Source One

mom passed away? How would she get through?
    Amber swiped at the moisture that had welled up in her eyes.
    She clenched and unclenched her fists. It wasn’t the time to feel sorry for herself. She had to stay strong. Her mom needed her.
    “Ma’am?....... Are you okay?”
    Amber blinked.
    The pharmacy assistant was holding up a bag. Her eyebrows were raised. “It’s ready.”
    Amber hurried to the counter. “I’m sorry. I guess I was a million miles away.”
    A mber took her mother to the movies that night. A couple her mother’s age sat in the row in front of them. The lights darkened and she and her mother settled back for the previews.
    When the lights came back up after the movie, the couple began to kiss.
    Amber looked at her mom. She had stood up and was struggling with her coat. Amber straightened it for her as her gaze drifted back at the couple. They were now locked in a passionate embrace.
    As Amber and her mother filed out of the row, Amber wished with all her heart that it was her mother in front of her, out for the evening with a caring partner.
    ***
    “How’s your mom doing?” Michelle asked.
    Amber and Michelle were having lunch again the next week.  This time at a Chinese restaurant.
    Amber bit her lip and looked away. “She’s getting weaker. It’s hard to see.”
    She blinked back tears.
    Michelle was silent for a minute.
    “You’re doing a great job here, Amber. I’m glad I hired you.”
    Amber took a breath and smiled a small smile. “Thanks. I only wish Mr. Nichols felt the same.”
    Michelle’s forehead wrinkled. “What do you mean?”
    “I just don’t think he likes me very much.”
    “I’m sure that’s not true, Amber. He hasn’t complained once about you.”
    Michelle touched a linen napkin to her mouth. “He’s just been different since his wife died.”
    Amber frowned. “His wife died?”
    Michelle raised her brow. “Almost six months ago. You didn’t know?”
    ***
    Brian walked up the walkway.  Through the window, he could see Katie and Mrs. Quinn seated together, doing homework at the kitchen island.
    Mrs. Quinn was a grandmother. She’d raised her daughter in Marin. Her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren lived in Colorado now.
    Brian had hired Mrs. Quinn a year ago, when Diana had begun to get weak . When she’d begun to need help.
    Mrs. Quinn had rented out her house and moved in six months ago.
    The night Diana passed away, it was Mrs. Quinn who’d explained to Katie that her mother had gone to heaven.
    Brian blinked away the memory and unlocked the front door.
    “Like this?” Katie was asking Mrs. Quinn as Brian headed for the kitchen.
    “Yes. That’s right.”
    Katie looked up and saw him. Ran over. “Daddy!”
    Brian picked her up and kissed her.
    “Okay, Missy,” Mrs. Quinn said. “You’re done and it’s bedtime now. Upstairs we go.”
    “But Daddy just got home.”
    “It’s after eight and you’ve got school tomorrow, Katie.”
    Brian set Katie down and took her hand. “Come on. I’ll tuck you in, sweetheart.”
    Brian went back down to the kitchen after he’d put Katie to bed.
    Mrs. Quinn set a plate of chicken and potatoes in front of him.
    “How was your day?” she asked.
    ***
    Amber lay awake long into the night thinking of what Michelle had told her.
    She needed to give Mr. Nichols a break. He was entitled to be in a bad mood if he’d just lost his wife.
    And his poor little girl…...
    Amber sighed as her thoughts shifted.
    Her mother had lost a lot of her strength in the last weeks. She spent most of her time in bed now.
    She’d need help while Amber was at work. Amber would call the doctor about it tomorrow.  She closed her eyes and drew in a breath. It was time to get some sleep.
    The next morning, Amber arrived at work and walked into Mr. Nichols’ empty office.  She put some papers on his desk and reached for the framed picture.
    His wife and daughter.
    Amber had seen the photo dozens of times over the last weeks. This time she studied it.
    The little girl was adorable and had long dark hair like her mother. She had her arms wrapped around her mother’s neck.
    They looked happy. Truly happy. Amber felt a pull at her heart at what the little girl must have gone through for the past months.
    It was bad enough losing a mother when you were an adult. As a child…..
    “What are you doing?”
    Amber startled.
    Her eyes flew to the doorway where Mr. Nichols stood scowling.
    Amber’s stomach clenched.
    In her