she had grown partially blind.
"Samuel Logan was just here, Mother." "Really? What time is it? Is your father
dressed?"
"It's early: Samuel didn't come to take me to the
engagement party. He came to declare his own
engagement."
"Oh, he did!" She started to shake her head. "I
didn't know he . . ."
"To me," I said.
"What? To you?"
I lifted my hand to exhibit the ring. She gazed
at it and then I got the smile I wanted, the smile I had
hoped for, the smile my mother wore so often in her life, that bright, happy, hopeful beaming that turned her eyes back to the jewels they had once been. Color
even returned to her sweet face.
"Oh Olivia, how wonderful! What a beautiful
ring. You're engaged. What a wonderful piece of news
to give me!"
"So you really have to get better, Mother. We
have our own engagement party and wedding to plan,
and I have a house to build. You'll have to help me
with the architect. There's so much to do. We don't
have time for this illness nonsense, Mother." She lowered herself back to her pillow and
smiled strangely at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Mother?"
I asked, feeling a dark shadow cross over my heart. She sighed and closed her eyes. For a moment I
thought she had actually passed away. She was that
still and her eyes were closed that long.
"Mother!"
She opened her eyes.
"You just sounded more like me than ever,