FINDING JUNE
For June Walker, time is running out. All her life, she's lived for her children, but now her family's falling apart. Her husband, Nick, who used to be fun, has turned grumpy. Worse, he's retiring to take care of her. Sure, she's getting forgetful, but having Nick fuss over her is the last thing she wants.
June's son, Jonathan, is an alcoholic. Estranged from the family, he's moved far away from the Toronto area to BC. June's daughter, Martha, has inherited her father's work ethic and has made partner in the same law firm, but missed out on the fun gene.
June wishes and hopes her daughter will brighten, her son will return, at times believing they are still young and happy. But, day by day even the simplest tasks become increasingly baffling ? how does she get into this bra? But despite the dementia that's eating away at her mental acuity ? or because of it ? she might yet succeed in pulling her family together before her time runs out altogether.
It's June's daughter, Martha, who ultimately has to take on managing everything. Martha's twin brother, Jonathan, says he'll come help, but then ghosts her for months.
When Jonathan does show up, he's in recovery and comes bearing surprises: a husband and a child. Martha's certainly not shocked about the husband. But the child ? how unfair! Martha can't have children. Yet irresponsible, feckless Jonathan breezes in as if to save the day (to their mom's delight!), with the world's cutest little girl in tow.
Martha's father, Nick, has his own struggles, especially after he moves himself and June into a retirement home. June gets the care she needs, but Nick feels his life narrowing to a depressing pinch point.
Jonathan's presence provides some relief. Nick's had a fraught relationship with him, but June's decline provides perspective, and Nick finds it easy to remember his love for his son. If Jonathan could only stay with them... But he can't, and Nick has to find who he is by himself and get his mojo back without a granddaughter to restore his youth.
It's Martha who travels furthest. At the start, she tries to almost bully her mother into a healthier lifestyle, bringing kale salads and other nutritious inedibles. Meanwhile, Martha's own life narrows even more. Her marriage exhausts itself, with barely enough energy for rancour.
But Martha, always closer to her father, begins to forge a new relationship with her mother, even as June's mind slips away. Martha also comes to terms with her jealousies ? yes, their mother cared more for Jonathan, but only because he needed her more, and of course his daughter is irresistible. If Martha can't be a mother, she can at least be an aunt.
Their father's sudden death from a heart attack entirely re-cements Martha's bond with Jonathan. Still, it is Martha alone at their mother's bedside at the end ? but a new Martha who's blossomed emotionally.
