Chapter 96

• Lalaine sat in the chair next to her mother's bed and gently held her hand. Her mother's skin felt cold with a grayish tint, yet still soft. Lalaine noticed the chipped nail polish on her mother's nails and reminisced about the salon trips they had taken together before her mother fell ill. Her mother always believed she felt better when she looked good. Lalaine imagined her mother, despite her condition, sitting up in bed to paint her nails, even though she knew she wasn't well enough to be seen by anyone other than her father. Perhaps her father had helped with it. Lalaine chuckled inwardly at the thought.
• "Hey, Mom," Lalaine whispered to her sleeping form. "You're getting a new heart. Yay!" She playfully mimed shaking pom-poms in the air, a goofy smile on her face. Then a sense of seriousness enveloped her. "But before that happens, and while you're resting and may not actually hear what I'm saying, there's something I want to share with you.
• "You see, I met this guy, and he's amazing. His name is Nick Crawford." Lalaine rolled her eyes, anticipating her mother's reaction if she were conscious. "Yes, the Nick Crawford. Don't be fooled by his wealth and handsome face; he can be difficult at times, but that's part of what makes him so special. So, we've been seeing each other for some time now, and last night he told me he loves me." Lalaine imagined her mother would have been overjoyed at that revelation.