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frozen. Neither of us knew what to do.
    My mother said in a small, pitiful voice, "Peter, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to break it. I'm sorry Peter, don't hurt me."
    I looked at kind, sweet Danny who unfortunately bore an uncanny resemblance to his father. "Danny, go get the nurse."
    Rose took my hand and repeated, in a frantic shriek, "Mama, Mama, Mama."
    Almost instantly I channeled my grandmother, and said, "Rosie, love, you're all right. Hush pet, everything's fine." I rubbed her back, as I would a small child. "Ah, Rosie, you're my girl, you're my good girl." My mother smiled at me, uncertainly. "That's right, Rosie, lie back."
    I slowly stroked my mother's hair, and murmured what I could remember of Kitty's comforting phrases. The nurse inserted a needle in her arm while Danny looked on. After a few moments, Rose's face went slack.
    "She should sleep through the night now," the stout nurse said.
    "She was so confused. What caused that? Was it her medication?" I asked.
    "They get like that near the end." The nurse shrugged, although her broad face was sympathetic.
    I turned to Danny. "Have you seen her like that before? I know she's been in pain and out of it sometimes, but never like this."
    "I guess it's just what the nurse said. She's near the end."
    "But they said she had another few weeks," my voice rose an octave.
    "They said she could have another few weeks, Ellen," Danny said.
    I sank onto the chair next to her bed. "It's too soon. I'm not ready."

 
     
     
    Chapter 6

     
    Ellen
    "Laurie, you're a miracle worker."
    "You like it? I wasn't sure you were in the right frame of mind for something so radical."
    I ran my fingers along my now naked neck. Long strands of blonde hair carpeting the salon's bleached oak floor. Laurie, wearing the same quizzical expression she'd always had in algebra class, stood behind me.
    I looked at Laurie in the mirror. "I love it. Honestly, I do. Especially the color."
    "Yeah, you needed to tone it down. It was getting a little brassy."
    I laughed. "I'll be sure to tell that to my overpriced salon in D.C. But really Laurie, thanks. I feel like a new woman."
    "Who says Centerport doesn't have style." My old high school pal's hands swept the small yet sleek salon she'd opened after her painful divorce. "Hey, you wanna grab some lunch? My next appointment's not 'til one."
    "I would love to, but I need to get over to St. Francis. My mother had a rough night last night."
    "Of course, sweetie. But listen, keep me updated. Don't just sneak off to D.C. without letting me know, okay?"
    "I will. I promise."
    I crossed the parking lot to Frohller's Hardware. Danny had recently painted the clapboard siding a dull green, but other than that, not much had changed from the days Kitty sold her homemade soda bread alongside hammers and nails. The ancient floorboards creaked as I made my way up the cluttered aisle. Carol, Danny's wife, sat beside the cash register, and patiently explained the difference between two screwdrivers to an elderly woman. I hung back until she was finished.
    "Oh my God, Ellen. I almost didn't recognize you!"
    "I needed a change. Laurie Nolan did it. Do you like it?"
    "I love it! Maybe I should have her do something with this." Carol grabbed a handful of her over permed hair. Like a lot of women, especially women on Long Island, Carol was very attached to her big hair.
    "Sure," I said diplomatically, although I doubted Carol would ever update her '80s do, despite the fact that she was fast approaching fifty. "Danny around?"
    "He's in the back, doing inventory. Listen, Ellie, I'm glad you're here. Could I ask you a favor?"
    "Of course."
    "It's our fifth wedding anniversary tomorrow and I made reservations at Pablo's for dinner. I know Danny is supposed to sit with your mother tonight, but would you mind switching with him? I can go stay with your mother this afternoon if you could go this evening."
    I couldn't remember the last time Brendan even acknowledged our anniversary. I