Chapter 5 #2
“No. Down, Darling,” she commanded as she helped her mother to the couch, Bree following behind with Louise’s purse and the one sandal that was no longer a fit thanks to the cast.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Zona offered.
“Yes, a pina colada. Oh, that’s right. I’m not on the boat anymore,” Louise grumbled. Then sighed. “You know what, I think you probably should just get me to bed.”
Zona thought of all the stairs between Louise and her bedroom and envisioned her mother losing her balance, falling down them, and breaking her other leg. Or an arm. Or her neck.
“Mom, I’m thinking maybe we’d better move you to the downstairs guest bedroom for a while,” she said.
This inspired another sigh. “I think you’re right,” Louise said, grabbing for her crutches.
“Want me to get your nightgown?” Bree offered as Zona hurried to help Louise struggle back up.
“Thanks, honey,” Louise said. “Look in the top drawer of my dresser.”
“Got it,” said Bree, and headed up the stairs.
“This is darned inconvenient,” Louise grumbled as Zona followed her to the downstairs bedroom.
“I’m really sorry, Mom,” said Zona.
“Oh, well. Hawaii will still be there once I get out of this stupid cast.”
“There you go,” said Zona.
“Maybe I’d better go potty before I settle in,” Louise decided, and turned around and headed for the downstairs bathroom.
“Okay,” Zona said, and started to follow her.
“I can manage on my own,” Louise said firmly.
Her mother had one leg that looked like an ironing board. How was she going to manage? But, “Okay.”
Louise limped off down the hall. Thank God that bathroom had a walk-in shower in it. A tub was going to be out of the question for a long time.
Bree was back down with the nightgown and found Zona hovering in the hall. “Where’s Gram?” she asked.
“In the bathroom,” Zona said.
Bree nodded and moved on to the bedroom.
A moment later, Louise called, “Zona!”
Zona hurried into the bathroom and found her mother struggling to get up again. “This is really inconvenient,” Louise said between gritted teeth.
“At least you can move,” Zona said, trying to help her look on the bright side. “Imagine how miserable you’d be if you’d broken both legs.”
“I don’t want to. I’m already miserable enough,” Louise snapped.
“It won’t last forever,” Zona said, parroting what her mother had told her about her financial situation.
Ten minutes later Louise was settled in her bed, a glass of water on her nightstand, and Zona and Bree were back in the living room.
“She’s not going to be able to stay by herself,” Bree said.
“I know,” said Zona.
“How are you gonna manage this, Mom?”
“I’ll take the rest of this week off, then I’ll have to get her set up with some in-home care during the day.”
“I can help in the afternoons,” Bree offered.
“Just come visit her once in a while. That will keep her spirits up. I can handle the rest,” said Zona.
So much for getting that evening job as a waitress that she’d been considering.
She’d have to come up with something else, something more flexible.
Burglary, perhaps. She could do that while Louise was asleep. Haha.
“Gram’s gonna go nuts,” Bree predicted.
“At least she has a good view of the new neighbor’s house from the guest bedroom. She can spy on him. And watch her true crime shows.”
Bree grinned. “And work on her mystery novel.”
“There’s an idea. How about doing me a favor and picking her up a fancy notebook to write in after you’re done with your shift tomorrow? It might help take her mind off her troubles.”
“Good idea. I’ll get her some colored pens, too.”
“Great. Wait a minute.” Zona hurried to her purse and pulled out her wallet, fishing out the twenty-dollar bill she’d been hoarding.
“Keep it, Mom. I’ve got this.”
“No, take it,” Zona insisted, shoving it at her. “Call it bad Mom tax.” She’d half hoped her daughter would say, “You’re a great mom.”
She didn’t. But she did say, “No way. Save it and buy yourself some chocolate. God knows you’re gonna need it by the time you’re done getting Gram set up.” She gave Zona a quick kiss on the cheek, then went to the door where Darling had been whining and scratching.
“Oh, crud. Poor Darling. He’s probably dying to go out. I’ll get his leash,” said Zona just as Bree opened the door.
“No, Darling,” Bree said, trying to push him away from the opening with her leg.
Darling was too good an escape artist to be stopped by a leg as slender as Bree’s. Off he dashed into the night.
“Oh, for crying out loud. Grab him, will you?” said Zona, and hurried to fetch his leash from where Louise kept it hanging on the coat closet doorknob.
DARLING WAS HAPPILY already on the new neighbor’s driveway, pooping. No wonder he’d been whining.
Dog poop. Ick. Bree was willing to help with Gram, but no way was she picking up poop. Anyway, Mom would be out in a minute to pick it up. Poor Mom.
“Come on, Darling. Let’s get you back inside,” she said, and herded Darling back toward the house.
Her mother was on the porch when they got there. “Darling pooped on the neighbor’s driveway,” Bree informed her.
“I’ll get it,” Zona said just as Gram swore and called out, “Zona, I knocked over my stupid water glass.”
“Want me to stay?” Bree offered. It was late and she had to be up before the birds, but so what? She didn’t need that much sleep.
“No, go on home,” Mom said as Darling raced off to the guest bedroom to check on Gram. “Thanks for helping.”
“Anything for Gram,” Bree said.
Her mother looked exhausted. “You gonna be okay?” Bree asked.
“Of course,” Mom said. “We’ll be fine.”
Things have a way of working out, Gram always said. If you asked Bree, nothing was working out for any of them.