"That's good," I said, reaching over to hold her hand, squeezing it, remembering all the times I had spent with her and John together. "How's your uncle taking it? They're still really close, aren't they?”
John nodded.
"He's in the sleeping room right now," John said. His uncle had practically been his mother’s keeper since John’s father died. "He was up all night with her.”
"What happened?" I asked, sitting in the chair beside John. "You said she fell?"
"Yes," John said and told me about how she had fallen, and they thought she had tripped on the carpet, but it was really a seizure caused by a tumor in her brain. "She broke her leg in the fall, and it was then they did an MRI and found the cancer was all through her. The bone broke because it was weakened by cancer. She only regained consciousness briefly, looked around, and then closed her eyes. She hasn't spoken or responded to anyone since."
"I'm so sorry," I said.
He nodded. "It was a shock. We all thought she was fine. She was such a strong woman and must have thought the pain in her hip was just arthritis, which she had before she got the cancer. It wasn't."
We spent the next hour reminiscing about good times shared with John's mother, how she loved to bake for everyone and happily spent hours in the kitchen making everyone's favorite kind of treat -- brownies with Reese’s Pieces, pecan pie, and other delights. Her specialty was cupcakes with thick buttercream icing in strange colors, appropriate for every occasion -- Halloween orange and brown, Thanksgiving colors of the red and yellow and orange leaves, and Christmas red and green.
"I'll miss having my mother at the births of my children," John said, his voice emotional.
I reached over and squeezed his shoulder. "You'll have us," I said, and it sounded so trite but what else could I say? "I won't have my mother at my children's births either. We'll have each other."
"We will," he said and smiled at me, but it was all he could do to keep from breaking down again.
We sat in silence for a while and listened to the soft sound of the oxygen, the noise from the hallway, and the sound of the hospital itself.
It wasn't the way I pictured spending my birthday, but John was my best male friend and partner.
There in the hospital room was where I belonged.
I spent the entire day with John.
After sitting in the room with John’s mom for about seven hours, John's uncle came into the room when John and I were ready for a meal.
"Hey, Luke," his uncle said and shook my hand, pulling me in for a quick hug. "Glad you came to sit with John. I appreciate it."
"Don't even mention it," I said and shook my head. "John's been there for me."
John’s uncle looked over at his sister-in-law then turned to John. "Any change?"
John shook his head. "She's been resting quietly," he replied. "No change."
"Okay," he said. "You two go get something to eat. I'll go after you're done."
"Okay," John said. He turned to me. "You can go home to Alexa if you want. I can eat by myself."
"Not on your life," I said. "I'll come and eat with you in the cafeteria. Alexa is fine. She texted me and is feeling better, so she'll be good."
Together, John and I went to the hospital cafeteria and ate some meatloaf, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables -- typical hospital fare. It was actually quite good as hospital food went and we chatted while we ate about everything and anything.
"Your uncle looks strong," I said, watching John carefully for his response.
"He is," John replied. "He's a rock. In contrast, I'm a mess."
"She's your mother," I said.
John nodded and finished his food. "I better get back. I hope you don't mind if I take a few days off from work to deal with this."
"You don't even have to mention it," I said.
"I know, but we're in the middle of planning a new approach to Randall, and I don't want it to fall through."