A quick glance over my shoulder and I noticed Tina is indeed following me. In her bare feet she moved silently across the tiled floor. A blanket and pillow are lying on the sofa in the living room and again I'm forced to wonder what the hell is going on. Tina sits down and I take position on the chair across from her. She's looking around for something. 

"Where the heck did I...?"

In an instant I figured out her dilemna and picked her glasses up from the coffee table, handing them to her.

"Thank you!" Tina breathed a sigh of relief. "Can't see a damn thing without these things." She put them on an pushed them up the bridge of her nose.

The large frames obscured her features. I wondered if she ever considered contacts. She looked quite pretty without them. Not that she wasn't pretty already. Why was I even trying to assess Tina's level of attactiveness? I shook my head to clear my thoughts.   

"Tina, I really appreciate you letting me in and all but what are you doing here? In your nightgown no less?" 

At the mention at her state of dress Tina pulled the robe closed and tightened up the belt. Clearly, I've embarrassed her.

"You didn't come home last night." Her words sounded accusatory.

"I told you I might not." I defended.

"Yes, but I didn't actually take you seriously. I mean ... your mom just lost her husband. I figured you wouldn't want to leave her alone all night."

This is just what I needed right now a guilt trip on top of what? An oncoming lecture? "My mother is used to spending most nights alone," I informed her. "My father was seldom if ever home."

Tina huffed and frowned at me irratated. "Your father came home to your mother every night, Alex. It may not have been until late but he was here. And since her condition has gotten worse he's left the office at normal hours wanting to be home with her."

One word from her reprimand stuck out in my mind. "Condition? What condition?" Panic slowly rose and I tried to stomp it down. "Tina, what don't I know?"

Tina's eyes went wide and then she pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's right. You weren't talking to them these last few years. Alex ... I... I need some coffee before I can continue with this conversation."

NOW! Flabbergasted, I watched Tina rise and pad her way over to the kitchen leaving me no choice but to follow.

"Do you want some?" Tina asked pulling out two mugs from the cabinet before I even gave her an answer.

"Yeah, sure," I replied, trying my best to be patient but my patience was wearing thin. I watched her move about the kitchen and it struck me the familiarity she had with my house. Tina knew where to retrieve every item she needed, when it took me looking through three different cabinets just to find tea bags the other day.

Tina gets the coffee brewing and finally turned to face me. Leaning against the kitchen counter, she folded her arms under her chest, drawing my attention to the fact that she's not wearing a bra. Embarrassed that I'd be caught looking I kept my eyes locked on hers.

"I didn't think I'd be the one telling you this. However now why you didn't come back last night makes perfect sense."

I needed to know. "What's going on with my mom?"

Tina's eyes filled with a deep sorrow. "Alex, your mom has Alzheimer."

"What?!" I couldn't be more stunned if Tina had told me my mom started dating someone. My brain refused to acknowledge this new information.

Tina's face contorted in concern. She crossed the few steps to where I sat and grabbed hold of my hand. "God, you shouldn't have to find out this way. It's not fair, Alex. Not with everything else you've already had dumped on your plate."

I pulled my hand away and place it on my lap. I didn't want her sympathy. I wanted details, information, something that would make this all make sense somehow.

"When... How long...?" I shake my head in annoyance because I didn't even know where to begin to ask questions.

The coffee was done and Tina turned away to fill our cups, before setting them out before us on the kitchen island. She then went to the refrigerator and pulled out some cream. She placed it before me along with a spoon and a bowl full of sugar cubes. My mom always loved using sugar cubes in her tea. Suddenly, I want to cry and without warning the tears fell. 

"Oh!" Tina exclaimed joining me on the other side of the counter. She wrapped her arms around me and I wept like a baby. I wanted to stop but once the floodgates opened I couldn't.

Tina held on not saying a word. I didn't hug her back but I didn't push her away either. Too distraught with the realization I've lost them all - my brother, my father and now even though she lives, my mother.

"Oh Alex. I'm so sorry," Tina whispered softly.

I laughed without mirth. "Why? Is it your fault she's losing her memory?"

"No... but..."

I pulled her hands away and they dropped to her sides. "Then please stop apologizing to me, Tina."

Her lips pressed together and she nodded her head, before turning on her heel to walk away. I'd hurt her feelings the look on her face was unmistakable for anything else. I grabbed her hand to keep her still.

"I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings just now. I'm being a rude, ignorant bastard. All you're trying to do is help. I'm sorry."

Tina gives me a weak smile before she pulled away from me. "It's fine. I understand. You're under a lot of pressure and this must have come as quite a shock."

"It still doesn't excuse me for taking it out on you."

Tina smiled again. "Thank you." She took up a seat across from me. "I'll tell you everything I know."

Tina picked up her mug and drank deeply. I took the time to gather my thoughts, I asked, "When was she diagnosed?"

Tina placed her cup down and answered, "Around two years ago she started showing signs. Your father had noticed your mother had a hard time remembering names of new people he introduced her to. She kept misplacing things like her phone or her keys. It's why she doesn't know what's going on in the business, Alex. It's not that your father hasn't told her. Many times he tried but your mother couldn't recall what he told her and it started to frustrate her more and more. To keep her from getting agitated, your father stopped talking to her about work, and leaned on me a little more to help him keep things straight."

"So she's in the early stages?"

Tina reached for her cup to take another sip of her coffee but it did not escape my notice that her hand trembled a little. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head no.

"In this last year she has moved into the moderate stage. Some days she becomes moody and withdrawn. Others she will sleep all day and then become restless at night. This is why I didn't want to leave her alone. I told her I would stay just until you arrived but the later it got the more worried and impatient she became.

I offered to stay the night and it seemed to calm her a bit. She gave me one of her nightgowns and a robe," Tina said subconsciously pulling the silk robe closed again as it seemed determined to gape open on her. "I'm more of a flannel and t-shirt kind of girl," she informed me with a wry grin, speaking of her discomfort at being dressed this way.

As grateful as I was I just couldn't figure why the necessity. "Why is she alone? Why isn't there help here to watch over her?"

"There was, but as time progressed you mother started exhibiting behavioral changes. Suspiciousness and delusions, your father fired the maid when your mother said she tried to drown her. Your mother started fighting her when taking a bath. The woman was just trying to help your mother wash her hair. The cook had to go when she feared him poisoning her; she refused to eat for days until your father let him go. I didn't know about the doorman. That must have happened recently before your dad..."

Again Tina bit her lip to hold back tears.

This is bad. This is really bad. Now I understood the lawyers' pressure to get her to release the company to them so they could sell it. She was in no condition to take over and if word got out what state she was in, it may cause the stockholders to panic and pull out of the company altogether, causing it to collapse. Jesus.

My hand rubbed across my lips, I could feel the pain of a headache sear though my brain. What am I going to do? I wrapped my hands around the mug of coffee before me hoping to bring some warmth back into them.

"How long will she...?"

Tina jumped in before I finished. "I don't know. This stage could last for years. The doctors have been trying different medications to treat the symptoms but there really isn't anything they can do. There is no cure."

"So, it just gets worse until..." I couldn't finish the sentence.

Tina looked so mournful, as she slowly nodded.  "There will come a time where you won't be able to care for her anymore on your own. Your father knew that and has made arrangements."

"Oh." I'm losing her. I may have already lost her. I know it was my plan never to talk to her/them again but now... I didn't expect... I didn't know.

"Thank you for staying here with her."

Tina gave me a small shrug of her shoulders. "For some reason she trusts me. You have to be careful with her though, Alex. She's been told what's happening to her but she doesn't always remember. She's gotten angry sometimes when she couldn't recall something she knew she should remember. "

"Understood." My heart was heavy and my body felt weary under the strain.

Tina polished off her coffee, got up, washed out her mug, and put in the drainer to dry. "I think I'll go get changed now. I'm already late for work. Unless you need me for something else?"

My eyes met hers. "I do need you. I need you to make yourself more available to me. Can you do that... for me?"

Tina's cheeks flushed. " I... um... of course. I told you before- you need anything I'm your girl. Just name the task and consider it done."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Tina. I seriously don't think I could do this without you."

"I'm happy to help."

Tina left to take a shower and dress. I went upstairs to check on my mom. She was asleep. I sat on the edge of the bed. I guess the weight of me sitting next to her roused her a little. She looked up at me and smiled. "Aidan, what's wrong? You look so sad. Don't take what your father said to heart. He loves you, he 0loves you, sweetheart."

Her calling me by my brother's name felt like a knife through the heart. I smiled at her and stroked her hair away from her face. "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'm okay. You can go back to sleep. You need your rest."

My mom smiled sleepily at me, her eyes fluttered closed, but she reached out and grabbed my hand holding it close to her heart. I stayed until I could tell by her breathing she was fast asleep.

Tina was dressed and folding up the blanket she used last night when I came down the stairs. She placed it on top of the pillow at the edge of the sofa.

"So what's on the agenda for today, Boss?" Tina inquired.

"Boss? That sounds worse than Mr. Bragin."

"Really?" Tina asked with genuine surprise. "Why?"

"I don't know," I mumbled discouraged. 

"You're a natural, Alex. It's in your blood. You'll figure it out."

"I'm not sure that I'm meant to."

Tina frowned at this. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't know if I'm cut out to take over the business, Tina. I know you want me too. I know there are many people praying I will but I'm not sure I'm the guy to keep things going."

Tina walked over to me and took my hands in hers. "How about we figure out what needs to be done today and let the rest sort itself out later? Okay?"

I shook my head in agreement. It sounded like a good plan. "Okay."

Tina lets go of my hands and asked, "So, what's first?"

"First, I'll find out what's going on with the coroner's report and if they'll release my Dad to us. Then I'll need to take a trip to the lawyer's and find out about the will."

Tina suddenly becomes all business again. "I'm going to stop home so I can change, since these are the clothes I was wearing yesterday and I suggest you do the same. I'll set up a meeting with the lawyer and you can call the coroner. If the lawyer can meet with you today, we'll see how your mother is doing and if she's up for the trip she can go with you, if not I'll stay here with her when you need to go."

I shook my head amazed once again at how efficient she is. "Sounds like a plan. Thank you again. I can see what my father saw in having you as his assistant. I imagine after some time he found in invaluable."

Tina blushed at my praise. "Just doing my job, Boss." She gave me a wink and headed for the door. I started to walk her out but she told me not to worry about it. She knew the way.

Still I made sure the door was locked behind her so my mom didn't wander off and went up the stairs to get dressed for the day. "One thing at a time," I told myself, knowing this will be my new mantra for the next few weeks.