Mar 2020

Early one morning Bobbie woke up and heard something in the kitchen. She left her bedroom and saw Trixie standing at the kitchen Island with her head in her hands. Bobbie went over and put her hand on her friend’s back. She could feel her shoulders shake; Trixie was crying.

Bobbie was startled, “Oh Trixie, what’s wrong? Is it Greg?”

Trixie lifted her head. “Yes. He’s gone Bobbie. He stopped breathing last night and they couldn’t resuscitate him. Nobody even got a chance to say goodbye.”

Bobbie just hugged her. She was feeling overwhelmed with sadness for her friend but her own losses seemed that much more pressing too. Maddy sensed their feelings and was particularly clingy that day. She was too young to really understand Trixie’s loss but she knew what it felt like to be sad.

Trixie spent the day in her room, talking to Greg’s sister Vanessa and organizing things with the hospital. It was all over by the next week and anything Trixie had at Greg’s place was safely stowed in Bobbie’s storage container.

Johnny and Bobbie built a skating rink right after Christmas, in the corner of the parking lot and all the kids were keeping busy, learning to skate and having fun. They even had a couple bonfires with hot chocolate and marshmallows after a day of skating.

June still had the baby blues that was becoming full blown post natal depression. Bobbie originally thought that June would help care for the children during the day and they had talked about how she would have a yoga class and art class for the kids but she hadn’t been able to do much since she had arrived.

One morning Bobbie brought June’s usual smoothie for breakfast. Joanne was holding Ansel and quietly went into the other room when Bobbie arrived.  “June, why don’t you pull on your coat and get the baby in the snuggie and you and Joanne come with us and the kids for our short morning walk?”

“Oh Bobbie, I just can’t! I have to have a shower and pump for Ansel. I think I need to give him some formula or maybe start him on some solid food. I don’t think he is getting enough nutrition from just me. Bobbie, I don’t really know any more. I really need my mother. I’ve asked her and Papa to come; they can self isolate at our house in town.”

Bobbie was actually relieved; she had met June’s parents once and liked them a great deal. She knew they missed their daughter and grand kids a lot. “They can self isolate right here June. We can put them in the number 8 motel room. It is large, has a nice balcony and we can bring their food and anything they need so they don’t have to leave for the two weeks. Are you sure they want to come? Travel is so difficult these days”

“Oh Bobbie, you are doing so much for me and the children. I don’t know how to thank you. I’m not sure we deserve it.”

“June, I want to talk to Charlie. He needs to know how sad you are, maybe he can help a little. You were on some medication right after Suzy was born maybe that could help you again.”

June sobbed. “I feel like a failure and I hate feeling so useless.”

Bobbie’s heart was breaking. “Oh June, everyone loves you so much and we all want to help you feel like yourself when you are ready.”

They sat together for a few minutes, in silence.

Later that morning Bobbie made several calls and Charlie arranged for a psychiatrist, who had experience with postpartum, talk to June over the computer about depression and medication. She also asked Effie to take special care to prepare to host the Omatsu’s in Number 8. It was her best room and she was worried the Omatsu’s would think her ‘Boutique motel’ was a bit parochial. They were accomplished. Her mother would be their neighbour and she would get along fine with them once their self-quarantine was over. Bobbie would talk to her mother.

Apr 2020

June was feeling better and everyone was settling into their isolated life. The motel was a big bubble. People weren’t supposed to congregate. They stretched those rues occasionally but mostly maintained their little groups.

Adrianne Omatsu was a retired lawyer and amateur historian so she helped tutor the kids in civics and history. Her husband David was a former natural scientist and was helping the kids understand the world around them.

June was feeling better and working with the kids; teaching them the sun salutation and Joanne spent a lot of time with the grade 1’s.

Barb worked a part time with the school board helping them plan the distance learning and made a point of making sure the school aged kids were meeting their school-based objectives.

May 2020

The Market was starting up. People were eager to get out in the open air with other people and it was busy.  Mark, Sipho and Jane made all the food for the market and they also kept the take-out fridge full. They had a take-out window in SPOKES that was accessed from the patio so people could go to the window and never have to go in the restaurant.

People were ordering food online and Drey and Marla were delivering.  Mark joked that it was years since he worked at a take-out restaurant.

Mark and Bobbie started planning the garden and did some early planting. Everyone was helping in the garden. 

Adrienne Omatsu was not only a retired lawyer; she was an avid flower gardener. She put on a couple layers of masks and went with Mark to his dad’s green house and came back with several hanging baskets for the motel that would be splendid.

Adrienne and Bobbie made plans for elaborate flower gardens near the pool house and near parking areas and Bobbie talked her into joining her property management company as a landscape design consultant She enthusiastically agreed. Soon Adrienne was pouring over plans for the condo grounds and the ranch house too.

It was the weekend and they were back from the market. The snow was gone and the skating rink was dismantled for the year. The garden was getting planted by Mark’s Dad’s business again this year. Mark was working closely with him and everything was almost ready.

Bobbie got a text from Mark. He had extra food from the market and suggested everyone come to the patio and have dinner. They can try out the heaters.

There was still a chill in the air so Bobbie bundled up Maddy and went to find the others to gather for dinner. Trixie and Barb were at her mother’s suite and they agreed to join them. The Omatsu’s were in their suite next door with June, baby Ansel and Suzy and were already getting ready. Trixie texted Johnny and he and Marla, Linda and Kirby were on their way. Bobbie, Maddy and Suzy went to find the other kids. They were all in the boys’ motel room playing with Lego that Bobbie had dug out of her storage that morning.

Soon they were all out on the patio between the gallery building and SPOKES. The heaters were set up and the tables were spaced a little apart. Bobbie told everyone to sit and not wander around. She and Mark would take the orders so that everyone could stay a little apart from each other. Eddy told Bobbie they had to keep 2 meters (6 feet) apart.

It was a little awkward but everyone got the food they wanted and soon they were all talking and laughing and it felt almost normal. It had been almost 4 months since Bobbie hugged her sons. It was hard on the kids too. Bobbie just wished things would go back to normal but Charlie told her the hospital was busier than ever.

Effie came over to Bobbie and motioned her to step away. She looked worried. “Roger and his mom have been taken to hospital. They are both sick and his mother finally called an ambulance. She said she’s worried because she doesn’t believe that she will improve in the hospital. She thinks it’s dangerous.

Bobbie frowned. “She thinks what?”

Effie showed her the message where she complained that Roger was sick and being too dramatic because it was just the flu and the hospital will make them more sick. The hospital and government just want to make it worse. “I think she was already sick then too. She finally called an ambulance for them both. I’m really worried.”

Bobbie shook her head. “I hope they are OK.”