Music from Stone by Brenda Murphy

Author:Brenda Murphy [Murphy, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQIA+, Romance, contemporary, family-drama, BDSM, interracial, lesbian, stone mason, concert pianist, stalker, PTSD, over 40, performance arts, visual arts
Publisher: NineStar Press
Published: 2022-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

“THIS SHOULD HELP some.” Julia passed the dirt and sweat stained envelope to her mother.

“What’s this?” Joslyn placed the envelope on the table and turned to the stove.

“I had some extra.”

“Must be nice.” Joslyn ladled some soup into a bowl. “You want lunch?”

“Nah, I had a sandwich. I finished splitting and stacking the wood. Did you know the light over the garage is broken?” Julia washed her hands at the sink.

“Yes. Jason was going to fix it. That was two weeks ago.” Joslyn stirred the dented metal pot, the wooden spoon ringing against the metal.

“How’s Dad?” Julia pulled the worn wooden kitchen chair out and sat at the battered kitchen table.

Joslyn ladled some chili into a bowl. “Same. Sleeps mostly.” She placed her bowl on the table and sat across from Julia. “Sure you don’t want some?”

Julia inhaled the scent of her mom’s chili. “Is that Jason’s venison?”

“Uh-huh.” Her mom spooned some of the chili into her mouth.

Julia rose and pulled a small bowl from the cabinet. She helped herself to a bowl of dark-red chili and snagged a spoon from the dish drainer. Her mother continued to eat in silence, the envelope on the table between them.

After adding a dash of hot sauce from the bottle that lived on the table next to the salt and pepper, Julia spooned a bite into her mouth. The first bite of chili brought back childhood memories of nights the six of them crowded around the table.

As far back as Julia could remember, her mother had served chili for supper every Friday. The familiar taste and warm spices always seemed to sort her life. It had been the one thing Julia could count on growing up. Even if the rest of the planet was on fire, her mom’s chili was consistent, a bowl of love in a harsh world. They ate in silence. The tic-tic-tic of the electric clock measured the time.

Julia wiped her mouth with her napkin and rose from the table. She opened the refrigerator and found the iced tea pitcher. She poured herself a glass. “Did the tests come back?” She sipped her tea, avoiding her mom’s gaze.

“Yes.”

“And?” Julia turned and forced herself to meet her mother’s eyes.

“It’s not Parkinson’s.” Her mother leaned back in her chair, picked up her glass of iced tea, and took a long drink. Julia leaned against the counter. Her mother picked up her spoon and took another bite of chili.

Julia crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, what is it?”

Joslyn dabbed her mouth with her napkin. “MSA.”

“What?” Julia sat at the table. She shoved her hair back with her hands. “What is that?”

“Multiple Systems Atrophy.” Her mother’s gaze skittered away from Julia’s.

“What does that mean? Is it as bad as it sounds?”

Her mother turned in her chair and pulled a stack of papers off the counter. She tossed it into the middle of the table.

Julia pulled the stack of computer printouts toward her. She scanned the first few paragraphs, noting the symptoms, and the highlighted box with life expectancy from onset.

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