Just one question

Walk | "Talk" | think

Poor Gwynn.  He hadn’t wanted to burden mom with this but he really hadn’t wanted to burden Gwynn either.  Hell, if it was up to Rudy then he’d try to avoid the painful subject with anyone but it was a necessary question.  The first answer worried him.  She didn’t know.  If he left and she died tomorrow then it would be pointless and a poor time to be gone.  If it was months then he Rudy had plenty of time to go searching.  

Rudy’s ears flattened at Gwynn having to work hard for mom.  “Thank you Gwynn.  I mean, I know you don’t need thanks cause its mom and all but still.  I’m real glad you became a healer and seem to have learned a good amount already.  It’s better mom has family treating her than just another doctor.  Not that the other healers here aren’t nice but, I know it being you helps her.”  It was the best he could offer and it might mean nothing.  Lately words appeared to fail Rudy.  It was times like this he felt more like the child he was instead of the adult he wanted to be.

Rudy wasn’t sure how to feel about all the time she might have. In a way that was good for giving them time to look for an answer but it was bad if that meant mom just rotting down there that long.  Rudy had assumed it would be a month at most so this was both blessing and curse depending on the viewpoint.  “Ok,” he turned to walk off then glanced back and offered her a diluted version of his impulsive smile, “Me? Never.”  The smile faded after, “I know now isn’t a time for making things worse.  Don’t worry.”  That was true.  Fortunately one's definition of terms like reckless could differ considerably.  

He almost asked Gwynn to let mom know he loved her when she woke up.  If he said that Gwynn might think he was up to something so that message would have to wait until he returned.  “See you later.”