CHAPTER 18 MIATwo weeks had gone by since Mom was taken into the hospital. Because they hadn’t let me sleep in Mom’s room, I slept in the waiting room every night, even when the nurses said that visiting hours were over. Mom had been through a dozen surgeries and survived each one. But I wanted to be here in case anything happened. I told Sal what had happened, and he gave me the entire month off, but he expected me back soon. I knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep my job open for me forever. In the hallway, I stared through the glass window into Mom’s room, watching her open her eyes and look up at the doctor. She only moved a couple inches to readjust her head, but it was something. And I was happy about it. “Everything with Orangegate Assisted Living is dealt with,” Mason said, sta