is back in town for the next several weeks to assist her mother Irene Gallagher, who will be soon be recuperating from surgery. Welcome home, Cecilia Gallagher, Esq.!
_____________________________________
“And the doctor said she came through the surgery fine?” The Judge’s face flushed red with heat as he sank down in the chair next to Rose and brushed her cheek with a kiss.
“She’s still in recovery,” Rose replied. “They let me see her for a few minutes, but they said it would be awhile before they take her to her room.”
The sight of her mother in post-op, hooked up to machines, drainage tube in her leg, had scared her more than she cared to admit. But Irene’s color was good and she had even managed a groggy smile as the two of them held hands. Rose held back the tears as she left the recovery room. There was no time for crying. Now the surgery was a success, they needed to focus on the knee and regaining strength through physical therapy.
The Judge loosened the knot of the tie at his throat and fingered open one shirt button, then another. “Your mother is a strong woman, my dear. She’ll pull through this fine.”
Some things never changed, Rose thought as she offered him a cautious smile. Jeff’s father had always proved a steady source of comfort and strength throughout the years.
“Where’s Lil?” He glanced around, his gaze sharp and penetrating. “She knew I had motions in court first thing this morning. She promised she would be here.”
“She’s around. She decided to take a little walk.”
“Probably down at the nurses’ station, gabbing with her friends.” The Judge settled back in his chair with a scowl. “She shouldn’t have left you sitting here alone.”
“Quit worrying about me,” Rose chided gently. “I’m a big girl, remember? Besides, Lil deserved a break.”
A retired nurse, Lil had proved a godsend this morning—patient and reassuring as the hours crawled by without a bit of news. Rose couldn’t begrudge her a quick stroll. Her own legs were stiff and cramped, and she longed for a chance to splash her face with cool refreshing water. But the bathroom could wait. She wasn’t going anywhere until her mother was completely out of danger and safe in her hospital room.
The day had been a long one, begun at four a.m. with the soft steady bong of the grandfather clock downstairs. She’d found her mother already up and moving quietly about the kitchen, feeding Bozo before they left for the hospital. The aging Red Persian seemed to sense something was amiss. He’d padded behind them through the rooms, his meows loud and protracted well before they left the house.
The Judge reached over and patted Rose’s hand. “No worries, hear me? Your mother’s knee will be good as new. Maybe even better, now it’s made of titanium and plastic. We’ll have her dancing in circles by the end of the summer. She’s a strong woman, my dear.”
“I know she is.” She’d always admired her mother’s strength of character in dealing with the day-to-day business of living, especially in the face of adversity. Irene and Michael Gallagher had been fine parents, the best a girl could ask for. Rose was an only child, named after her grandmothers, and the sole beneficiary of all the blessings her parents could lavish on the one child destined to share their love. And save for her parents’ inability to fill the empty bedrooms of their large house with brothers and sisters for Rose, their little family of three had been happy and content.
Everything had changed one frosty winter morning shortly after Christmas. Home from college on winter break, Rose had just come downstairs
CHAPTER TWO
BAY BEAT
____________________________________
The James Bay Journal
____________________________________
WELCOME HOME! Ms. Cecilia Rose Gallagher, a native of James Bay and associate attorney with the prominent Michigan law firm of Arthur, LaCross and Mindel, P.C., is back in town for the next several weeks to assist her mother Irene Gallagher, who will be soon be recuperating from surgery. Welcome home, Cecilia Gallagher, Esq.!
_____________________________________
“And the doctor said she came through the surgery fine?” The Judge’s face flushed red with heat as he sank down in the chair next to Rose and brushed her cheek with a kiss.
“She’s still in recovery,” Rose replied. “They let me see her for a few minutes, but they said it would be awhile before they take her to her room.”
The sight of her mother in post-op, hooked up to machines, drainage tube in her leg, had scared her more than she cared to admit. But Irene’s color was good and she had even managed a groggy smile as the two of them held hands. Rose held back the tears as she left the recovery room. There was no time for crying. Now the surgery was a success, they needed to focus on the knee and regaining strength through physical therapy.
The Judge loosened the knot of the tie at his throat and fingered open one shirt button, then another. “Your mother is a strong woman, my dear. She’ll pull through this fine.”
Some things never changed, Rose thought as she offered him a cautious smile. Jeff’s father had always proved a steady source of comfort and strength throughout the years.
“Where’s Lil?” He glanced around, his gaze sharp and penetrating. “She knew I had motions in court first thing this morning. She promised she would be here.”
“She’s around. She decided to take a little walk.”
“Probably down at the nurses’ station, gabbing with her friends.” The Judge settled back in his chair with a scowl. “She shouldn’t have left you sitting here alone.”
“Quit worrying about me,” Rose chided gently. “I’m a big girl, remember? Besides, Lil deserved a break.”
A retired nurse, Lil had proved a godsend this morning—patient and reassuring as the hours crawled by without a bit of news. Rose couldn’t begrudge her a quick stroll. Her own legs were stiff and cramped, and she longed for a chance to splash her face with cool refreshing water. But the bathroom could wait. She wasn’t going anywhere until her mother was completely out of danger and safe in her hospital room.
The day had been a long one, begun at four a.m. with the soft steady bong of the grandfather clock downstairs. She’d found her mother already up and moving quietly about the kitchen, feeding Bozo before they left for the hospital. The aging Red Persian seemed to sense something was amiss. He’d padded behind them through the rooms, his meows loud and protracted well before they left the house.
The Judge reached over and patted Rose’s hand. “No worries, hear me? Your mother’s knee will be good as new. Maybe even better, now it’s made of titanium and plastic. We’ll have her dancing in circles by the end of the summer. She’s a strong woman, my dear.”
“I know she is.” She’d always admired her mother’s strength of character in dealing with the day-to-day business of living, especially in the face of adversity. Irene and Michael Gallagher had been fine parents, the best a girl could ask for. Rose was an only child, named after her grandmothers, and the sole beneficiary of all the blessings her parents could lavish on the one child destined to share their love. And save for her parents’ inability to fill the empty bedrooms of their large house with brothers and sisters for Rose, their little family of three had been happy and content.
Everything had changed one frosty winter morning shortly after Christmas. Home from college on winter break, Rose had just come downstairs
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