"Hey, Mom! The front door was unlocked. Are you okay?"

Erin sat up from her nap and looked around the room until her gaze focused oon her Tabitha. "I'm sorry?" she asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Oh! I didn't mean to wake you up! Dave texted to say that he would be running late, and he offered to get me supper, too, if I came over and made certain that you were all right. So, why's the front door unlocked?"

"A friend dropped by to make me lunch, and I think that I fell asleep before they left. Because I don't remember them leaving, or you arriving."

Tabitha nodded as she sank down onto the arm of her recliner, leaning against Erin as she let out a deep breath. "Still, I'd feel better if you told your friends where Dave keeps the spare key, so they can lock the door on their way out."

"You worry too much, Tabby. David has security cameras up all around the perimeter of the house, and a few inside, too. Anything he can do to protect me, he does. And I can handle myself. Luckily, this broken arm isn't my dominant arm, so I can still shoot anyone who tries to attack me."

Her daughter knocked shoulders with her before getting up and moving over to the sofa, curling up in the corner closest to her. "Be that as it may, I am still allowed to worry about you, since we did almost lose you. I don't think my heart could take that again."

Erin nodded as she sighed. "I suppose that you have a point. I just don't like feeling reliant on others."

Tabitha gave her a soft smile. "And that is probably why you fell off that stepladder and broke two bones. At least you'll get a walking cast for your ankle next week, since then it will have healed enough. That's a blessing, right?"

"Yes." She let out a little yawn before shaking her head. "I didn't realise that this would make me so tired."

"It's the pain. Remember when I broke m wrist in eighth grade? I wanted to sleep all the time. Here, let's find something funny to watch until Dave gets home. Maybe that will keep you awake?"

"It might," she said as she picked up the remote and handed it over to her daughter. Tabitha began to scroll through Netflix, finally stopping on a comedy they'd watched a million times before settling back in her corner. "I love this film."

"I know. That's why I chose it." Tabitha reached out her arm to Erin, and she stretched her good arm in order to take hold of her hand, clasping it lightly as they watched the movie. She heard the garage door close when it was almost over, and she hoped that David would understand why the food could wait.

"Where are my lovely ladies?"

"In the living room, darling!" she called out before turning her attention back to the movie. It took a few moments for him to join them in the living room, and she raised her cheek for him to kiss so that she wouldn't miss what was happening on screen.

After he'd kissed her, he picked up her mug and looked at the tv. "How much longer?"

"About thirty minutes."

"Just enough time to make fresh tea for us. Tabby, do you want some?"

"Yes, please," she said without looking at him, and he pressed another kiss to Erin's cheek before heading back out to the kitchen. "I love how he loves us, Mom."

"He is good at that," she murmured as she squeezed Tabitha's hand. "He never gave up on me."

"We wouldn't have ever let him," Tabitha replied, squeezing her hand back. They watched the end of the movie quietly, and she smiled as she let go of her daughter's hand to grab her fresh mug of tea. David settled on the arm of her chair, and she leaned against him, thankful that the cast on her upper arm dulled enough of the sensation of pressure that she could do that without worrying about a fresh wave of pain.

As the credits began to roll, Erin hobbled to her feet, and David wrapped his arm around her waist as she got herself situated on the knee scooter. "I have our food in the dining room. I figured that would be easier on you than the kitchen, with the bar stools."

"Excellent idea," Erin replied as she made her way there. He kept pace with her, though Tabitha did scoot on ahead. When they entered the room, though, a pleased smile spread across her lips to see that Tabitha had pulled out her chair. "Thank you."

Tabitha nodded as David helped push her chair closer to the table. "I thought that I'd spend the night, since Dave's house is close to school. Would that be okay?"

"I'd like that, honey," Erin said as she picked up her fork and began to eat.

"And I never asked, is that a new bonsai on the coffee table?"

She glanced over at David, seeing that he was wearing an inquisitive expression as he waited for her to answer. "My visitor brought it. It was a bit of a peace offering." She watched understanding dawn on David's face, and she gave him a small nod. "Speaking of that, we're going to have a visiting nurse come to take care of me while I recover, so if you see a strange car in the drive, that's who it is."

"That's a great idea, Mom! You need someone here to watch over you, just in case you trip over something."
Erin rolled her eyes a little as she speared a broccoli floret and shoved it in her mouth. "I'm not that clumsy! This accident was entirely my beloved David's fault. If he hadn't startled me, I would be fine today. Which is why he pampers me when he's home. Right, David?"

"Right." He winked at her before looking over at Tabitha. "So, if you want to keep your mother occupied when we've finished here, I have to set up the sofa, since she shouldn't be climbing stairs until her walking cast is on."

"Are you planning on sleeping down here tonight?" Tabitha asked as she took another bite of her meal.

"No, he's going to get a decent night's sleep in our bed. If I need anything in the night, I've been given strict orders to text him and he'll be down to help me as soon as he can."

"No, Mom, that won't work at all. I'll sleep in the recliner. After all, I'm young, I can handle a night's bad sleep."

Erin gave her daughter a sweet look as she pushed her plate aside. "You don't have to do that, Tabby Cat."

"No, but I want to. It will be like we're having a sleepover, even if you'll be sleeping, and I'll be watching over you." Tabitha reached over and patted her hand. "Now, what can we do to make this as easy on you as possible? I'm assuming that as soon as you get the walking cast, you're going back to work."

"Actually, no. Penelope's coming over this weekend to set up a mobile office in the living room, and I won't be returning until my ankle is healed. It will be easier on my body if we work it that way. And before you say it, maybe your mother is starting to lose some of her stubbornness in her old age."

"You're not old, Mom, you're experienced." Tabitha gave her a small wink as she stood up from the table. "I'll take care of the dishes and make us some popcorn, if you want to get things situated in the living room. And since it's still a little early, we can all watch a movie together before we get settled for the night." David smiled as he nodded, and Erin sighed with pleasure as she watched them leave the dining room, knowing that she would be well taken care of by them.