Flirting with Fifty

Paige and Elizabeth headed to Paso Robles after class Friday afternoon, leaving directly from school, hoping to make it through Los Angeles and into Ventura County before rush hour formally commenced, although to be fair, traffic was heavy nearly all day on Fridays, and it was a slog today, too.

They’d decided to take Paige’s car, and Paige drove from Mission Viejo until they took a break in Ventura to get gas and stretch their legs. Elizabeth offered to drive the rest of the way, and Paige agreed, happy to be the passenger after three hours behind the wheel, including the hour where it was stop and start. At the gas station mini market, they bought a bag of nacho cheese Doritos and a bottle of iced tea for Paige and a Diet Coke for Elizabeth. This was their favorite snack of choice from road trips in the past—whether going to a concert at the state fair or Palm Springs for spring break.

When Elizabeth took the wheel, she also took control of the radio, choosing an eighties and nineties channel. She sang along with her favorite songs, happy to be on the road, as well as to escape her family for a few days.

As the sun dropped lower in the sky, they talked less, beginning to tire out. Paige was looking forward to seeing her mom. She enjoyed returning to the ranch, and she was lucky that her mom was still sharp mentally and in good shape physically. Her mom, Betsy, should be around for years to come, but who really knew what the future had in store? It’s why Paige tried to head home every four to six weeks, but going home was always colored with worry. Fear.

“Does your mom know you’re coming?” Paige asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth shook her head. “No. I wanted to surprise her. Does your mom know?”

“Oh, yes. Mom isn’t a fan of surprises. Better for her to know in advance and adjust her schedule. She’s become quite the social butterfly. Golf, tennis, bridge club, book club, wine club, birthday club.”

Elizabeth grinned. “Who would have ever thought your mom would take up golf?”

“Or want to attend a meeting every day of the week?”

“At least your mom’s still driving.”

“I almost wish she wouldn’t. Have you seen her drive? She is so slow. People lose their minds. We get flipped off almost every time she drives us somewhere.”

Elizabeth laughed. “What is she driving these days? Not your dad’s old truck?”

“No. She has a new little wagon. Last May, Rob and I surprised her for her seventy-fifth birthday. We weren’t sure she’d give up the truck, but she loves the new car.”

“Who drives the truck now?”

“Rob is overhauling it for Anne for her twenty-first birthday,” Paige said, referencing her brother Rob’s youngest, who was studying veterinary science at UC Davis. “She’s going to love it.”

“I love that the family work truck is staying in the family.”

“Me too.” Paige paused, aware that she was lucky that Rob lived on the same property as their mom, allowing him and his family to see her daily. Mom benefitted from the company, and was clearly doing well, but that didn’t keep Paige from feeling guilty she wasn’t as involved in her mom’s life.

They were almost to Paso Robles, and Elizabeth’s mom lived in one of the older neighborhoods just a couple blocks from the historic downtown and all the restaurants and shops surrounding City Park. Elizabeth had grown up in a historic 1890s Victorian, but the tall narrow house with the steep central staircase was proving difficult for her mom to navigate, never mind take care of. One of the reasons Elizabeth had come home this weekend was to try to talk to her mom again about downsizing, or maybe looking into an assisted-living facility, but her mom loved the old house and the lifetime of memories she’d made there, and she didn’t want to move.

Paige shot her friend a concerned glance. “The last time you talked to your mom about moving, you guys had a huge fight and she asked you to leave.”

Elizabeth grimaced. “You mean, she told me to leave.”

“I was trying to be nice.”

“Yeah. Thinking I’ll hold off on that conversation until the morning we’re heading back.”

“Could you hire someone to live in?”

“A nurse?”

“Or a home health aide. Someone who could help out, keep an eye on her.”

“Mom would kill me. She’s made it clear she doesn’t want strangers in her house.”

“What about in that apartment over the garage? Maybe rent it to someone who could just check in on her each day?”

“I’ve had all of these conversations with her. She said she’d feel ‘spied on,’ and that she’s an adult and doesn’t need babysitting.”

Paige couldn’t stifle a grin. Elizabeth’s mom was a former English and drama teacher at the high school. Every student for thirty-five years had Mrs. Ortiz for at least one English class, if not two. And if you’d been interested in theatre, you auditioned for her twice-a-year shows—the Fall play and the Spring musical. Paige hadn’t been a theatre geek, but Elizabeth had been in her fair share of shows and Paige had seen them all. “I love your mom,” she said. “She’s so feisty.”

Elizabeth gave her a look. “I guess you know where I get it from.”

A few minutes later, Elizabeth pulled in front of a tall, faded green Victorian and shifted into park. The house looked dark, but then, Mrs. Ortiz didn’t know Elizabeth was coming and wouldn’t have turned on the front porch light.

Paige climbed from the passenger seat, walked around, and gave Elizabeth a hug goodbye. “Call me if you need anything. Or if you want to meet for breakfast or lunch.”

“You know I love Joe’s Place for pancakes,” Elizabeth answered, picking up her suitcase.

“Let me know and I’ll scoop you up.” Paige hesitated. “And don’t give your mom a hard time.”

“I don’t. At the same time, I don’t want her falling down the stairs again. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to her.”