At five the next morning, Rowan and I got up before everyone else. We moved the geraniums back to the railing exactly where Mom had originally placed them. Then we made one more change. I removed the clean towels from the guest bathrooms, put away the breakfast ingredients Mom usually prepared, and taped a simple note to the refrigerator: “Coffee, food, laundry, and cleanup are self-service this weekend.”
Marguerite came downstairs around eight and immediately asked where breakfast was. I told her Mom was sleeping in. When she asked for fresh towels, Rowan pointed toward the washing machine. When she complained that the geraniums were blocking her view again, I smiled and said, “They’re Mom’s flowers on Mom’s deck. You can move your chair.” For once, Marguerite had absolutely nothing to say.
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