The quiet lapping of the waves against the beach was calming. Though I couldn't say the same about my life until this moment —tumultuous was a better word for it.
I had great ambitions and worked hard to achieve them—especially when the universe denied me what mattered the most: having children.
Now in my latter years, I reflect with regret on my choices.
As I watched from the balcony of my beachside house, the sun slowly peeking from the horizon, I smiled a little. The beauty was stunning and this was as close to nature as I could get.
Carla, my caregiver for the past six years, came outside with a blanket. She tucked it around my waist to cover my legs.
Old age was more daunting than I had imagined it would be. Everywhere seemed to hurt, my bones creaked with every movement like they would crumble into fine sand any moment and render me immobile.
But my dear Carla was here.
"Is that better?" She asked with a smile, turning this way and that to ensure I was comfortable.
"I'm not sure," I scrunched my nose and stared her down. "I'll let you know in a few minutes. You are terrible at this." I fumed and waved her aside, "And you are blocking my vitamin D. Away with your dreary self."
"Ha! Your old body wouldn't know what to do with all that vitamin D if she tried harder," she bantered and left me to enjoy the stunning water view.
This rapport did not begin immediately. I was always irritable and she got on my nerves with her constant fuss. Unlike Lydia, my former caregiver.
It was Carla who discovered the connection between my ex-husband, Larry and Lydia, and their conspiracy to defraud and murder me for my wealth. I owed her my life.
She worried about my mental health too. I knew she destroyed Larry's letters sent from the state penitentiary so I wouldn't see them. My lawyer usually emailed me a copy. I'd lost all hope in humanity after the betrayal until Carla.
"Carla?"
Her head popped into my view. "This is getting old, Amanda," she said with a frown. "You send me away and call me back almost immediately. What do you want?"
I smiled. I wasn't sure but I felt my time was slipping away faster these days.
"How about a cup of coffee? Can you make that or do I have to hire someone else to do it?"
"Humph! Coffee? You sure about that?"
"Positive, Carla," I said and turned my body slowly to gaze at her. Carla's eyes widened a bit. She saw me like no one else did. "Let's make a celebration of it, you and I. Out on the patio."
Carla crouched down and covered my withered, small hands in her soft, warm ones. She looked into my eyes, from one to the other, with a slight smile. "Amanda, are you sure?"
I blinked once. "Positive."
"I'll make you your favourite Frappuccino, with chocolate chips," she whispered and tears welled up in her eyes. "Would you like me to call anyone? Uh…."
I stopped her immediately. "Who is there to call? Larry is in prison. I have no siblings…no kids. Except, of course, my lawyer and my doctor."
Carla sighed. A fat tear dropped slowly down her cheek. She didn't wipe it off. She bared her emotions for me to see. Loneliness was a terrible reality that I did not foresee in my younger years. I would have made better choices.
I patted her hands. "Now get your fat ass up and go make my frappuccino. You know how I like it. If you mess it up, I'll fire you!"
She sniffed and laughed. "I'm on it, you old bat. Relax. I'll have it ready in a jiffy."
Carla and I spent the next few hours sipping my favourite Frappuccino sweetly adorned with chocolate syrup and chips.
We watched the waves roll in, crash against the shore and roll out again as the sun slowly set, painting the sky in lovely hues of pink and orange. A few people strolled along the shore while some children played in the water. The scene was sublime and it filled my heart with peace.
I gripped Carla's hand in mine after she took a photo of two seagulls gliding on the water with her phone.
"You'll be okay?" I asked, a little worried.
Carla gazed at me for a long moment and hugged me gently. "You are the mother I never had and I'm thankful," she whispered into my ears, giving me the best gift I could hope for.
"Then pass on the love to your children. Life is short. Don't waste any more time," I whispered back and felt her nod.
After a while, we took off our shoes and walked barefoot on the wet shore, laughing. The feeling was refreshing.
We held hands and Carla helped me back into the house and later into my bed. I was very tired but felt fulfilled.
With a smile on my face, I closed my eyes and slept deeply….
Yet, I heard soft crying sounds beside me but I couldn't get up to comfort Carla, to let her know that I was okay.
"Enough with the tears, my dearest friend," I whispered but my words were swallowed up in thick darkness.
The End.