Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Kim
I love how he looks at me. There is longing and a quiet anticipation of what he is hoping happens.
I know it because I feel the same way. Each day here at Casa Hope It’s Grande consists mostly of Landon and I checking each other out.
Scanning the smallest details. Whenever he is here, in between the cooking and conversations, the medications and the dog details, we search for each other’s face.
Bodies ache to be touched. Well, mine aches. And that’s enough for the both of us.
Sex with him is all I think about, which could be a problem.
There is a chance I am building it up too much and the poor man will never be able to live up to the fantasies.
A little piece of me finds the possibility ridiculous.
You can’t be that sexy and not know how to use it.
I am happy to be long past the virgin in headlights stage.
I much prefer the man who understands a woman’s body like I remember knowing a man’s. I am betting he does.
Tonight will be the first overnighter in the guest room. It has been all days so far. Good thing Landon had a few nights off from the bar, to prepare my room and for Ronnie to become accustomed to the new routine. It gave me time to line up my ducks too.
Frank stepped up his game and held down the fort.
But he warned nobody should get used to it.
Lex and friends helped too. They have interviewed two possible new hires already.
Finding the right person is proving more difficult than expected.
Tonight Landon has to be there for his pick’s trial run.
Fingers crossed. It is a young girl, so maybe she can be molded to his liking.
According to Landon and his father who never met them, the other bartenders had their own wrong ideas. Ronnie is resistant to change. Period.
My two week job is brand new, but the fit is good.
I feel needed and valued for what I have to contribute to the healing.
Ronnie likes having me here, I can tell.
Maybe it is the estrogen presence among all the testosterone.
Or because his physical therapist is a raging jerk.
It is not just my opinion. The patient hates him more than I do.
We have bonded over our mutual distaste for a man with little social graces or bedside manner.
There is no kindness in the application of his art.
The patient’s pain isn’t really a big consideration.
I guess technically he is on target, but there is so much more to taking an injured person from couch or wheelchair to an upright position.
To walking unaided. They must believe it will happen and trust you’re not going to hurt them.
It requires a little magic. PT Shane has no tricks up his sleeve.
Today will be better because I’m here to watch the entire session. Entering the living room, I greet my roommates.
“Morning, happy campers! Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakee.”
Only Ronnie is smiling. Landon wears a pissed expression as he puts on his shoes.
“It is a beautiful day, isn’t it?” Ronnie takes a big bite of an apple fritter.
“He fired Shane. So we are back to square one basically.”
My head turns to my charge and I give him a half smile. Not expected by either man.
“See! I told you she would think it’s a good idea. The guy was an asshole to me and you shouldn’t want that for your father. Mornin’ darlin’.”
Oh shit. Father and son pissing contest has already started. Let’s get ready to rumble.
Landon stands. “What I want is for you to have the best outcome. And that was a fucked up thing to say to me.”
What do I do? I cannot take either side. Ronnie did the right thing in my opinion. But said it wrong. I know how to show Landon I am on his side as well. I walk up to Ronnie and put out my hand.
“What the hell are you doing eating that? Give it here.”
For a second his face looks like a kid’s. It is a spit your gum out in my hand kind of thing. I am taking a chance, but it is the only play. I need to distract them both. He reluctantly drops the fritter in my hand.
“Make up your mind. Fruit is good you said.”
“Not surrounded in fried dough and sugar. Who’re you kidding?”
For the first time since I walked in, Landon is smiling.
“Pretty sure I said the exact same thing five minutes ago.”
Ronnie answers with a stink eye focused on his son.
“I’m going to make you a good breakfast,” I say to the bear.
“Yeah, yeah.”
“What? You hate eggs and sausage?”
“No.”
“And don’t think you’re going to get out of the exercises. You and I can follow the printouts he gave you.”
“Oh, I don’t have those anymore. I tossed ‘em.”
“And I downloaded them.”
“Ha!” Landon grunts his pleasure.
“I don’t even know what that means exactly, but it isn’t to my advantage, that’s for sure.”
“On the contrary. It’s going to return your life to you. Just shut your fritter hole and follow my lead. I know what I’m talking about.”
“You are turning into Nurse Ratchet.”
“Who’s that?”
Ronnie closes his eyes and tilts his head back. “Goddamn woman. Haven’t you ever seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest?”
“No. Is it good?”
“Yeah. Let’s watch it today. You’ll find out what I think of your methods.”
“Okay. After your physical therapy.”
“You are one stubborn chick.”
“I consider that a compliment.”
“I meant it that way.”
Five hours later, after Landon leaves for the bar, I get settled in my new room. As predicted, he fought me on not taking his bedroom. There was no way that was going to happen. The tiny guest room with a bathroom just outside the door works fine. It is cozy. Sort of.
He hung a blanket over the naked window that looks over the field on the side of the house.
I guess they never use the room. There’s a plant stand next to the double bed, being used as a nightstand.
It is the only room in the house that doesn’t have the same mood.
Like it was an afterthought. But there is a rose in a little vase, and a TV on the wall, so I’m happy.
My cell and iPad atop the dresser sound. Hunter FaceTiming.
“Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”
“I’m putting you on this bureau while I unpack. No one can hear us.”
“So how’s the father doing? Are you whipping him into shape?”
“He fired the physical therapist today.”
“Oh no.”
“It wasn’t the best fit. I can oversee the exercises until they get a new person.”
“Don’t hurt yourself picking the guy up or anything.”
“There will be none of that. I’m just going to take things slow and steady. You remember all I had to do to recover after our accident.”
I hear the breath being pushed out.
“I remember. The man has a lot ahead of him. And you had a broken nose and messed up teeth with yours.”
“Ronnie has a sprained ankle, a new hip, and a stent. So there’s that.”
“You’ll do a good job. He is lucky to have you.”
“Thanks. What are you up to tonight?”
“Beth is going to come over. I’m making us dinner.”
I pause for a nanosecond while every thought about what could go wrong passes in front of my eyes. Hunter has retained the friendship with his high school girlfriend. I think it is with benefits. They are so young.
“Just be careful.”
“Of what?”
“You know what. An empty house, a man cooking a romantic dinner. The music and the lighting. I I know what I’m talking about, son.”
“We’ve been together since eleventh grade, Mom. Don’t you think we’re past the temptation of an empty house? Come on.”
“I know. But cut me some slack. To admit it is a kind of blow for a mother. You’re always our babies.”
His tone and face soften. In his blue eyes, I see the child.
“I am nineteen, almost twenty.”
“I know. I was there.”
He chuckles.
“Now I can never again pretend you are still an innocent, and not a man exposed to STDs and unplanned parenthood. Both of which can change your life.”
“You want me to freeze time?” He says it gently and with compassion for me. “Then I won’t make any mistakes. But I think it’s too late. I already grew up, Mom.”
Hope he sees the pride I feel for his maturity and tenderness. I return to my original point.
“Ignorance is bliss, when knowledge is folly. Have you ever heard the whole saying? Applies nicely to me in this case.”
“No. But I understand it.”
“Just tell me you are smart enough to use a condom. That’s all I’m saying. This is important, Hunter.”
“Between your talks and Uncle Colter’s, the message is burned in my brain.”
“Good. That makes me feel better.”
The tinkling of Ronnie’s bell pulls my attention.
“I’m being summoned. Talk tomorrow. Just don’t forget to protect yourself. And Beth. It’s her future too.”
He has reached his mothering limit. “Stop thinking about it, Mom! I got it loud and clear. And let’s not talk about it again. Okay?”
“Okay. No more.”
I use the few second pause to mention another subject.
“Oh. I wanted you to know Landon and I are seeing each other. We’re dating.”
Silence.
“I told you if it happened you would be in on it.”
“Alright. Is he a good guy or just a filler?”
“A good guy. I’m not good at fillers. At this point we are getting to know each other. What do you think?”
“Doesn’t he live somewhere else?”
“Memphis.”
“Okay. Well, good for you, Mom. Have fun.”
It does not escape my notice, Hunter thinks the distance will end up defining the relationship.
Sounds like a filler to him. And he is dismissing it as unlikely.
He could be right. Four hours apart is not a small detail.
The whole subject evaporates as I am summoned again by the crystal dinner bell.
“The patient needs something. Have to go. Bye, son. Remember, be smart.”
“Straight up, Mom. You be smart too.”
I close the screen and grab the cell.
“I’m coming, Ronnie,” I call, walking out of the room.
“I need the fucking urinal dumped. Sorry honey. I’d do it if I could.” He lifts the plastic bottle as I reach the back of the couch.
I try to ease his mind.
“You think a little pee scares me? Ha! One time while Colter was caring for me I shit my wheelchair!”
He starts laughing. It surprises him as much as it does me.
“You did not!”
“I did too,” I call, heading down the hallway to the bathroom. “He read the dosage wrong on the stool softener! So basically it was his fault.”
I return to the living room and hand the bottle back.
“So you see, I don’t have a wanky leg to stand on.”
“If I ever shit in my seat, just kill me. What did you do?”
“I could clean myself, after he moved me to the bathroom. But he had to take care of most of it. The chair, the clothes. It was literally a shitshow.”
“I don’t feel so bad then about a little piss.”
“Good. I’m going to start dinner. Keep me company. Oh, and please don’t tell your son that disgusting story.”
“Now that you’ve brought it up, what’s the deal between you two? You into him?”
Retrieving the large cutting board from under the island, I meet his eyes.
“Yeah, I like him.”
That’s it. No extra information or avoidance of the subject.
“He likes you too. Although I don’t think this is news to you.”
I smile and cannot wipe it off my face.
“Landon isn’t one to talk much about his feelings,” he says. “It’s hereditary.”
“He has let me know in his way. Things have just begun, so there isn’t too much we know about the other yet.”
“True. But I know all about the boy. He has that goofy looking expression like you do. Whenever you are in the same room.”
“He does?” I say, more excited than I should be.
“You should go out again. Get one of my friends to stay with me for the night.”
“We are.”
“When?”
“When Stacy is here next weekend. He’s my date at my brother and Dominque’s wedding. I’m in it.”
This brightens Ronnie’s face. He readjusts his seat, and by his demeanor is satisfied with the news flash he has been waiting to hear.
“That’s good. No wonder he took his black suit to the cleaners when he took my jacket. I was suspicious. Wish I was going. Fucking ladder.”
“I know,” I say, chopping veggies. “I would have loved for you to meet my Hunter.”
“Bring him over sometime. For dinner or whatever. Think he’d come?”
“Sure. Maybe later this month. He and Bing, Dominique’s son, are close friends. They had a band in high school. Next week they take off on a road trip to Memphis.”
“Sounds fun. So tell me about the bridesmaid dress.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I used to love seeing Victoria in something fancy. She could wear a gunny sack and look good. But when it was a special occasion she shined.”
“This one is very cool. It’s a pale shade of blue and it’s feminine and romantic. Let me show you.”
I grab the cell and scroll through my photos.
“Here it is,” I say, moving to the couch.
I hold it for him to see, but he takes the phone from me.
“Let me put glasses on.”
Reaching to the TV tray, he retrieves the purple readers.
“Oh, very pretty. It looks great on you. Landon will love it.”
“Hope so.”
“Heels?”
“Of course.”
“You better bring tennis shoes. When he sees you in this with the high heels, he’s gonna chase you around the reception.”
“Maybe Landon will be the one being chased.”
“Ah, youth.”