Gail and Holly meet in Ottawa, both are students at university. Gail has gotten a summer job as a member of the Ceremonial Guard. Holly's from Ottawa and is home for the summer where she is volunteering and observing at a physical therapy office.
Elaine Peck hangs up the kitchen's phone just as her daughter Gail Peck enters the kitchen and stares into the fridge. Elaine sighs; Gail ignores it, assuming that it's directed at her for having the fridge open for too long. Gail grabs a yogurt and shuts the fridge door; she turns around and sees her mom resting her head in her hands on the kitchen island. Gail kind of tilts her head to the side, Elaine is never this downtrodden, or at least never showing it. Gail moves stealthily to the cutlery drawer, she grabs a spoon and out of habit, slams it. Elaine looks up at her daughter with a scowl on her face, "please! Gail."
Gail sheepishly smiles and says a quick, "sorry," even though she totally doesn't mean it, just another habit.
Elaine puts up her hand and does the slow down motion. Gail can't help but smile, guiltily this time. Elaine sighs for a second time in less than a minute, "I don't know what to do…"
"Oh come on," Gail starts, thinking this is all about her, "I'm only home from University for four-ish months, it wont be that bad."
Elaine finally truly looks at her daughter, actually registering her daughter's presence, "what?"
"I know you and dad are used to me not being here with me living on campus, but I promise to not be too much trouble…" remembering how last summer went and fearing that her parents will ask her to find somewhere else to spend her summer, somewhere where she can't stay for free like at the Peck house. Gail's brain starts to whiz, maybe she could get a summer job somewhere and stay with a friend for a little bit before she can find somewhere to rent for a couple of months until she goes back to school, or maybe she could crash with Steve, he's hardly at home anyways now that he's become a police officer, but then her mother changes everything.
"What?" Elaine shakes her head. "What are you talking about, being too much trouble, Gail you're my daughter and you are not a bad person, I know you often errr…describe yourself as troublesome or not easy to be around, but you're my daughter and I can deal with," Elaine waves her hand gesturing Gail, "you, even if I don't agree with your taste in clothing." Never not going to throw in a jab when she can.
"Oookkkaaayyy," says Gail slowly, "then what's going on?" Seeing that her mother clearly needs to talk, to talk through whatever is on her mind.
"Oh, it's nothing." Elaine tries to downplay the situation. "It's just your grandma, she broke her leg and she's going to need a lot more help in the next couple of months and there is really no one in Ottawa to aid her. Knowing that I can't take off any more time this year, I offered our place, that she would stay with us for a little bit, until she became more independent. But you know her; she loves that house and will never leave it." Elaine sighs one more time, dealing with stubborn parents can be infuriating, "she says she's okay, but I know my mom, she's just being brave and stubborn." Elaine smiles at Gail, "you remind me of her, you two have similar… personalities and outlooks on the world."
Gail nods her head, of all her grandparents Gail always found Grandma Selene the easiest to get along with. But there's nothing Gail can do being in Toronto, she doesn't live in Ottawa, so Gail feels very comfortable with offering, "if there's anything I can do, just let me know."
Elaine smiles at that, knowing that her daughter is a good person, that when push comes to shove Gail will do the right thing, "thank you Gail. That means a lot."
Gail leaves the kitchen with her snack, pretty pleased with herself, pretty pleased that she just made an empty offer and will never have to actually do anything about it.
Holly Stewart returns home to her parents' house after her second last year of finishing her undergraduate's degree, before she takes on even more schooling as she enters into medical school. Being in pre-med she figures is her best attempt to get into medical school, keep good grades and continue to volunteer at different medical practices to get as much experience as she can. Holly's cousin works at a physical therapist office attached to one of the hospitals in Ottawa and has gotten Holly a volunteer/observatory position for the summer. This isn't really what Holly is used to, but feels it will be a good experience, to expand her view on a different medical sector.
She doesn't start until tomorrow; all she knows is that she will be aiding different patients from sprained ankles to broken limbs and everything in between. Not one to back down from a challenge, Holly feels she is up for it.
Elaine's been thinking about it, her daughter is off for four months, what if Gail moved in with Elaine's mom, that would solve Elaine's problems, having someone there to aid her mom. However, Gail will need something else to do than just spend time with Grandma Selene. Being a proud woman, Selene won't like the idea of Gail going there strictly just to help her. Elaine, sitting in the afternoon sun in the down stair's office, remembers earlier that week reading about a group of student volunteers who work as a Ceremonial Guard in the National Capital Region. Elaine was looking at the faces of the young people on the brochure and thinking how something like that would be good for Gail. After that phone call that she has just received from her mother, the third one today, the third one today of her saying that she's okay on her own and how she finds it liberating, Elaine fears the state of her mother's house. Selene is barely able to care for herself right now let alone the house and property. Obviously Selene wont want Gail hanging around there all the time, and Gail wont want to be cooped up in that house the whole time either… Elaine sits back in her chair and figures with a slight shrug of her shoulders, Gail did offer… Elaine thinks if it is even plausible, in order for Gail to be a part of the Ceremonial Guard she would have to be a member of the reserves, something she joined after high school and is still an active member, so it could work…
Elaine's mind is made up, "GAIL! Could you come here a minute?"