The next day, she stuck to her usual routine. Rising early, she savored her coffee before rousing the kids for school. Max, the eldest, sensed something amiss and questioned his mother about her well-being. She assured him that everything was in order, instructing him to prepare for school and mentioning she would pick him up after his football practice later that evening.
While assisting Daleann in getting ready for school, she struggled to contain her emotions, realizing that this could potentially mark one of their final mornings together in this manner. After finishing brushing Daleann's hair, she complimented her daughter, saying, "My goodness, you look so lovely."
Daleann embraced her mother tightly, whispering, "I love you, Mommy."
Theresa responded, "I love you more than you can imagine," planting a kiss on her daughter's cheek before urging her to grab her backpack and head to the car, while she collected J.D. and her purse to drive the kids to school.
However, instead of dropping them off as usual, she escorted Daleann to her classroom before proceeding to the office with J.D. in tow. Inside, Theresa spoke with the school secretary, informing them that her sister would be looking after the children for an extended period soon.
When questioned about the situation, Theresa, a rather private person, simply mentioned it was for a minor surgical procedure, maintaining a pleasant smile as she left the office. Deep down, she knew that she would need to have a difficult conversation with her children that night, a prospect she dreaded immensely.