The week had gone by peacefully for lack of a better word.

In that space of time, I’d learnt that my mom’s organs weren’t getting worse, but they weren’t improving either. It wasn’t really something to celebrate, but I was glad to hear that her situation wasn’t getting worse.

I’d also gotten in touch with Bailey and she’d told me that business was doing really well. I was so happy to hear that my absence hadn’t affected things at all. I’d always known that she was a good assistant, but I was starting to think it was time to give her a raise. She deserved it.

It was a particularly...