Just Breathe Again - Mia Villano Page 0,15

bonding. The electric and gas had to be paid first and there was never money left over for dinner out. It hurt her heart to think about the fact that she had no extra time for her children. She headed home in the busy rush hour traffic hoping Lydia felt better. She called and spoke to Lydia’s doctor on her lunch hour. There wasn’t an opening for a week and they advised her if things got worse to take her to the hospital.

Slowly pulling in the driveway with food and a little money for the week, she saw Steven was there. She liked seeing his car in the driveway, knowing he was in there with Lydia.

Walking in the stifling hot trailer, Steven was in the kitchen, cooking. He had on Jeanie’s apron and was singing something in French. Michael was sitting at the counter, watching him and laughing.

“Hey, Jeannie. You’re in time for hot dogs and chicken noodle soup. This meal, requested by Sir Michael Franklin. What a dinner. My, don’t you still look ravishing from this morning.” He walked over and kissed her on both cheeks. Steven took her grocery bags and put them on the counter.

Jeannie looked around concerned. “Thank you, Steven. Where’s Lydia?”

“She’s asleep, Jeannie Queenie. Lydia has been sleeping since she came home. She barely made in the door before she was comatose. She’s pretty sick and needs to see a doctor. She doesn’t want to tell you,” said Steven, stirring Michael’s soup.

Jeannie walked over and kissed Michael on the head. “Hey, Michael. How was your day?” His hair was a mess and he smelled like erasers and bubblegum.

Michael was spinning around on the old bar stools Jeannie bought at a garage sale. “It sucked. I lost my lunch money somewhere and couldn’t eat.”

“Why didn’t you go to the office and have them call me?” asked Jeannie.

“I don’t know, Mom. You had enough problems this morning, being late again. I’m okay. Steven is cooking for me.” Jeannie kissed him again and gave him a squeeze.

“You eat everything, okay?” said Jeannie. Michael nodded his head, stuffing a hotdog in his mouth. It looked like everyone’s day sucked, thought Jeannie.

Walking down the hall and taking off her shoes, she yelled to Stephen. “I’m going to check on Lydia.” If she was going to get to her other job on time, she would have to rush to get her uniform ironed and ready.

“You want me to make you something to eat, babe?” asked Steven.

“No, I will get something later. Thank you though.”

The dingy hallway was lined with pictures from happier times of their family. As she did every day, she kissed her finger and touched her favorite picture of Vince. Her husband was gorgeous with his smiling face, hair in his eyes, sitting on a tree stump. It was a picture she took right before the accident.

Jeannie knocked on the door of the bedroom. Lydia didn’t answer. She opened the door and the familiar scent of Lydia’s raspberry body spray hit her. The bedroom windows were shut, making it hard to catch her breath in the stifling hot room.

“Sweetheart, it’s hot in here. Do you want me to open a window?” She walked into her room and was overcome with sadness. In Lydia’s old room she had a canopy bed, two huge dressers, a floor length mirror, and a walk in closet. The nice bedroom furniture she had at their house had to be sold, so she only had mismatched thrift store pieces. Jeannie’s bed was up against the other wall, though she slept on the couch most nights. They both shared the room with a cracked mirror hanging on a dirty wall and worn out, stained carpet.

Lydia didn’t flinch when her mom spoke to her. She was a light sleeper and the slightest noise usually woke her up. Jeannie walked over to her bed, stepping on various pieces of clothes on the way.

Trying to wake her up, she shook her shoulder. “Lydia, it’s mom.”

“Hey.” A muffled voice was heard.

“What’s wrong?” Jeannie was glad her daughter couldn’t see the concern in her face since she was facing the wall.

“The migraines are back. I’m dizzy and I’m sick.”

Fear that her daughter may be very ill, sent a panic in her stomach. “You haven’t had a migraine with such dizziness. We need to get you to the hospital.”

Lydia turned over and put the covers over her head. “I don’t want to, Mom. I’ll be fine. You have to go to work.”

Jeannie