Cindy was sitting with her mother on the porch of the house. Mom asked Cindy to sit in Mom’s lap. Warm arms wrapped around Cindy’s shoulders and held her as the sun poured down on the lawn. Mom sighed as the two held a quiet beautiful moment.

“Is the medicine working Momma?” Cindy asked quietly as she rested her ear on her mom and listened to the heartbeat there.

“Don’t worry about that darling.” Mom said, stroking Cindy’s hair for a moment. “Tell me about school honey. What’s been your favorite thing to do?”

Cindy smiled despite the sadness. Mom’s words meant no and she knew it. “Well, I made a few friends that also like video games. We were thinking about starting a gaming group for whenever we are done with homework. It’ll be nice not playing on my own. School has been ok. I’m really enjoying math and science. It all makes sense to me. The strict rules of everything, if you follow the rules you’re never wrong.”

“That does sound nice,” Mom started to slowly rock them both as the warm wind started to blow past the two. Cindy looked up at her mom, the scarf wrapped around her head fluttered in the wind. It was tie dye. Cindy had made it for her mom when she decided to start shaving her head. The medicine seemed to make her miserable but Cindy knew she went through it because she wanted to be around for Dad and herself.

“What do you dream about Mom?” Cindy asked as she snuggled down into the warm arms.

“Oh, I dream about you a lot, badger. Watching you grow up, meeting your first boyfriend and how your father will feel about it. Seeing you graduate every class and throwing you a party each time. The first time you drive, and feeling proud you could do it. I also dream about being old with your father. Sitting in this very chair and watching you as an adult with your own children playing in the yard. That is my favorite dream.” Mom looked far away from the world as she talked. Seeing her dreams in her own mind and reveling in them.

“I don’t even know if I want kids mom. Maybe I can babysit first? That would be great.” Cindy looked out in the yard to see Dad toiling away in the flower garden he was growing for Mom. She loved flowers of all kind. Cindy planned to go pluck a bunch of them. She closed her eyes and listened to that heartbeat. “Kids might be nice. With you and Dad to help me.”

“That’s good honey.” Cindy felt an arm reach out and watched the shaky strength of her mother pick up the glass of iced tea and bring it to her lips. The strong scent of lemon wedges filling the air. She watched as the cold sweating glass was sipped from and her mom sighing at the taste. It was her favorite drink. “Do you want something to drink honey?”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Cindy closed her eyes, she was thirsty. But she wanted to sit with mom for longer. “Dad will bring me something. I’m sure he knows that we will both be thirsty soon. He always knows when to help us.”

“That’s why I married him. Did I ever tell you how we met?” Mom looked confused for a moment. Her memories were not as strong as before. The forgetfulness wasn’t helping anything.

“Yes, but I want to hear it again. Tell me please.” Cindy looked at her dad as he worked. She did her best to imagine them both younger but that was impossible without a picture. They were always who they are now.

“We were in college,” Mom began as she looked at the love of her life. “I was really stuck in my Calculus class and I posted a little flyer asking for a tutor.” Mom sipped the iced tea as she squeezed Cindy gently. “I got the call from your father. He promised that he had passed the class the year before and would enjoy helping me. Told me to meet him at a cafe a few blocks away from campus.”

The wind blew by as Mom went on. “I was on my way there when my tire went flat suddenly, completely exploded. I pulled to the side of the road and stepped out to look at what had happened. I knew then that I would miss the meeting and we didn’t have cell phones then so I couldn’t call him.” Mom sighed, “That is when he was there. Walking along the road, we were maybe a block away from the cafe. He approached me with his wonderful eyes staring into mine. I felt butterflies in my stomach and all thoughts of school and meetings fell out of my head.” Cindy closed her eyes, picturing her mom’s classic car. It was handed down two generations. A beautiful cream color with winged back lights.

“His smile was brilliant, I remember the words, ‘You seem to be in a spot of trouble. Let me help you with that tire.’ I opened my trunk and he pulled out a spare and all the equipment I didn’t know I had. I watched as he kneeled into the dirty road and went about changing my tire with practiced ease.” The warm arms wrapped around Cindy pulling her closer as her mom’s cheek rested on the top of Cindy’s head.

“His hands got so dirty and his knee’s pants were filthy. I couldn’t help but offer to buy him lunch. I didn’t even remember why I was looking for a cafe. He told me he was busy meeting up with someone to help teach them some calculus. That is when I remembered,” Mom started to sound tired as she talked, her voice getting distant. “I told him I was who he was looking for. That I had to treat him to lunch now that he was saving me twice. Of course he agreed.”

Mom grew quiet and her breaths grew deep. She was asleep. Cindy nuzzled closer as she closed her eyes. Remembering all the times that Mom would take the time to sit and hold her since as long as she could remember. Cindy was growing tired as well. The world was the perfect nap temperature. Plus the comfort of her mom’s heartbeat in her ear. The gentle rocking of them both soothing the soul. Cindy closed her eyes as she felt sleep coming onto her.

The last thing she heard before falling asleep was the soft chuckle of Dad. A light blanket being tucked around them both, and the gentle sound of the other rocking chair being sat in. Cindy knew her parents were there. Time seemed to stretch into an eternity as she fell asleep. “Love you mom,” She whispered to no one.

Cindy woke up in bed later. Dad must have carried her up when Mom woke up. Cindy was tucked in just the way she liked. Mom’s favorite song was coming softly from the other rooms. The smell of dinner was starting to fill the air. The lovely scent of Mom’s favorite spices flooded her nose. Mom always made the best food. Cindy wasn’t ready though, she snuggled down, the tie dye scarf lay under her cheek. The smell of mom was there.

Cindy knew, as long as Mom was around Cindy would have moments like this. When she could feel the pure love of her parents. The feeling of absolute safety as well. She sighed, “Five more minutes.”