Valentine's Day

Tears pooled in my eyes and one slipped down my cheek. My attorney reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "It'll be okay," he smiled.

Easy for him to say, it's Valentines Day. I took a deep breath and waited for the judge to slam the gavel.
"Be seated."

Several months before, my Dad was struggling to take care of my Mom. Dad used to call my cell phone and say, "I'm at the emergency room with your Mother." "Dad, I don't have a crystal ball, so when Mom gets to be too much for you, you have to tell me." "We're doing fine."

I noticed Dad becoming increasingly weary.

Dad and I ate lunch together every Sunday after Church. It was a time to catch up and know he was really doing okay. Mom continued weekly visits to the Emergency Room, unable to breathe. My cell phone vibrated, Dad. I was meeting clients of my own in just a few minutes, and I was over an hour away.

"Your Mom was admitted to the hospital this morning. I have to talk to you." I took a deep breath, "should I stop after work?" Without hesitation he said, "No. You need to put your Mother in a nursing home. I can't take care of her any more."

The only time I ever saw my Dad cry was when my Grandmother died. I heard his tears and ice shot through my veins. "Okay Dad. I'll do my best." He continued. "You are the only one who can do it. Your sister and I have already talked and we can't do it."

The judge banged the gavel again. My Mother was declared incompetent. I had the authority to admit her to the nursing home. Two case workers hugged me, "We've been trying to get your Dad to do this for three years. You did the right thing."

When I looked in my Mother's eyes, it didn't feel like the right thing. My Dad and sister met me at the nursing home. Dad looked me in the eye, with tears in his and said, "thanks for helping me".

Later that day, when my husband and I were finally able to be together he hugged me. He whispered "I love you" and handed me one dozen long stemmed red roses. As we sat at dinner that night, just the two of us, he made me realize, I wasn't a bad daughter.