Once Nan eats treats from the gift basket that was by her door when we returned, she falls fast asleep. I slink out of the room and into the hallway and run straight into Dr. Hope and her entourage of nurses.
“Kenneth!” she shouts. “How’s our rock star doing today?”
“She’s thrilled to be off bed rest. Thanks for letting her get out and walk. Any clue when she’ll be able to go home?”
The doctor shakes her head. “It’s too soon to tell. She’s been here for eight months, and the average time patients stay here is around two years. We must be—”
“Cautious. Yeah.” I hate thatword.
She pats my arm. “It’s nice to see you. She loves having you here.”
The group glides past me, and I can’t help but ask the question I ask every week. “Did my parents come by?”
Her thin lips purse. “No. Billie Owens came by on Wednesday at her usual time, but I didn’t see your parents.”
Guilt gnaws at my insides. Nan should be with me. I’ve offered multiple times to live at Lake Anita with her, but she pushed me to Clear Lake for college and swimming, opting to live with my parents for two years. I’m glad she’s here now. Eberly Assisted Living is safe, and Nan’s happy, which is the most important thing to me.
“Thanks, Dr. Hope. Call me anytime. I can be here in thirty minutes.”
After checking on Nan again, I make my way outside, desperate for a distraction. As if on cue, my phone chimes. The ominous, yet bubbly tone alerts me to the sender before I pull it from my pocket.
Edwards Schmedwards
Are you free tomorrow to start?
I stare at the screen. With the way she ran away from me on Tuesday and ignored me in class on Thursday, I thought she would find a way out of this partnership.
Me
Not going to drop the class after all? Color me shocked.
She doesn’t respond as quickly, and a pang of something I interpret as regret hits my chest. Then three dots appear on the screen.
Edwards Schmedwards
Mama didn’t raise no bitch.
Me
Must you beso vulgar all the time?
Edwards Schmedwards
What you call vulgar, I call tasteful.
Edwards Schmedwards
So tomorrow? We both know you have nothing to do, so just say yes. The quicker we start, the quicker we’re done.
Me
For being rude, I get to pick where we meet. Tomorrow at Claude’s Cafe. 10am. Don’t be late.
I send off another message before she can respond.
Me
Again…
