Running on Empty
The telephone call came out of the blue, an unsettling reminder to Adam McFadden that more people existed in his universe than he routinely acknowledged.
Not just more people-, no, instead a member of the more people designated family people had caught him off guard.
Or to be explicit, an individual family person known as Cousin Nora re-emerged nearly two years after the loss of his parents and flipped his newly created world upside down.
"Adam?"
Trying to identify the voice the twenty one year old responded, "This is he."
"Well Adam, this is Cousin Nora, your mama's Cousin Nora," the female caller elaborated. Her voice sounded raspier than the Cousin Nora he recalled and Adam struggled to conjure up a mental image of the woman. She added, "I am the cousin who lives in Philadelphia."
That did it. "Right, right, that Cousin Nora," Adam sighed with relief that he could pull up a face. He recalled this cousin was thirty years or so older than his own mother had been. "Your husband situated his dental practice near the Liberty Bell if my memory serves me correctly."
She laughed conspiratorially, "That bell managed to act as a beacon for new patients my husband's entire career. If they could find the Bell, they could find my Artie."
Cousin Nora's husband passed the year before the deaths of Adam's folks and he remembered his parents talking quietly together in their bedroom after they received the news. His mother wanted to travel to pay respects at the funeral but newly pregnant with Guthrie, the morning sickness held her captive. Instead she doubled her communication with her cousin, exchanging letters and phone calls at least once a week.
When a shell shocked Adam phoned to inform Nora of his parents' deaths the older woman sounded inconsolable. She flew in for the double funeral but left the same day, having committed to a cruise of Scandinavia months before. Despite the unexpected, tragic circumstances the cruise company refused to reimburse any of the payment, so a stricken Nora sailed out of their lives, literally and figuratively.
After that she mailed postcards once in a while to let the McFaddens know she was thinking of them.
Adam pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand in an attempt to ward off a headache. Happy as he was to hear from a family member, practical matters took precedence. He perched on the arm of the recliner, long legs out in front of him, and reminded himself he had to tackle a ton of chores while daylight hours remained.
Adam closed his eyes and hoped she'd come to the point of the call soon.
Very soon.
"Adam?"
"Oh, I'm here," he coughed. "I was listening."
Cousin Nora dropped the phone and the crash reverberated through the handset.
Adam cringed.
More static buzzed as she fumbled for the receiver. "So sorry about that," she apologized. "I juggle badly, I'm afraid, so balancing the phone and the calendar outwitted me."
Adam laughed politely but drummed his fingers on the telephone table. Would she ever just get to the point? Guthrie's nap would finish shortly which meant chores would proceed at a far slower pace with a preschooler in tow. Making matters worse, Guthrie had a cold and felt bad, which meant the three year old would pretty much whine the rest of the day.
Suddenly Adam realized Cousin Nora had continued to talk while his thoughts wandered.
"So next month sounds all right for you?"
Adam wiped his mouth and lied smoothly, "I lost the connection there for a couple of moments but it looks like the call's good now, Cousin Nora. Would you repeat the last part you said though?"
"Certainly. I plan to visit from the first through the fourth next month, that time span, if you won't find me a bother."
Adam's instant reaction- the deer caught in headlights acknowledgement- caused him to stammer rather than to assure her confidently, "Absolutely, and the boys and I look forward to seeing you once again. Maybe you can stay longer next time."
"Perhaps I can. Next month I must focus on making my cruise to South America after I visit you McFadden boys. Now don't worry about collecting me from the airport. I'll fly and then rent a car, so give or take an hour or two, you can expect me mid-afternoon of the first."
Adam held the phone in his hand a full five minutes after the call concluded. Though Cousin Nora truly had never done anything to make his life more difficult heretofore, the proposed visit would wreak havoc with his family, the ranch, and the daily routine.
Did people even care that others might not welcome company?
How could he handle one more obligation? Already he awoke every morning feeling so depleted of energy that he was running on empty, even before his day physically started. At present he spread himself too thin with parenting and managing the ranch, so what would he have to sacrifice to entertain Cousin Nora and ensure her an enjoyable visit?
After supper that evening Adam laid the groundwork with his family of brothers, discussing keeping the house clean, family ties, expectations, and company manners before he allowed the boys to ask any questions.
Ford wrinkled his little nose. At eight he had matured enough to understand the progression of age. "How old is Cousin Nora? Is she just grown up old or really, really old? I mean, is she old enough to die?"
Brian burst into laughter and leaned over to tap Ford on the side of the head but sobered at Adam's disapproving frown. His dancing blue eyes met his brother's serious brown ones before he addressed his younger brother firmly. "Actually, Ford, it's not good manners to discuss ages with grownups. I understand what you mean, though. As people age they slow down."
"She had white hair last time we saw her," Daniel contributed. "So how much older could she get now?"
Crane steepled his hands. Now fourteen, his height lent an air of superiority to his generally serious outlook and demeanor. Adam privately worried about Crane's thin frame though the family doctor assured him Crane was perfectly healthy. Crane gazed at Adam before glancing at Brian and introducing the practical aspect, "With school and the ranch, who will entertain Cousin Nora?"
Adam leaned back in his chair and stretched. "Honestly she sounded more as if she planned this as an obligatory visit so…."
Evan interrupted, "Oblig-a-what?"
"You interrupted," Daniel accused. "Bad manners to interrupt."
"No one asked you," Evan countered, resentful that his brother had corrected him. "Tend to your own self or I'll tell about…"
"Both of you hush," Adam refereed, in no mood to sort through fraternal recriminations and accusations. "But Evan you are well aware of what constitutes an interruption so Daniel was right. Anyway, the word obligatory derives from the noun obligation, something you have to do."
"Even if she felt honor bound to check on us seems a bit much to go to all the trouble to make it to Murphys," Brian pointed out.
Adam drummed his fingers on the table and agreed, "Right, I know."
The conversation ended with the arrival of Guthrie, miserable because of a lingering cold. Coughing, he wrapped an arm around Adam's leg and leaned his head on his brother's lap. Adam stroked the little face before rising and securing the three year old in his arms. "Let me take care of my boy's bedtime. Ford, you're up next. Ten minutes and scoot upstairs."
Ford responded with a scowl and followed Daniel and Evan into the living room. Evan pulled out the family's worn Parcheesi game and the trio quickly set up the board.
Brian and Crane declined participation in the game to tackle the last of their outdoor chores.
Upstairs Adam bathed and dressed Guthrie quickly before supervising the toddler with brushing his teeth. Then he held him snugly as he administered a pediatric dose of medication which would help with the worst of the cold symptoms and would ensure the toddler rested.
Guthrie lasted through just three pages of the story Adam read him before he fell asleep. Nevertheless, Adam remained in his room rocking and cradling him several minutes while he contemplated Cousin Nora's visit.
Really, the entire family would normally enjoy visitors but this time of year all of them stood mired in everyday commitments. The kids had school with the exception of Guthrie, who required supervision, of course.
Brian and Adam worked the ranch.
Just when did Cousin Nora expect them to socialize with her?
At night?
A few hours in the afternoon?
He dreaded sacrificing half a week catering to an elderly- no, Adam checked himself, perhaps not elderly but definitely in the senior citizen department- relative he barely knew.
Adam struggled to his feet and carefully laid Guthrie on his mattress with a kiss, then covered him securely before slipping from the room. He couldn't afford to spend any more time dwelling on Cousin Nora's upcoming visit when baths and bedtimes and the well beings of five wide awake brothers still beckoned.