MARIA POV
Sitting by my mom’s side, I held her hand gently, watching as her eyes lit up when I handed her the bag I’d packed for her.
**“Brought you some essentials,”** I said, reaching in and pulling out the books first. **“Your favorite—two Grisham novels. Figured they’d keep you company while you’re stuck in here.”**
She smiled, a warmth that made her look younger, despite the exhaustion in her face. **“You remembered.”** She ran her fingers over the covers, a softness in her gaze. **“Thank you, sweetheart. You always know how to make things better.”**
I managed a small smile and nodded, placing the rest of the items—a fresh change of clothes, her toiletries—onto the side table. **“I remembered everything, don’t worry. I want you to feel at home, even if it’s a hospital room.”**
M
