“Oh, dear, I wouldn’t bother you but since you’ve been so nice to Chaz, I thought you might be the best person to impose upon.” No! She wanted a favor? Hopefully, it involved little more than running to the store for her again.
“My husband’s mother has suffered a stroke. We just got the call this morning, and we’re going to have to drive up to Denver today. Bob’s brother says she’s stabilized but at her age… well, as much as I hate leaving Chaz right now, we really need to get up there.”
“Oh, of course!” Penny made a sympathetic face. “She’s all right though?”
Mrs. Wright clucked her tongue. “For now. But I don’t want Bob driving alone. He has a tendency to nod off sometimes… scares the hell out of me.”
Penny thought she could possibly like this woman.
“I can imagine.”
“Would it be too much trouble for you to check in on Chaz? He’s mending and all but still pretty helpless when it comes to certain things. I’d feel so much better if I knew there was help nearby if he needed it. If I had more time, I know one of his old girlfriends from high school would come watch over him but we need to get on the road.”
Penny had little doubt Mrs. Wright was not exaggerating. She was surprised, in fact, that he didn’t already have a squad of ex-cheerleaders lining up to care for him; bringing him meals, keeping him company… giving him sponge baths.
But would Penny mind looking after him?
Penny certainly didn’t mind looking at him.
“That’s no trouble.” Her ears buzzed. It would mean she would see more of him. And not while hiding behind the blinds. “I work at home, so I don’t have to be anywhere.”
“Oh, wonderful, wonderful! Maybe you could come over after you’ve had your coffee and give Chaz your phone number? He can program it into his cellular, and if he has any problems, he could call you.”
“Hold on just a minute. I’ll be right back.” Penny jogged back to the kitchen and grabbed her phone. When she came back outside, Mrs. Wright was still there. “Let me have your number, so I can let you know if anything comes up. And you can have my number, too.”
After putting Mrs. Wright’s info into her contacts, she called the number and then helped her set it up as a contact in her own.
“Oh, thank you so much, Penny! You don’t know how much better this makes me feel.” Chaz’s mother was obviously relieved. “I’ll tell Chaz you’ll be coming by later. Again, I’m so sorry to bother you with this…”
“No problem,” Penny insisted. Wow, it seemed she really was going to be rejoining civilization. “Have a good trip! And don’t worry about anything here.” She waved as Mrs. Wright walked away before shutting the door.
Coffee.
She was going to need at least three cups this morning.
And then maybe do something with her hair. Put on a little makeup.
Deodorant. Definitely deodorant.
Later, stepping into the shower, she decided she’d even shave her legs.
Why? She didn’t want to admit it to herself, but as she glided the blade up her thigh, two words repeated themselves in her mind.
Bad Penny.
Bad, bad Penny.
An hour later,Penny left her personal refuge and stepped up to the Wrights’ front door. The house felt quiet, with all the curtains pulled shut and no TV or music playing.
She knocked softly, at first, and upon receiving no answer, rapped harder.
Still, no answer.
What if he’d fallen? Or had a bad reaction to his medicine? Had she already failed Mrs. Wright by allowing something tragic to befall the local hero?
Don’t be silly, Penny.
But she needed to check on him. She’d promised.
