Free The Night's Legacy by P.T. Dilloway

thesis—”
    “I really haven’t thought about it yet.”  Lois stuffed a slice of pita bread into her mouth.  She knew Dr. Johnson and Mom were going to press her about finishing her doctorate.  She had been so close when she had dropped out of school.  “I think I’d just like to get through the summer and then worry about it.”
    “I was thinking we should do some shopping this weekend,” Mom said.  “We could look for some new decorations for your room—”
    “Actually Melanie already asked me to go shopping with her.  If that’s all right.”
    “It’s fine.  We can do that some other time.”  From the way Mom looked down at her plate, Lois knew it wasn’t fine.  After seven years, Mom wanted some time with her, to catch up on what they had missed.  That was only fair, wasn’t it?
    “We can go on Sunday, unless you have any plans.”
    “No, Sunday should be fine.”  Mom smiled a little, though she was clearly still stinging from the rejection.  “I’m going to use the ladies room.”
    She held onto the edge of the table as she levered herself upright and then shuffled along the rows of tables, disappearing behind a palm tree.  As Lois watched her mother go, she asked Dr. Johnson, “How long has she been like that?”
    “I’m not sure I know what you mean,” he said, hastily taking a piece of bread.
    “You know, so old .”
    It was Dr. Johnson’s turn to pick his words carefully.  “It was hard for her, losing you and then Betty.  Plus there’s been a lot going on at the museum.  Donors aren’t as generous as they used to be with the economy and the government threatened to take away some of our research grants.  And you know how much trouble she has with delegating any of that.”
    “Yeah, I know.”  Lois sighed.  She took a piece of pita bread, but wasn’t hungry anymore.  Instead she kneaded the bread in her hands.  “I should have been here, to help her through it.  Shouldn’t I?”
    He reached across the table to take her hand and give it a squeeze.  “Don’t beat yourself up about it.  You were doing what you thought was best.  It took a lot of courage to do what you did.  Not many people could have done it.”
    “Not many people are that stupid.”
    “ Lois—”
    “She’s right.  I could have at least sent her a postcard so that she’d know I was OK.  She probably thought I was dead.”
    “We never thought that.  We always knew you were too strong for that.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Look, the important thing is that you’re here now.  Your mom is going to be a lot happier now, so long as you stay out of trouble.”
    Lois couldn’t help smiling at that.  “Get into trouble?  Me?”
    “I know, it’s preposterous.”
    As they laughed at this, Mom came back to the table.  “What did I miss?”
    “Nothing much,” Dr. Johnson said and winked at Lois.
    * * *
    When they got home, Mom gave Lois a kiss on the cheek.  “I think I’m going to do some reading and then hit the hay,” she said.  “Try not to stay up too late.”
    “I won’t, Mom.”
    “I love you, sweetheart.”
    “I love you too.”
    Lois watched the seldom-used TV for an hour and then went upstairs to change.  She stopped at Mom’s door and heard her mother snoring softly.  Lois eased the door open and saw Mom lying in bed with her glasses still on and a book on her chest.  Lois took both of these to set on the nightstand.  In a bit of role reversal she pulled the covers up to Mom’s chin and then kissed her forehead before turning out the light.
    For the next hour Lois rummaged through her closet.  She had never owned many dresses and the ones she did own were too small now.  Mom’s clothes would be too big, not to mention nothing Mom owned could be construed as “sexy” by any definition. 
    Then Lois saw the slip of paper Melanie had given her sitting on the nightstand.  Melanie’s clothes would probably be too big as well, but they might be closer in