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It had been three days since Lillia had been admitted to the hospital.
The Doctor had said the flare up was triggered by over-exertion, and she needed complete bed rest for at least five days before he’d even consider discharging her home. That meant strictly no visitors, not even her adult children.
The small community of Mineral Town were very understanding. Everyone adored the kindly poultry farmer, and folks rallied round to support her children while she was sick. Sasha made casseroles and Anna baked pies to keep them well fed, Duke brought round a bottle of wine as a gift, and even little May presented them with a bunch of wildflowers she’d picked.
Pete the farmer had purchased extra chicken feed from the Poultry Farm - “just in case we get a harsh winter”- even though he had plenty of corn growing to mill his own feed. It felt suspiciously like pity to Rick, but he couldn’t deny that the extra money would help with his mother’s medical bills. At least it was better than just being handed a bag of coins, he supposed.
His best friend opted for a different way of helping, insisting on taking him out for drinks last night. Rick felt like a very poor date at the moment, but Karen had just brushed his protests aside and refilled his glass. He had to agree that it felt good to unwind a bit, even if he did still feel guilty for enjoying a night out while his mother was stuck in hospital.
“Well, if you keep working like you are, you’ll make yourself sick. And then what help would you be to your mom?” Karen reasoned.
She had a good point, and Rick did feel a little refreshed after de-stressing for a bit with a good friend and a good drink. He woke up the next morning feeling considerably brighter about all the work still waiting for him to do.
Much to his surprise, Popuri had been chipping in around the poultry store as well instead of vanishing off to the beach every day. The cash register was simple enough to operate, and it meant they didn’t have to close up the farm shop while Lillia was away. Most people just saw the farmer’s daughter as an immature girly-girl, but his sister actually had a really good head for numbers. Even so, Rick couldn’t help double checking the receipts at the end of each day. So far, she hadn’t made any mistakes.
Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to give her a little more responsibility around the farm? Rick had to admit that an extra pair of hands was immensely helpful right now, even if all the heavy work did still fall on his shoulders. Nonetheless, it was a huge asset not to have to close the shop at this time when they really needed the money. Karen had mentioned something about Kai encouraging his sister to lend a hand right now, but Rick’s head was too full of everything else he needed to do to give that much thought.
The other talent Popuri always had plenty of was customer service. Her bright, beaming face and bubbly personality were a perfect fit for running the front of shop. She even got the normally reserved Takakura from Forget-Me-Not Valley to crack a small smile.
So it was a surprise when Rick came in for breakfast after feeding the chickens to find his sister in tears. A large brown egg lay shattered on the kitchen floor, the golden yolk blobbed mockingly on the linoleum tile. Popuri was knelt beside the broken egg, her face in her hands, sobbing steadily.
Rick was at his sister’s side in a flash, all thoughts of breakfast swiftly forgotten. “Are you hurt?” he asked, anxious she might have burnt herself on the hot frying pan.
Popuri shook her head, her bubble-gum pink curls bouncing limply with the motion. Her hands fell away from her tear-stained face, but she didn’t look up to meet his eyes. Her rosy lips were all scrunched up as she fought to stifle her tears.
With nothing else to go on, Rick glanced at the mess on the floor. “It’s just an egg, Po. Don’t worry about it.”
Again she shook her head, more fiercely this time. “It’s not the egg…I….I-” Popuri’s ruby eyes finally lifted to meet his, and the tears shimmering within made them glitter like real jewels. “Oh, Rick! I’m so worried about Mom!”
The dam broke and she dissolved into a fresh wave of weeping. Instinctively, Rick gathered his little sister into his arms and held her close as she sobbed. One hand rested reassuringly on her back, while the other gently stroked her soft pink hair. Her tears were creating a wet patch on his shoulder, but he barely noticed as a familiar sting pricked the corners of his own eyes.
Time passed as the siblings clutched each other tight, drawing comfort and security from the familial embrace. They hadn’t cried together since they were little kids, when they’d both been scared by a loud thunderstorm overhead. Normally, they’d be much too embarrassed to be seen sobbing like children, but right now they needed each other. It was a relief to let the tears out.
Eventually the floodwaters eased, and Popuri pulled away from her brother’s arms with a loud sniff. Rick fished in his pocket and passed her a handkerchief. In the past, she’d rolled her eyes and called him an “old man” for carrying such an item, but today she accepted it gratefully.
Rick took a moment to compose himself while his sister mopped her puffy eyes. He hadn’t been crying as hard as she had, but he still had a lump in his throat to swallow down.
“…Thanks, Rick,” Popuri murmured at last, her voice low and exhausted.
He pulled her back into a gentle hug. “It’s ok, Po,” Nowadays, he rarely referred to her by the childish nickname he’d used when they were toddlers, “That’s what big brothers are for.”
That was all that needed to be said. They didn’t talk about their mutual concerns. Their relationship just wasn’t like that. Moments like this were enough for the siblings, and if they needed to talk, they were much more comfortable going to Karen or Kai than each other. Still, in times of need, they always knew they could rely on one other.
* * * *
When Lillia came home three days later, she was a little shocked to find the house still in one piece. Normally, her children fought like cats and dogs, so it was especially pleasant to find them running the farm together harmoniously. Lillia smiled to herself; she really did have the best children a mother could ask for.