Weekend Freewrite-3/2/2019 prompts 1-3

Thank you once again @mariannewest for another weekend prompt to open up our wildest/craziest fables. I had lots on my mind yesterday, so I am fulfilling my freewrite today.
........
Hard Times To Come

There is no doubt that this unquestionable order will come to pass...Brenda read that over and over after she had written it down. Life had been full of ups and downs, so she was used to the struggles. She was not quite sure about the ones that she is about to face now. She sat in the boat, letting the gentle waves rock her as she thought long and hard about everything. She was always the protector in her household, but now she was feeling like there was a need for her to be protected. The list of bills were insane, and she studied hard, on how to manage the impending order of how to get each one done on time. Matty was about to join the military, so she will be on her own. The thought scares her but she tells herself this too will come to pass. "Things will always work out in the end." .. Brenda repeats this over and over in her head.
December in Dublin is remarkably high spirited. Matty will need that in his life since he may not be home for the Holidays. His new adventure will be a good one for him. She missed being in California, and especially the winter weather. She smiles a little with reminding herself he will not be too far from home. Heck, it may be a good thing for him being there. Gives a reason to visit and get out of this dreaded winter on the West Coast. California seems to be so lively when everyone else is inside trying to stay dry and warm. He had a choice of going to Ireland or California. She gazes off into the waves again at the thought of Matty being gone.
Brenda restarted the motor and slowly steered it back to the dock. After placing everything back into her bag she stepped out of the boat. She walked up the steps and into the home that is soon to be empty of any sounds but the creaking of the loose floorboard. Oh how she will miss the sound each time he tried to sneak up behind her to scare her. So many times she let out a laugh. The cat was a dead giveaway when he attempted to be quiet. Brenda looks over at the cat as he lay in the window soaking up the sunshine. She sits on the chair and watches as Matty plays his Xbox. The thought of not even seeing that made her shed a tear.