“My mother was working three dead-end jobs,” Erys shared.
That irritated Ernie, because there was nothing more he wanted than to take care of them. It showed in his eyes. She wouldn’t allow him to do it. Erys remembered her threatening him with court every time he attempted to come around and be a father.
“Her stubborn ass could’ve asked me for help. I’ve been trying. I’ve been fuckin’ trying,” Ernie grumbled. “She don’t want shit from me. What can I do?”
The question didn’t need an answer, Ernie stood to his feet and started inside. From his spot by the door, Ernie shuffled inside and handed Remedy the remainder of the trail mix.
“Eat something,” he muttered. “I got to piss.”
Remedy took the bag and kept a close eye on him as he shuffled away. Erys’ question came out before he could tell himself to leave her alone.
“He has Alzheimer's?" Erys’ questioned.
She nodded. “Some form of it. I can’t say which, I’m no medical professional.”
Erys’ eyes dropped down to the sweatshirt covering her ample breasts. He felt her intense glare. “Shirt says different.”
“Past life. What I do know is that he needs a full work up. He refuses to go to the doctor, he has no insurance and while I’m graciously covering the bills I know about, I can’t front a doctor’s bill,” she shared honestly. “Don’t you have some military benefits or something that can help him.”
“He’d have to be my dependent.”
“He’s your father. I don’t know the in’s and out’s of you two and I really don’t care to know. But he needs more help than I can give him. Unfortunately, my best just isn’t enough.” There was defeat in her voice but strength in her eyes.
“Why you doing all this for him?” Erys quizzed.
“Because when my granny was sick, he looked out for her. When I moved in after she died, he looked out for me. Yourfather is my only friend. And this is what friends do. They take care of each other,” Remedy replied, turning her eyes to the task of folding.
“You don’t have any family?” Erys continued his line of questioning.
“And that’s where I stop you from getting up in my business. Since you insisted on crashing our day, those bags are folded. We’re going to the diner and the movies after this, I’m only paying for him. You’re on your own,” she stated, dropping a stack of clothes in a bag and roaming away to a nearby dryer.
He found himself watching her switch away, the bag of trail mix Ernie handed her earlier, still in her hand. Minutes later, Ernie drifted out of the bathroom, a wet stain on the front of his shiny pants. Erys started to approach him but Remedy blocked him.
“Don’t call him out, just redirect. And since neither of us like you, I got this one,” she commented, grabbing a set of clothes she placed to the side and her bag.
Erys found use with himself and finished folding the pile of clothes, bagged them, and carried them back out to his truck. When he trekked back inside, his father and Remedy were walking out of the bathroom in another outfit, just as flashy as the first.
“Rem, hand that to my thieving ass son. He can pay his dues,” Ernie spoke, gliding past Erys. “Meet us across the street when you’re done.”
Remedy watched Ernie walk to the door and shooed Erys off. “Help him across the street, his sense of direction is that of a six year old.”
Erys wasn’t going to do the back and forth with her because every passing moment he spent trying to figure her out, his father was gallivanting deeper through the parking lot trying tofigure out what way to go. Jogging toward his wayward father, he reached out for him.
“The diner is this way,” Erys stated.
“I know where the gotdamn diner is, nigga. I met your momma there,” Ernie huffed, snatching away. “Where is Remedy?”
“She’s coming,” Erys stated, staying close to him.
“Uh huh. What you around me for?” Ernie asked, barely stopping for a passing car. “You said I wasn’t shit to you and now you here, ‘causing all this ruckus.”
“Man you need to watch where you stepping,” Erys fussed.
“Man, these niggas know who the fuck I am.”
“Yeah, Sweet Lick Ernie,” Erys grumbled. “Yeah I know. I heard it all my damn life.”
“Hear it some more then,” Ernie huffed. “No one else got a problem with who the fuck I am but you!”
