My MIL brought sexy lingerie to the hospital while my mother was seriously ill. She said my husband needed me more. I let her finish, made one phone call, and waited. Ten minutes later, she came storming back, screaming, “You had no right!”
My mom had been in the hospital for nine days. Severe heart failure.
The doctors had been honest with us: she might not come home.
I spent every evening beside her bed. My husband, Andrew, covered everything else.
That night she finally fell asleep, and I stepped out into the hallway.
“You’re still here?”
My mother-in-law, Elaine, stood by the elevators. I hadn’t expected her.
Severe heart failure.
She was holding a pink bag with tissue paper sticking out of the top.
“Good. I brought you something.”
I assumed clean clothes. I’d been wearing the same sweater for three days.
“Thank you, Elaine. You didn’t have to.”
