Patina

At dinner that night, Maddy, Uncle Tony, and Patty feel the weight of Momly’s absence. Searching for small talk, Patty tells Uncle Tony about her fight with Krystal at practice from a few days before. Uncle Tony reminds Patty that Momly wouldn’t want Patty getting into trouble over her and that Momly views it as her job to “defend you” (188).

Uncle Tony and Patty connect again later when he comes to Patty’s room to check on her. He tries to encourage Patty to share how she’s feeling, but Patty still insists that she is fine because she doesn’t view herself as having another option.

Patty finally gives in to her emotions when Uncle Tony holds out an empty plate to her pretending there is one of her father’s signature strawberry cupcakes on it. Together, they “eat” the pretend cupcake, and Patty is overcome with emotion thinking about the weight of everything she has been through and how her life would have been different if her dad had not passed away in his sleep.

Patty, Maddy, and Uncle Tony adjust to their new routine by going to Ma’s house to pick her up for dialysis. For the first time, Patty and Maddy see Ma’s dialysis routine at the hospital.