A few days later, Dorothy went to answer the door when she got the call she had been waiting for, "Sam, come in," Dorothy whispered. "Thanks for calling to let me know that you were here."
"No problem," Sam whispered back, "is she still asleep?"
"Yeah, she was really tired."
"Do you still want to take the kids out?"
"Yeah, they need it. I mean Nora does too, but she's been too tired to leave the house. Listen, I wrote down everything you need to know about her care. It's nothing too complicated and she always asks if she needs something or needs help. I really appreciate you staying with her."
"It's no problem. She's my sister and it's long overdue."
"It really is and I want you to know that I am grateful that you finally came to your senses."
"Carla kind of helped me."
"She told me that she yelled at you."
Sam chuckled, "she sure did."
"Good because your sister needs us right now," Frasier and the ladies brought the little ones down, "I hate that we're going to leave while she's still asleep."
"Go, I'll tell her you all took the kids out."
"Thanks, she's on the couch in the living room." Frasier and the ladies got the kids and left. They were picking up Frederick too.
Sam walked into the living room and found his sister asleep. He sat on a chair by the couch and turned ESPN on. He made sure the volume was low enough that it didn't wake her.
"Sam?" he turned to find his sister awake and looking up at him.
"Hey honey, I didn't wake you did I?"
"No, but what are you doing here?"
"Everyone took the kids out for a little while. I offered to stay with you."
"Can you help me sit up?"
"Sure," Sam got up and went over to help his sister.
"Thanks, I'm really happy you're here," Nora smiled at her brother who was sitting next to her now.
"I'm sorry about that. I feel horrible."
"You're here now, but please don't do that again."
"You hungry? Frasier made something for us to eat. It just needs to be warmed up."
"Yeah, but I need to go to the bathroom first," Nora reached for her walker.
"You need help?" Sam asked as she began to stand.
"Thank you, but I'm okay," Nora said as she began to make her way to the bathroom. It pained Sam to see her like this, but he was determined to be there for her. Sam went to warm up dinner. When Nora was done, she made her way to the kitchen.
"Hey, it should be ready soon," Sam said when he saw his sister.
"Okay," Nora went and sat on one of the kitchen chairs.
Once they were done with dinner, Sam took their dishes and cleaned up. Nora was worn out so she decided to stay. "There, all done," Sam said.
"Sam," Nora said weakly, "I need help getting up."
Sam walked over and helped his sister up. "You sure you can walk?"
Nora let go of Sam and grabbed her walker. She began shaking from how much effort it took for her to hold herself up, "no," Nora whispered. Sam lifted his sister and carried her to the living room, placing her on the couch. "Thank you," she whispered to her brother.
"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Sam was really worried.
"I'm just tired. It happens sometimes. It's hard recovering from a stroke and heart surgery at once. The effort it sometimes takes for me to move can exhaust me."
"Frasier said you are always honest about what you need, so I'll take your word for it."
"I have six young children. I have to be honest for their sakes."
When Frasier and the women returned with the kids they found Nora and Sam in the living room. The children ran to greet their mother and uncle. They asked if Uncle Sam could do bedtime, and Sam agreed. Frasier and Dorothy sat next to Nora. "How did it go with Sam?" Frasier asked as he took his wife into his arms.
"It went really well," Nora said, "I'm exhausted again."
Frasier kissed his wife's temple, "why don't you stay in bed tomorrow?"
"I don't like being up there alone, but I might have to."
Sam walked into the room, "kids are all tucked in. Did Nora tell you?"
"Yeah, it happens," Frasier said, "thanks again, Sam."
"Hey, no problem," Sam responded, "but if I'm going to have to carry you everywhere then I better start working out more." Nora laughed at her brother. Sam leaned down to hug his sister, "good night Nora, I love you, sis."
"Good night, I love you too."
Dorothy walked Sam out and Frasier carried his wife upstairs. Once she was in bed, Frasier got ready himself. Nora was still awake when Frasier climbed into bed. "Darling, I think you may need to get a wheelchair." Nora had told Frasier that she didn't need a wheelchair when she was getting ready to be discharged from the hospital. She told him that she would be fine walking around their house.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it would be helpful on days like today."
"Well, I can get one, but I'm going to ask you again tomorrow when you're more awake. I'm not getting in trouble with you for getting something you asked me for when you were sleepy."
Nora chuckled, "thank you, and thank you for being such a wonderful husband. I love you so much."
Frasier kissed his wife, "I love you too. Now let's get some sleep."
Frasier did end up ordering a wheelchair for Nora after she told him to while she was wide awake. She only needed it from time to time, but it did come in handy on the days she was just too tired to walk everywhere. Dorothy got Frederick off the bus and the two walked into the house.
"Hi mama," Frederick said as he walked into the house.
"Hey," Nora kissed his cheek when he reached her, "how was school?"
"It was good," Frederick usually kept it short because he didn't want his mama to feel bad that she was missing out on stuff. "How are you?"
"I'm alright, but are you not telling me something?"
"Like what?"
"You just seem, umm, I don't know."
"I have to start my homework, but do you need anything before I do?"
"No thank you, sweetheart."
Frederick hurried up to his room, but Nora knew that he was hiding something.
"What was that about?" Nora asked her mother.
"What was what about?"
"He's been short with me and he," she had to think for a moment, "he, um, he use to tell me, um, everything." Nora sighed in frustration.
"Hey," Dorothy sat by her daughter and put an arm around her, "you did great just now. Just remember that you are getting better."
"What about Frederick?"
"Look, maybe he doesn't tell you things because he's worried you'll be upset if you can't go to events or help him with his school work. He loves you and is most likely just trying to protect you."
Nora yawned, "okay, I think I'm going to take a nap before dinner."
Dorothy helped her daughter lie down on the couch and covered her up. Then she went to the kitchen where Frasier was working on dinner.
"You need to talk to Frederick," Dorothy told her son-in-law.
"Why? What happened?"
"Nothing, really, but Nora is upset that he isn't telling her as much about school as he was before her stroke. He needs to be honest with her."
"You're right," Frasier started walking towards the doorway before turning back to face his mother-in-law, "will you come with me?"
Dorothy smiled before saying, "no."
"Damn," Frasier turned and went to his eldest son's room. "Hey, son," he said when he opened the bedroom door, "can we talk for a moment?"
"Sure dad," Frederick closed his school book, "what's up?"
"I think we need to tell your mama about the science fair."
"Why?"
"Well, she knows that you are hiding something from her and it's really bothering her."
"I just don't think that we should."
"Look, tonight at dinner I'll tell her for you."
"Okay," Frederick didn't want his father to say anything but knew he would eventually.
Once it was dinner time, Frasier helped Nora into her wheelchair and wheeled her to the kitchen table. It was easier for her to sit in her chair there. "So, Frederick here has decided to participate in his school science fair," Frasier announced enthusiastically.
"That sounds like fun," Nora said.
"I guess," Frederick said unhappily.
"When is it?" Nora asked.
"Why?"
Nora chuckled, "so I can come. Why else?"
"You don't have to come. I'm sure it would be too much for you."
"Nonsense, I, umm, I want to," Nora couldn't believe she was able to finish that thought.
Frederick just stared at the woman, but Frasier broke the silence, "it's on the form he handed me I'll..."
"I don't want you to come," Frederick blurted out, interrupting his father. What was worse was the hurt look on Nora's face.
"He's just saying that because he's worried you'll exhaust yourself," Frasier tried to cover.
"No, I'm not," Frederick didn't know if he wanted to elaborate.
"Will you at least tell me why?" Nora asked.
Frederick hesitated, "I'd rather not."
"Why don't I take the little ones to clean up and to the playroom?" Dorothy suggested and Frasier nodded. Dorothy and the ladies took the little ones out of the room.
Once they had left Frasier looked to his son to start speaking. Frederick looked down because he felt guilty for how he was feeling. "Frederick, what's going on?" Nora asked. Frederick mumbled something, "I'm sorry sweetheart I couldn't hear you."
"I'm embarrassed!" Frederick yelled.
Nora was shocked, "of, of me?"
"Yes, can we please just forget about the science fair? I don't even want to do it anymore," Frederick got up and stormed out of the room.
Frasier took his wife's hand in his, "you alright?"
Nora shook her head as the tears began to fall. Frasier maneuvered his chair and her wheelchair. He lifted his distraught wife onto his lap and held her as she broke down. "Bed, please," was all Nora could choke out. Fraiser stood with his wife in his arms and carried her to their bed. As he placed her on the bed, Frasier had a feeling that these emotions would hang over Nora for quite a while.