“On lunch,” she grumbles.
Rose looks good today. Her hair and makeup are done like normal, and she’s in her clothes. Not her nightgown. The blinds are open, letting in the natural light, and the scent of the lemon cleaner fills the air. I’ll take that as a good sign. She looks to be on the up and up. A week ago, that was not the case.
Rose slowly limps over to her seat, and very cautiously lowers herself down. Wesley and I follow her in, and I follow suit, dropping myself down into my usual seat next to hers. Wesley takes up on the small love seat against the wall beside us, crossing his ankle over his knee.
The most uncomfortable silence I’ve ever felt blankets the room. I take my time adjusting myself in the recliner, brushing imaginary dust off of my pants, obviously procrastinating looking Rose in the eye.
“Well?” Rose questions.
I clear my throat, finally bite the bullet, and face Rose.
“Has… Tara talked to you lately?” I ask hesitantly.
“Do you mean, has Tara told me that your boss, the one you were supposed to be living with, came to the apartment looking for you?” she seethes.
“Y-yes. That’s what I mean.”
“Thenyes, she mentioned it,” Rose hisses, shaking her head.
“Rose, I’m so sorry I lied.”
“Where were you?” she demands.
“Huh?” I know what she’s asking, I’m just being difficult.
“If you weren’t with him.” She hikes her thumb over her shoulder at Wesley, still not looking at him. “Which I see you are now, then where were you?”
I don’t reply for a moment, working up the courage, then say, “I had somewhere to stay short-term, while I was looking for something more long-term.”
She doesn’t even respond to me, and whips her head over to Wesley. “Where was she?”
Wesley looks slightly uncomfortable, but he sits up straighter, readying himself to answer for me, when I finally speak up.
“Ugh, fine you old wench. I was at the motel. Happy?”
Rose faces me again. “Happy? No, you little shit, I’m nothappy. You lied to me, and were out there without a place to stay. I would’ve been fine without a goddamn nurse. We could have worked something out.” Her voice cracks at the end, and her eyes turn misty.
Shit, shit, shit.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Wesley lace his fingers together at the top of his head, and blow out an inaudible breath. I place my hand on top of Rose’s, and grip her fingers.
“I’m sorry that I lied. I am. But I am not sorry for forcing you to have the care you need. You either had to move in with your daughter or have a nurse. I know you’d rather croak here and now then be forced to move in with anyone. So I made it easy for you,” I say, and she glances away wiping at her eyes. “I took the hard decision away from you. I will not apologize for that, because your health is more important than where I live. I can’t lose you, Rose.”
Rose blows her nose into a tissue that mysteriously appeared from her boobs. “Well, I hate to break it to you kid, but you hitched your wagon to the wrong horse. I’m eighty-two for god’s sake. Of course you’ll lose me. With the stress you’ve given me, my days are already numbered,” she says exasperated.
I hear a snort, then look over and glare at Wesley who’s pressing his lips together, stifling his laughter.
“Whatever. I need you for as long as I can get you,” I say, and toss her hand back at her.
“Yeah, yeah,” Rose grumbles back.
There is a momentary pause, before I tentatively ask, “Are we okay?”
“I don’t know yet.” She turns back to Wesley. “You. Why are you here? Did you get her out of that shithole?” she asks.
Wesley raises his eyebrows at me as if to say “See?”
“Yes ma’am. She’s with me now.”
