“Oh good, you’re all here. We’re going to send Nettie home today.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Deborah’s smile couldn’t have been brighter.
“She’ll have some help coming by and therapy, but basically, she should be fine carrying on her normal everyday activities. It’s much healthier for patients, especially the elderly, to be in an environment they are most comfortable with. I’ll examine her now and get her paperwork started.”
The doctor walked away, and Deborah hugged Roe. “I’m so happy. Everything will be good now. I’m going to have a big celebration dinner for her.” She turned to me. “Would you like to come, Ezra? I don’t know what we’d have done without your help.”
“I didn’t do anything—”
Roe cut me off before I could continue. “Mom, I’m sure Ezra has much more important things to do, especially since he’s taken off so much time to babysit me. I even got a Katz’s pastrami sandwich out of it and brought the leftovers home.” He held up his lunch bag.
“Oh, yum. I haven’t had one in years.”
“Anyway,” Roe continued, “I think the dinner would be great. I can ask Carmen and Amy to come by, and maybe seeing them would jump-start Grandma to the present.” For the first time, Roe focused on me. “I’m sorry, Ezra, but maybe it isn’t a good idea for you to come. Seeing you makes her think about the past. Give it a few days, and if she’s responding well, then it should be okay for you to visit her.”
His smile could’ve been for a stranger in the elevator, it was that impersonal and dismissive. He and Deborah continued their discussion, making plans for Nettie’s return, and I didn’t think they even noticed when I walked out of the room.
* * *
“You’re a dope.”
This comforting commentary brought to you by my best friend, Ross Miller.
After leaving the hospital, I returned to the office and threw myself into whatever I had sitting on my desk. At five o’clock, head spinning, I massaged the nape of my neck and groaned in frustration. This was bullshit. I needed to speak to someone. When I called Ross, he dropped everything to talk to me.
“Thanks. It’s nice to know if I need advice and comfort, I can always turn to you.” I took a cup of coffee from Arden. “I give you credit. Creditanda medal for putting up with him.”
“He has his moments. I like to think of Ross as an after-dinner drink. Something in small doses that should be savored.”
My best friend’s eyes twinkled. “I’m not sure if I should be insulted or flattered, but since you love me, I’ll choose the latter.”
“Always,” Arden said, leaning over to kiss him.
I heaved out a sigh. “I’m not a dope. I was dismissed. Roe said seeing me upset Nettie, so I should stay away.”
“Fine. So stay away from her. Not him. It’s obvious he’s pushing you away because he’s afraid. He was looking for an excuse not to see you, and this is the perfect one.” Ross’s eyes sparkled. “Don’t let him get away with it.”
The opportunity to tell Roe my idea had been deep-sixed by the good news about Nettie’s release. When I laid out my plan to Ross and Arden, they both stared at me, mouths open.
“You think it’s wrong. I’m stupid, I know.”
“Oh, honey, no. I think it’s brilliant.” Ross hugged me. “I just didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Desperate times and all that,” I said weakly. God, I felt like an idiot.
“How do you think Roe will respond?” Arden asked, not without sympathy.
I shrugged. “He might tell me to go to hell and get out.”
Arden’s brow puckered. “Do you think so? From how you described him, he seems pretty rational.”
Ross nudged him. “Rationalisn’t a word to use when you’re in love.”
I scowled. “Roe isn’t in love with me.”
Ross fell back on the couch, howling with laughter. “Okay. I called it right earlier. Youarea dope.”
“Remind me again why we’re friends?” I asked dryly, unable to see what he found so amusing about my life lying in pieces around me. I waited for the grinning fool to collect himself.
