Chapter 34
“I was watching Remedy float in the pool with that damn turtle on her stomach. I see why you married her,” Ernie grunted. “A sight for these old eyes. Just all buttery brown and stacked up just like May. My God.”
“First of all, Ernie, I’m right here,” Remedy said with laughter. “And secondly, I don’t think Cherie is going to like the way you’re drooling over this big body in a bathing suit. Oh and I’m married now, my husband doesn’t like that.”
“Girl, your thieving ass nigga don’t mean shit to me.
I made him, remember. Everything he doing to you, I can do it better.
I’m the OG,” Ernie continued to talk his shit and make Remedy giggle as she buckled her seat belt and opened the center console in search of snacks.
Instead, she found her nursing school sweatshirt.
Erys got in the truck, looked at her and grinned. “My good luck charm and it smells like you, put it back. You got snacks in the glove box.”
Remedy shook her head and refolded the sweatshirt and put it back in its place, ignoring the guns he kept underneath it. Erys and his guns in hidden places around the house were normal to her. One thing she knew for sure, no one was ever going to catch him slipping.
“You hear your daddy talking shit to me?” She asked, grabbing her bag of trail mix and sitting back.
“I hear him. That’s all he can do,” Erys replied.
Ernie kissed his teeth. “Shit you say, nigga. My dick still works. Three blue pills and it’s up and stuck.”
Remedy scrunched her face and shook her head in laughter, “Poor girl.”
“That’s a dangerous game. You’re going to be dead before you can get one off,” Erys stated, pulling out the driveway. “Never mind, you’re probably shooting out dust and memories of way back when.”
“You got some nerve talkin’ when your wifey is carrying my baby,” Ernie teased, sticking his tongue out.
“You wish you knew what to do with her,” Erys shot back to his father’s teasing.
“I know what to do. Three blue pills and it’s up.” Ernie teased.
“Alright, you two. Enough dicking around. Where are we going?” Remedy asked, feet on the dash, eating her snacks and enjoying the comfort of not having to worry about how their world was moving because her man had it handled.
“Big Rod’s,” Erys shared.
“From lumpy oatmeal, egg whites and your lean protein to Big Rod’s and eating whatever I feed you, you’ve grown so much,” Remedy teased.
“Waking up to work out early helps,” he sounded off, laughing. “I’m not giving up your meals. I’ll just adjust.”
“Good because not eating what I’m feeding you is offensive.”
A devious smirk crossed his face. “You trying to feed me when you get back?”
“Depends on how long you have me out. I have an early call tomorrow,” Remedy replied.
After a forty-five minute drive, the trio was pulling up to what used to be the twin houses that housed Ernie and Remedy’s pain and bottled dreams. It was free of the overgrown yard, creaky steps, faded paint, and cloudy windows.
In their place was one house doubling the size the two houses were.
Wrap around porch, crystal clear windows, and crisp white paint livened up the corner.
“Oh my damn,” Ernie muttered, getting out of the car. “You really did it.”
Remedy climbed out of the truck with Erys’ help. Hand in hand, she traveled through the construction and stopped at the steps. She pulled in a shaky breath and dabbed a tear away. “This is so beautiful. Is it going to be a rental property or…”
“Nah,” Ernie blew, wiping his face. “This is May’s House. This is the redemption for all the pain I’ve caused. This is what she wanted.”
“I was up late one night with pop and he was telling me in detail of how much May did for him and all the girls he had. He said if he could afford to tear down those symbols of pain and build one house that served as a clinic to the women and children of Trae Way who couldn’t afford healthcare, he would,” Erys shared.
“Like you, May was a nurse too,” Ernie shared.
“Your grandfather was a muhfucka. Some big time doctor from the hospital that she was sleeping with. When she got pregnant with your father, he pinned a malpractice lawsuit on her. She lost her license but never stopped serving, never stopped loving and never stopped trying to make a difference. She came back home and met a good man who took care of her until he was murdered. Even in that pain she carried, she never stopped loving. You are so much like May. Her legacy deserves to be a beacon of hope.”
“So May’s House is for you. To design, to hire and staff and to serve,” Erys added to his father’s statement. “Whatever you need for it, you’ll get it.”
Remedy, overcome with emotion, dropped into a squat and let the tears fall from her eyes freely. Gratefulness. “I thought it was gone for good.”
Erys squatted down with her. “I couldn’t let it happen. Seeing how much it meant to you, I couldn’t just let them snatch it. This is where I found the turtle too. Figured it was a sign that I made the right decision.”
He wiped her face and pulled her back to her feet. Remedy wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself to melt into her safe space and feel it. Erys tilted her chin upward and placed an assuring kiss to her lips.
“I love the way you love me,” Remedy confessed. “Thank you. I don’t even have the words for this.”
“It’s a reflection of how good you are to me,” Erys muttered against her lips.
“Now what the hell I get for giving up my damn house to make you happy?” Ernie grumbled teasingly.
Remedy moved from Erys to Ernie, kissed his cheek and held him tenderly. “Thank you for loving me, Ernest. Really. You’ve taught me more than my own father did. And you protected me when there was no one to do it.”
Ernie held her close and kissed her cheek. “I love you, girl. And even when I can’t remember where the fuck I am, I’ll never forget that I love you. And you know if you and Erys don’t work out, you can always come home to Ernie, baby.”
“Aight, old man, that’s enough,” Erys spoke, breaking them up. “It’s blood in, blood out now. She can’t go nowhere. I will not be making your mistakes.”
“I would say that’s low but at least I know you’re wise and not repeating the bullshit I did,” Ernie said, walking up the stairs with the assistance of his cane.
Remedy knew that this clear moment he was having was a trick.
The disease was progressing, she could see it in his movements.
The sudden spark could make anyone battling this with a loved one think that it was regressing.
When it came to the cruelty of dementia, it played mind games with everyone involved.
Inside of the massive space, Erys gave them a tour, listened to Remedy’s vision and assured that everything she wanted would be. Fed and back home, Remedy laid on Erys, her hand caressing his chest and abs while the warmth and sunshine from the cabana served as a perfect backdrop.
The intimacy was the best part of her relationship with Erys. She could lay here safely and let her mind rest. Nothing needed to be said, gratitude and respect would forever be the backdrop of how they took care of one another.