“You’re slimmer than I had imagined,” Rosy commented, “but the face is still there.”
“Yes, plus a host of wrinkles. Come, we have a lot of catching up to do.”
Rosy found out that their lives had much in common. Both had two children, a boy and a girl. She also heard that Hilde hat inherited her mother’s heart problems. They both remembered her sudden death when Hilde was only fourteen and how they had cried together.
“Short of a new heart ,the doc can’t do much for me. I’m just worried about my family.”
“Well, what about a heart transplant?” Rosy asked.
Hilde shook her head. “Oh God, I can’t even think of it. That scares me to death.”
“It might be the only way if you want to see your kids grow up,” Rosy said.
Hilde pressed her lips together. “I have to get a lot worse before I give in to that.”
They kept in daily contact. When Hilde didn’t answer her calls one morning, Rosy got worried. On a hunch she phoned the hospital and was told that Hilde had been admitted earlier. She had blacked out at home. Luckily Julie hadn’t left for school, yet.
Rosy drove to Hilde’s house. As Julie opened the door, Rosy was amazed at the resemblance between mother and daughter.
“How is your Mom?” Rosy asked.
Julie shrugged. “It was pretty scary. The doctor is doing all he can. But she needs a new heart.” She turned away and tried to stifle a sob. Rosy wanted to hug her. Instead she took her hands. She remembered the heartbreak when Hilde’s mother had died so suddenly.
