Nora was really enjoying working on the science project with Frederick.
"Mama! I'm home," Frederick yelled as he entered the house. Nora walked into the hallway and smiled, "you can use your cane now?!" Frederick smiled.
"Yep, but I can't overdo it. I'm sure your father and grandmothers won't let me."
Frederick was excited about Nora's progress. He ran into the kitchen and put his things down next to his chair. He looked up and noticed that Nora was struggling a bit. Frederick walked over and took her hand and arm in his hands, "you okay?"
"It's just a bit strenuous right now," Nora said as the boy helped her walk to the table. Frederick helped Nora sit and got her a glass of water. Nora drank half of it and Frederick refilled it. He rubbed her back while she tried catching her breath. It made him nervous when Nora was out of breath because that's how she felt before her stroke.
"Should I get dad?"
Nora put her arms flat on the table and placed her head down on them, "maybe," she whispered.
Frederick was afraid to leave her alone, but he had to find his dad. "Grandma," Frederick found the woman in the hall, "mama needs my dad, but I don't want to leave her."
"You go find your dad and I'll go sit with her," Dorothy could tell that something was wrong by the fear in Frederick's face. "Nora," Dorothy entered the kitchen and found her daughter the way Frederick left her. She sat in the chair to her daughter's left and started rubbing her back, "tell me what's wrong."
"Can't right now," Nora was struggling with her breathing.
"Dear God, Nora," Frasier ran into the kitchen, "Frederick told me everything and I called an ambulance."
"Thank you," Nora said.
"Darling, you need to sit up," Frasier helped his wife to sit up better. He saw her face for the first time and saw how terrified she was. He leaned forward and placed his forehead on her, "it's going to be alright," he whispered, "you're going to be just fine. I promise you." Frasier kissed his wife and Frederick ran to let the paramedics in.
Stan had finally finished up everything in Miami. His things were sent to his house in Boston and his shop had been sold. When he returned, he discovered that his daughter had ended up in the hospital again. She was home now, so he went over to see her.
"Hey, pumpkin, I hear you got into trouble while I was gone," Stan said as he hugged his daughter.
"Hi, daddy," Nora smiled, "I didn't know you were coming back today."
"I'm here now. Everything has been taken care of in Miami. It's a good thing because apparently you weren't eating and then you overdid it and ended up in the hospital?"
"Yeah, I tried using my cane for a whole day, and apparently that's bad. I had a breathing treatment at the hospital, and I have to use oxygen for a little bit."
"You wear that oxygen canal well. Much better than anyone else I've ever seen in one."
Nora laughed, but it turned into a cough. Stan saw the water by his daughter and helped her drink some. "Thank you," she said when the coughing subsided, "my lungs are still recovering a bit."
"Hey, no problem," Stan said, "that's what I'm here for after all." Stan could tell his daughter was tired, "hey, why don't you take a nap?"
"You just got here."
"I moved here and now live next door. I'll stay until you wake up and if I have to leave, I'll have Frasier call me so that I can come back."
"I really am tired."
"Grab your water," Stan walked over and unlocked his daughter's wheelchair. He wheeled her to the living room and locked the chair again. He helped Nora stand and walk the few feet to the couch before placing her water on a table within her reach and helping her lie down. Once he had covered her up, he took a seat on a chair near her. Stan watched his daughter sleep and felt a great deal of regret. He had let her down, but he had sworn that he wouldn't do that again.
Rose and Blanche had returned to Miami. They offered to stay, but Nora insisted that they return to their jobs and lives. Stan stuck around and helped Sophia and Dorothy.
"Dorothy, why don't we see if we can get Kate and Michael to fly out here for a visit?"
"Well, Stan, we can try, but they are very busy. They have young children too and jobs. It would be great to have them all here, but I wouldn't get your hopes up."
Stan looked past Dorothy, "what are you doing up?"
Dorothy turned and saw their daughter, "I can't come in here to visit with my parents?"
"Of course you can, but you really should be taking it easy," Dorothy said.
Nora didn't need her oxygen anymore. Stan walked over and helped his daughter sit. "So, what are you two talking about?"
"Nothing," Dorothy said, "well, we might try to get your brother and sister out here for a visit."
"They're pretty busy, so don't worry about it if you can't," Nora said knowing the challenge of being a working parent of young children.
"I told you that you were just like your mother," Stan said and Nora laughed remembering the comment from weeks ago. Dorothy still wasn't crazy about Stan, but she was thrilled that he was coming through for their daughter. Nora needed all the love and support she could get.
Two days before the science fair, family members were invited to each science class to watch the students present their projects to the class and teacher. Frederick told Nora if she felt up to it that he would like her to go. He told his dad that Nora better use her wheelchair because of how far the walk is from the door to the classroom.
"Hello, I'm Miss Lance," the science teacher introduced herself to the Cranes.
Frasier reached out to shake the young woman's hand, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Frasier Crane and this is my wife Nora," Frasier gestured towards his wife in the wheelchair in front of him.
The science teacher shook Nora's hand, "oh, you're Frederick's father and mama."
Nora smiled, "yes we are. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm thrilled to meet both of you. Frederick talks about his family all the time."
Frasier pushed Nora into the room. When Frederick saw them he smiled and waved. Nora was not expecting that reaction. Frasier wheeled Nora to a spot where they would be as out of the way as possible before taking a seat beside her.
Once everyone was in, Miss Lance closed the door and walked to the front of the class. "I want to thank all of our guests for joining us today. The students have been working very hard on these projects and I know they are excited to present them. We'll start with Frederick Crane." Frederick had asked to go first in case his mama needed to leave. He presented his pumping heart to the class. They all thought the project was pretty cool. "Now, I'm going to ask everyone this same question after they have finished their presentation," Miss Lance said, "Frederick, why did you choose to make a pumping heart?"
"Well, my mama inspired me," he said and Nora was a bit shocked. She knew he got the idea after looking at her, but didn't know she inspired him. "I was absent for a few days three months ago because my mama was in the hospital. She had an infection in her heart but didn't know it. Mama felt like she had the flu because she was dizzy, nauseous, tired, and achy. Then she started to lose her breath easily and couldn't lift my three-year-old sisters. She went to work anyway and one day she asked my Uncle Sam if she could lie down in his office for a little bit. Uncle Sam is the owner where mama works. When her co-worker, my Aunt Rebecca, went into the office she found mama on the floor unconscious. They had to call an ambulance and mama didn't wake up. The doctor found out she had an infection in one of her heart valves and because it went untreated she had a stroke. Mama is only forty-seven years old. The doctor had to replace the infected valve with a mechanical one. Mama woke up after the surgery and the doctor told her a few weeks ago that the infection that had spread to her brain was gone. She's been working really hard to get better." Frederick frowned, "I told mama I didn't want her coming to the fair because I was embarrassed that she needs a walker or wheelchair. I felt like the worst person on Earth. Mama has always told me if you hold your emotions in that it will do more harm than good in the end. My mama is one of the most wonderful and strongest people you will ever meet. That's her over there," Frederick pointed to Nora, "the pretty blonde next to the nerdy guy, my dad." Frasier and Nora laughed. "I wanted to show everyone what a healthy working heart looks like compared to one that is infected. That was probably more than you wanted," Frederick said to the teacher.
Miss Lance smiled, "no, Frederick, that was perfect."
"Thank you," Frederick said. The whole room clapped as Frederick began walking to his seat. He paused and turned to walk towards Nora. He surprised the woman by hugging her in front of everyone.
"I'm so proud of you," Nora whispered, "you did great. Thank you for what you said."
"I meant it all. I love you, mama," Frederick said.
"I love you too." Frederick went back to his seat and the clapping died down.
Frasier had recorded Frederick's presentation and when he and Nora got home, they played it for Stan, Dorothy, and Sophia.
"That's so sweet," Dorothy said.
"It took everything in me to not cry," Nora said.
"How did you not cry after that?" Stan asked, "I'm crying now."
"She cried in the car," Frasier admitted.
"That was a very nice thing your son said," Sophia added, "and Stan, you always were a big baby."
"Ma," Dorothy warned.
"Hey, I'm from Sicily and men there didn't cry even when thrown into the river."
"Weren't they dead before being thrown in?" Nora asked.
"Not always," Sophia answered, "sometimes we'd switch it up. Keep them alert. If they were still alive then they usually made it back out."
"'We'd switch it up'?" Frasier asked.
"Did I say 'we'd' what I meant was, the other men liked to switch it up. Sometimes we'd, I mean the men, liked throwing someone into an empty pit and then throwing the snakes onto them."
"Why?" Stan asked.
"There wasn't a whole lot to do back then. You had to get creative. Whoever got out of the pit with the least snack bites, won."
"What did they win?" Nora asked.
"An anti-venom shot."
"Oh, Ma! You're making that up."
"I am not! And if so then who does it hurt? The losers who are dead now?"
"Why have I not sent you back to Shady Pines?"
"You don't have it in you to do that twice."
"Wanna bet?"
"I don't bet," Sophia said, "unless it's at the track or on games."
Dorothy rolled her eyes and put her head in her hand as everyone laughed.
Nora went outside with her mother to wait for the bus. She said on the porch swing and smiled when she saw Frederick running towards her.
"Mama, grandma, I got an A+ on my project."
"That's wonderful sweetheart," Nora said as she hugged the boy.
"That's terrific," Dorothy said.
"Miss Lance told me that mine was her favorite."
"I'm glad because you worked very hard on it," Nora told her son.
"Correction, we worked very hard on it. Thank you so much, mama," Frederick hugged the woman again.
"Oh, you're quite welcome, but you don't have to thank me. I got something out of it too."
"What?"
"Spending time with you." Nora smiled at her son who couldn't help but give her a third hug, "you melted my heart with what you said. Thank you for that and I love you so much."
"You're welcome," Frederick said.
"Why don't we go inside and you can tell your dad?" Dorthy suggested. She held onto her daughter as she stood and Frederick held the door as his mama walked through. Dorothy stayed close in case she would have to catch her daughter. They got Nora seated and Dorothy went to get Frasier, Stan, and Sophia.
"Hey, Freddy," Sophia happily greeted the young boy, "your dad showed us the video of your project. You did great and that was pretty cool. You did a nice thing there for your mama."
"Thanks, grandma," Frederick smiled.
Stan high fived the young boy, "excellent job kiddo. Great way to honor an amazing mama."
"Thanks, grandpa!"
"We are all so proud of you," Dorothy said, "you did such a great job and a wonderful thing."
"Thanks, grandma, but I couldn't have done it without mama." Frederick ran and hugged the woman again. He adored his mama more than anything.