Leaving my mother all by herself in the hospital with no one to look after her was a no easy task for me, but I had to if I have to raise money for her surgery.
When I spoke to Rosie yesterday, I explained all what had happened and to say she was disturbed by what happened would be an understatement. She is willing to help me as much as she can. And true to her word she called me this morning to inform me we have a meeting with a prospective client.
I'm on my way to the studio where I work, Rosie has already informed me she'll not be at work today, so I'm not too bothered when I didn't see her at work. Time passes like a blur.
"Hey, Ro", I say as I take a seat in the restaurant, the place is warm and cosy which I really appreciate coming from outside, she looks at me worriedly, "are you alright" she mouths to me, I laugh despite how I feel and tell her that I am, I know she doesn't believe me but she gives me a sad smile regardless. We make our order as we wait.
Rosie begins to tell me of a new guy she met, and I know she's doing this to steer my mind away from my problems, and I smile aware of her antics. "He's so hot I mean, not your regular hot, super hot, and I think he's rich too… I think I hit the jackpot this time" she says and I couldn't help but laugh, "Rosie you always say this about all the guys you meet" I argue back,
"Look it's different this time" she whispers like someone is listening in on our conversation. She goes on tell me how he was perfect and knew all the right things to say and do, "It was as though he was from another planet Denise" she says, I look at her sceptically because I know she'll be over him fast, "you act like you're in love", I say to rile her up, with a smirk on my face. "I am in love Denise can't you see, or you think I am incapable of falling in love or what", she responds as her eyes have formed slits while talking to me. To her claim I just chuckle knowing who she is. "We'll see Rosie, we'll see" I comment, she resumes with her talking.
We were still going on about her new hot shot, that we didn't notice our client was already here. She greets us briefly as we both rise to give her a hand shake. We offered her a seat, then we all sat down to begin our discussion. Rosie did all the talking while I occasionally contributed and mostly observed and listened. The woman looked to be in her late fifties but, you could see she was a beauty, age had nothing on her, her blue eyes shone with excitement as she gives us details of what she wanted for her party, I couldn't help but admire her bubbly personality, it showed she lives life to its fullest. "I am turning sixty," she says. I was right, she was in her late fifties. "Being alive and well excites me, so I want to have a big party" she continued.
We go on and on with the details and all, and Rosie asks her when the date was and she replies in two months time. Immediately she says this my spirit drops because I need the money before then. The meeting doesn't feel real to me anymore, trying to concentrate is a struggle, as my mind is moving on it's own, I zone out of the meeting totally, as my mind wanders to my mum, I wonder if she's awake now and how she's doing, if she's worried that I'm not by her side, if she's confused, or is hungry, my mind has become a blizzard within few minutes.
"Denise, Denise", I'm called out of my train of thoughts by Rosie. Rosie and the client both look at me in concern, "Are you alright", they both ask me in unison, embarrassed by my zoning out I reply a shy yes and smile at them. Rosie finalises on the details of the event with the client while I watch the both of them.
"Now Denise tell me what's going on in that mind of yours, you kept zoning out", Rosie demanded, "it's just that the event is so far away and I need money urgently, Ro," I responded. She reaches out to me, as she holds my hand, her intense green eyes holds my hazel ones in place assuring me that everything will be fine, " look, Denise, I've made plans, I've sent out as much word as I can, and this is the first person that has responded since I sent out the messages last night, and you've equally spread word just Incase people need a photographer for their event. And I know we'll get something, it won't take long". She assures me, I bite the insides of my mouth just not to cry, Rosie is the only other person aside from mum that I know would upend the world for me. I stand up and give her a hug, like she would disappear at any moment. Her scent engulfs me as I hug her and it gives me a weird sense of comfort, she strokes my back and we stay like for some seconds before we let go of each other.
I am grateful that the restaurant is not packed with people. I smile at her and we pack up and leave for the hospital.
We sit in mum's room as we both have dinner and talk to mum pretending she could hear us. Teasing each other, and telling embarrassing tales like we do when we hung out with her. She tells my mum how she thinks I'll end up alone because I have no love life, and how I'm still not willing to even see anyone since I am a big prude.
"Denise I gotta go, I'll see you at work tomorrow" she tells me, she goes ahead to give mum a kiss on the cheek and hugs me.
Rosie walks towards the door with her phone in hand. Her left hand on the door fully concentrated on what's on her phone and my own attention on her too as she leaves.
"Denise…"
She stops in her tracks and I pause.