Chapter Thirteen
“Do you want to know the worst part about turning ninety-three?” Joe crosses his arms as he watches me put the rest of his birthday decorations on the door.
“What’s that?” I ask, finishing taping the final streamer.
“Everyone else is dead,” he says. “At your age, it’s about going to all the weddings. At my age, I average two funerals a week.”
I glance at him as he lies in bed. His blue robe is pulled tightly across his body.
“You may not believe this,” Joe says, “but I was a popular guy back in the day. All the ladies liked me, but Betty was the lucky one.”
“You’re pretty lucky too.” I help Joe stand up and grab his walker from the corner of his room. “Betty’s a good one.”
“Yeah, she is,” he says.
“Head down to the cafeteria,” I say. “Your cake awaits you.”
“Will you take me home afterward?”
“Oh, Joe,” I say, and then jerk my neck when I hear commotion down the hall.
Joe throws his robe off, and I’m relieved when I see he’s wearing a jumpsuit underneath it. He starts moving in the direction of the cafeteria, and I jog toward the sound of complete chaos.
It’s Sis. She’s in the room with one of the CNAs and is agitated. One of her porcelain figurines flies across the room as I enter, barely missing me.
“Sis, it’s okay,” I say in my calmest voice. “It’s me, Birdie.”
“What the hell is going on in here?” Larry’s voice calls out at the worst possible time because it only upsets Sis more.
“This man”—she points at the new CNA, Jose—“tried to take my shirt off.”
A big scream escapes Sis, and she grabs a book from her side table and throws that across the room.
“Grandma?” Liam walks into the room.
“He touched me,” Sis says, looking at Jose, who appears horrified.
“I didn’t,” Jose stammers out. “Lucy told me to get Sis dressed for Joe’s birthday party.”
She flails her arms around, pacing and crying. I rush to her just as she turns and flails an arm, her elbow catching me directly in the eye. I wince, then reach her and wrap my arms around her, completely immobilizing her.
“Sis,” I say, “it’s okay. It’s me, Birdie. It’s okay. Shh.”
Her screaming lessens, and her breath begins to regulate.
“Jose, why don’t you go check on Abigail and get her down to the cafeteria for cake?”
He nods and leaves the room, but then Sis begins flailing again. Her strength is astounding, and when I look behind me, Larry and Liam stand back in horror. Will comes running in and helps restrain her. He holds her arms to her side, and I get in her line of vision.
“Sis,” I say, “Jose’s job is to help you get dressed. But if that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll make sure that only females come into your room. Would that be okay?”
“Yes,” she chokes out. “No men.”
Will and I get Sis calm and then put her in bed. Liam comes to her bedside and rubs her arm.
My face is on fire. I put my cool palm against it. Will stays with Sis, and as I try to leave the room, Larry grabs my arm.
“You won’t report this, will you?”
I look at him, confused.
“You won’t file a report, right?”
I put my hand to my face, already feeling a bump forming, and storm past him. I duck into an empty room and slam the door shut. First, Larry threatens to remove his parents from the nursing home, and therefore take his finances with them. And now he doesn’t want me to report Sis because she may be deemed too high needs? Unbelievable.
“Shit,” I say, still holding my face.
Everything happened so fast, but I didn’t follow protocol. I went in there alone, and although Sis didn’t try to hurt me, I should have called for backup before running into the room. I lean back against the wall and try to catch my breath.
The door flies open, and Liam stands there with a bag of ice. He holds it up, presses his lips together, and I nod.
“Birdie.” He closes the distance between us and holds the ice pack to my face, and I wince.
The door opens again, and this time it’s Will.
“Hey, Birdie,” he says, looking at me before his gaze cuts to Liam. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say.
He raises an eyebrow as he glances at Liam. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Will,” I say. “I appreciate you stepping in.”
He nods.
Once he’s gone, Liam takes my hand and leads me to the desk, and I sit on the edge of it. He places the ice bag on my face, and I close my eyes. The cold against the heat of my face hurts. Fire and ice.
Liam steps to the side and puts his hand on my shoulder. His leg rubs against mine. “If this is something you’re supposed to report, don’t let my dad bully you out of it. You need to do what’s right.”
I put my hand over his to apply more pressure to my face.
“I shouldn’t have gone in there alone,” I say. “I know better.”
Liam moves his hand from my shoulder to my arm. He pulls the ice bag away, tilts his head, and studies my face. He brushes his thumb over where Sis’s elbow made contact with my bone. It’s a feather-light touch, and my arms explode in goosebumps.
“Am I still intact?” Gravity pulls me into his orbit until my face is inches from his chest, and I inhale and breathe him in.
Liam smiles and pulls his hand away. “You’re going to survive this time but watch out for my family’s elbows. They’re pointy.”
“Good to know.” I’m not sure if I’m concussed or if my fuzziness is due to proximity to Liam.
He hands me the ice bag. “Keep icing, okay?”
“Thanks.” I press my lips together.
Liam’s chest rises, then falls as he studies me. He nods toward the door, then walks out.
After gaining composure, I leave the room and get back to work. I check in on Joe’s birthday party, which many of the residents are attending. Then I stop at the south desk, where Lucy sits, doing paperwork.
“Birdie.” I turn as Will walks my way. “Are you up for getting a pizza tonight?”
“Yeah,” I say, looking at Lucy. “What time are you thinking?”
“Seven,” he says. “I’ll pick you up.”
“You don’t have—”
“Birdie,” Will says. “I’ll pick you up.”
He walks away when one of the residents needs his assistance with something, and I turn to Lucy.
“Yay,” I say. “I get to hang out with you again. Which is needed after today.”
“Oh no,” she says, laughing. “I’m pretty sure Will just asked you on a date. There was no mention of me in this pizza get-together.”
My head shoots in Will’s direction, and I snap my hand over my open mouth.
“No,” I say. “I didn’t realize. I thought you two had already made plans, and the three of us were going to hang out.”
Lucy jumps up from her chair and sits on the desk beside me. “Do you like him? He’s a cutie, right? I mean, I’m in my mid-thirties. I don’t know what you young kids are into these days.”
I glance across the room where Will is assisting a resident. I narrow my eyes. “I don’t see him that way. And I don’t envision that changing.”
“Well.” Lucy shrugs. “You’ll have to tell him that because he sees you that way. I’ve been trying to tell you. The man hasn’t stopped talking about you since the day you got to town.”
“Today just keeps getting better.” I hold my hand up to my face.
“Birdie.” Lucy stands and cups my cheeks. “You are this beautiful girl with freckles, the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and a body that looks good in everything. Men are going to shoot their shot. Get used to it.”
She smiles as she walks away laughing.