Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kim
“Look how good you’re walking. What a difference three weeks make.”
As usual, Ronnie ignores my pep talk and doesn’t make eye contact. Not when he is on the move. “I can’t talk too much either. Need to concentrate”, he said. But as the cane’s tip hits firm ground, and he makes the turn from path to porch, I say one more thing.
“Want a burger for lunch? I think the guys would like that.”
Now I have his attention. He stops, looks my way and smiles for the first time since we started walking.
“With fries?”
“You know what? Yes. Let’s make our own!”
“What are you talking about?” he says, grasping the porch rail.
“The air fryer Holly and Lex gave you. It has been sitting there on the counter staring at me. I want to try it.”
“Doesn’t have the same draw as fried in oil. But I get it. Listen, I don’t want to regain the six pounds I’ve lost.”
“We should use the sweet potatoes. I have a board with ten different versions on Pinterest.”
His face scrunches with the words.
“Quit talking Latin. I have no idea what you just said.”
“Latin!” I laugh.
My attention turns to the car approaching the house. Noon, just like he promised.
“Oh good! Hunter’s here.”
“Landon said he’s going to help them.”
“He’s happy to be making some steady money.”
We both pause for the car to come to a stop and Hunter to exit.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hey, Hunter! Just in time. Give an old man an arm.”
He pitches an elbow out as Hunter quickly makes it to his side.
“You didn’t know we were going to put you to work so fast, right?”
Hunter has a smile on his face and he has a firm hold. Makes me proud.
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Just help me up the steps. I’m not really that old, it’s just this fucking ankle.”
Moving ahead of them, the dogs at the screen door get their orders.
“Down!”
I hold the door open and we witness the miracle of Saint Barney the Wonder Dog. He listened.
“Impressive,” Ronnie says as he passes. “You have all the Podesta men paying attention, Kim. Even the furry guys.”
“Speaking of,” I say. “What about your face fur?”
“I’ll take care of my grooming, and you do you.”
It is not a snarky remark. He’s calm. And it makes Hunter chuckle.
“Okay. I won’t mention it again.”
“I’m going to get to it. You worry about it too much.”
“I tell her that all the time,” Hunter adds.
“I can do lunch today,” I call back as I pass. “You deserve a reward for your efforts in the kitchen. Relax.”
He agrees by sitting his ass down on the couch.
“Ahhhhhhh. That’s good.”
I get to gathering ingredients.
“Why don’t you text Landon? Tell him and Lex lunch will be waiting whenever they are ready.”
“Oh shit. I hate this texting stuff. Why don’t you do it, kid?”
“It’s easy, Ronnie. Just keep it short. I’ll show you,” Hunter says.
“Okay. And make sure you put salt on them! I’m serious, Kim. Salt.”
He doesn’t give two shits about anything other than the fries.
“I hear ya.”
You can’t build Rome in a day. But I notice the TV is not turned on.
No Family Feud, or Maury Povich. I am just going to shut up about the fact he looks kind of happy with himself today.
And he has a new person to schmooze with.
Despite grumpy words, he’s a little happier.
The progress toward reclaiming his life is a moving target.
I would love to mention his progress again. Better to not talk it to death.
“Can I use your bathroom?”
“Yeah, kid. It’s the first door to the right. Down the hall.”
As soon as Hunter is out of sight, Ronnie summons me.
“Can you bring me my book on the table?” He points directly behind him. The book sits about five inches out of his reach.
“You’re kidding, right?” I say, slicing the sweet potato, reading instructions and vowing not to sound as annoyed as he is making me.
“Alright. Alright.”
But despite the sharp delivery, he gets up carefully and walks around the couch. No cane. Yes.
“Shall we eat out on the porch? It’s a beautiful day.”
“That’s fine. The boys are going to be smelling like pond scum anyway. I don’t want it in the house.”
He still calls them boys. I get it. Hunter will always be my child. Whenever I look at him, I see the six-year old. Ronnie makes it back to the couch and stretches out.
“Yeah, that’s it. Let’s have a beer. Oh. Should have grabbed it when I was up.”
His eyes find mine and it is impossible to miss the plea being sent.
“I got it,” I say, knowing when to quit.
That seems to please him, like a child who knows his mother will cave if he looks miserable enough.
Hunter and I would do that dance occasionally.
I take two beers from the refrigerator as he is texting.
Placing one for me on the counter, I deliver his.
The multi tool knife in his pocket is already out and ready to pop the cap. His cell sounds.
“What?”
That sounded like he was being greatly disturbed by whoever has the gall to call. Men are so weird.
“Okay.”
That’s it. A two word “conversation”.
“They’ll be here in a half hour or so.”
“Perfect.”
“Why the hell didn’t he just text?”
Now he likes it. God.
An hour later, the porch picnic is in full swing.
Dirty men with clean hands, Hunter, Ronnie, and me are chomping on the fabulous fries and delicious burgers.
I’m definitely making these again. Good thing there was extra.
The two-man cleanup crew are as hungry as my nineteen year old. Landon turns to his father.
“Did you make these fries?”
“Hell no. It was Kim’s idea. Something to do with a board. I don’t know exactly. They’re good though.”
“Pinterest.”
As soon as the word leaves my mouth I realize only Hunter knows what I’m talking about. Ronnie sees the faces and looks validated.
“Like I said, Latin.”
I surrender a chuckle and he joins in. The guys don’t know what is so funny but the banter amuses them too.
“These two have lots of private jokes,” Landon tells Hunter.
“He cracks me up,” I say.
“How was your walk? Did you make it to the gate yet?” Lex asks.
Ronnie bites on the last of his fries. “Not yet. But it won’t be long.”
I am encouraged by the show of confidence.
“Good work, Dad. In a few weeks you’ll be able to walk without the cane, right?”
“That’s the goal. One of them anyway. We’re just starting. According to the boss.”
“I’m no boss. Except of myself.”
“That’s what she says,” Hunter adds with a chuckle.
My jaw drops as I pretend being wounded by the words.
Ronnie turns to my son in solidarity.
“It’s getting annoying. I may have to fire her.”
Landon almost does a spit take.
“I will murder you,” he says blank faced.
All four men think that is funny.
“If I suddenly disappear you’ll know what happened.”
“So what’s the update on the pond?”
“I don’t think we can call it that anymore, Dad. It’s more of a big dirty puddle. The trees around it have deposited their fallen leaves and they have decayed. There’s mosquitos and mud and standing water which isn’t good.”
“Get rid of it. Fill it in.”
Landon’s face perks up.
“Oh shit yeah. I was thinking you’d fight me…never mind. I’m glad you made the decision. Barney has taught your dog to play in it.”
As if on cue, the two dogs come running. And barking. That’s the Barney effect. They look like they are participants in a mud run. Covered in filth, but happy as can be.
“Oh my God! Don’t let them up here!” I yell.
It is too late. They have smelled the burgers and nothing is going to stop them.
As soon as Barney gets up the steps he shakes off what covers him.
The mud flies in a wide pattern, marking everything in its path.
Including the pristine pant legs of me, Ronnie, and Hunter.
Biscuit doesn’t waste valuable eating time.
He sits at the feet of his human and stares at the object of desire. Hamburger.
“Shit!” Landon says. “This will be your job, Hunter. Then you can join us at the pond.”
His father makes a new plan.
“Don’t worry about it. The outside shower in back will take care of them later. I can hose off the porch and steps.”
What? Ronnie is offering to do something not asked? Landon is as surprised as I am, but doesn’t say a word. I don’t want to jinx things either. Lex doesn’t realize how odd this is. He is just happy to have a full belly. He feeds a piece of burger to each dog.
“Pretty soon I’m going to look like you, Ronnie.”
He pats his stomach and laughs. Men generally don’t take it as insult, like women would. Mars and Venus.
“Get hosed, Lex. This is prime beef.” Then to me, “What’s for dessert?”
For Ronnie and me, the remainder of the afternoon was spent wisely.
We read. Exercised our cerebral muscle. There was little conversation.
As the sun set the men returned, looking as spent as I had imagined.
Even Hunter looked like there wasn’t an ounce of energy unused.
Lex beat Hunter to the outside shower, then took off.
It was heavy, filthy work, and only a good friend, or someone being paid, would be part of it.
Next, Hunter used the shower and changed into the clothes Landon had told him to bring.
Like a bat out of hell, he took off. Don’t blame him in the least. Getting back to his phone and messing around with his friends will take on a new meaning.
Hopefully he sees that life for an adult is not all fun. It requires much more effort.
I wanted him to realize how hard it is to do this sort of work.
Because, in every life some physical work is required.
It is good for the soul and good for him to know how to take care of a property.
I wasn’t going to be able to be an example of the backbreaking jobs mostly men are saddled with.
Mission accomplished. Maybe someday he will put what he has learned to use in his own home.
Landon was in the shower for at least twenty minutes, washing away the dried dirt and sweat of the day.
Any other time, I would have been joining.
But it wasn’t that kind of a thing. No one was in the mood for a real dinner.
We all helped ourselves. Thank God. I didn’t want Ronnie to have to cook and I didn’t want to either.
Sometimes a sandwich and a pickle taste as good as filet and mashed potatoes.
Now in bed, staring at the ceiling, I absorb the day.
It is rewarding helping Ronnie. There’s a soft spot in my heart for the man. Who wouldn’t love a caftan wearing, book loving biker? Under the first few layers, he has a soft heart. Especially for his son. It is easy to admire a good parent. We aren’t hard to spot.
I understand why he was loved by a woman like Victoria. They speak about her in such glowing terms. She was loved in return by both husband and children. That’s enough information for me. I say a little prayer for the woman I will never know.
“I had to make another pass on my nails,” Landon says, coming from the bathroom.
“Are you always naked when you do it?”
He smiles and chuckles a bit.
“I’m starting a new trend. Naked manicures. It’s going to be a hit.”
“I want to book an appointment! All your appointments, actually.”
Exhausted, and happy it’s time for bed, he climbs in and pulls me against him.
“Wait! Let me get naked too. Then we can do each other’s nails.”
I peel off his white shirt and throw it on the bedside chair.
“There.”
Tangling legs, I snuggle against his chest. A kiss brushes my head.
“How did Hunter do?”
“Great. He’s a good kid. He didn’t mess around. Got to the work.”
“It makes me happy to think he did his share.”
“He did. Definitely. You’re doing a good job with Dad. Thank you, Kim,” he says in soft tones.
“Have you noticed he is reading again? It just started a few days ago.”
“That’s a good sign. I was afraid he was going to stop everything that he took pleasure in.”
“I was thinking about another little tweak we could make.”
“What?”
“He needs a purpose. He and I are alike that way.”
I reach for my cell and bring up Holly’s last text.
“Look at this poor little thing.”
I turn the screen and watch him take in the picture.
“She was a stray. The clinic has been taking care of her for at least a month now. Getting her back to health as much as possible. Dominique and Holly think unethical breeders had her. After the last litter she was too old. So they must have dumped her.”
“I know all about what people do to animals. We had a dog fighting issue in the city. When I was young.”
“That’s so disturbing. See the scar on her face? Who knows what horrors she has gone through. Read what Holly says.”
He takes the phone and scrolls through the text. His expression changes from anger at the lack of compassionate owners to sadness for the beat down dog.
“She hides her face? That’s heartbreaking.”
“Holly says they haven’t made too much progress with that. The dog wants to be invisible. Do you think your dad could foster her?”
When he pauses, I go all in.
“You told me he loved fostering, right?”
“He did. But he needs fostering himself. That’s almost what you’re doing. I don’t know if he has it in him at this point. It might be too much responsibility. And the other two dogs, they might make this one more skittish.”
“I can’t stop picturing her face. She is lost in every sense of the word.
I think giving Ronnie a purpose would be so beneficial to him.
There’s all kinds of love bottled up and it needs somewhere to go.
As for the B Boys, I’m betting they will be an advantage.
The way through for the dog. Plus, what is Biscuit going to do when Barney is gone? ”
His eyes change with my question. Like he hadn’t thought of it before. I have. Biscuit and I are going to be lost. I would bet Barney and Landon might too.
“Oh. They named her Dolly.”
“I guess we can ask him. Wouldn’t hurt to mention it.”
“And we can tell him if it doesn’t work out, I will foster the dog when I’m done here. How’s that?”
His eyes look tired. Lids close. Open. Close.
“That’s good, babe.”
“Let’s go to sleep. You’re beat, sweetie.”
“Okay. I’ll get the light.”
Reaching over, he turns off the bedside lamp, and we snuggle back into the holy place. His hand glides over my back. Quiet seconds pass, and just when I am about to close my eyes, he speaks.
“Love you,” he says softly.
“I love you too, Landon.”
It is as natural as anything I have ever said before.
The wide bed becomes the sky, and it feels like we are clinging to a cloud. As she flies by, the Song Sparrow sings.