“What the fuck is the situation?” he asked, forehead creased.
“Your father. He roamed out of his room and when one of our staff members tried to redirect him, he got violent. Beating them with a cane and telling them, “I’ll leave yo ass stankin’”. We won’t press charges on him, but you need to come pick him up immediately. We will give you a full refund as well.”
Erys vigorously rubbed his eyebrow. “Aight. We’re on the way.”
He hung up and looked at Remedy who’d already taken her heels off and was pulling her sweats over her legs. “We got to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you. Thanks but no thanks,” she quipped.
“It’s Ernie. The home kicked him out,” Erys blew.
“Didn’t I tell your ass they weren’t equipped to handle him? Didn’t I tell you? Why didn’t you lead with that?” Remedy shot back, hurrying up. Erys grabbed her bag and trailed her out the club, directing her to his truck.
“I can drive myself,” she semi-protested.
“You should be the last person on the road,” he stated, opening the passenger side door. Within seconds they were speeding toward the nursing home to retrieve Ernie.
“How are we going to do this?” Erys asked. “I can’t do it without you and I was ignorant to believe I could.”
Remedy sighed. “I don’t know. I know his house is falling apart and I might not have a house by next week.”
“Y’all will stay with me.”
“W-what?” Remedy asked. “No.”
“Yes,” he answered. “It’s big and you don’t have to worry about sacrificing so he can thrive. I got him insurance so at some point, there’ll be an aide and-”
“I’ll be back on my ass. Okay, I’ll figure it out,” she muttered, cutting him off.
“No, you’ll stay. Where he goes, you go; where you go, he goes. I can clearly see he doesn’t do well without you so this is just what we’re going to have to do until we can’t,” he shared his plan. “There’s enough space for us not to be on each other’s nerves.”
A weary look flashed across her face.
“This is for Ernie. When he goes, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. I’m a man of my word, Remedy, I won’t leave you out on your ass,” he finalized.
“You got this all worked out. This is for Ernie. Whatever he needs. Even if that means being in a house with you,” she rebutted.
“Even if I gotta be subjected to the smart ass mouth. It’s for Ernie.” Erys held his fist out for a bump.
“Don’t get carried away, Franklin. I don’t like you.”
Erys stroked the short hairs of his goatee to temper the smile threatening to form over his lips. “Heard.”
They didn’t even have him waiting in the lobby for them to arrive. Ernie was outside on a bench, holding his weapon of choice across his lap and his face still held a scowl. Remedy hopped out before the truck could come to a full stop.
“Ernie, you okay?” she asked, checking him.
“I was looking for you and the muhfucka stopped me so I beat his ass. Telling me you not real, Cherie. I know you’re real. They fucking with me. I told you I didn’t want to be in this place,” he shared, cutting his eyes at her. “Why you leave me here?”
“I’m sorry. Do you want to go home?” Remedy soothed him.
“Yes. Don’t leave me again,” he stated, as he placed his cane in the correct position.
“I won’t leave you again,” she assured, squatting down. “Would you mind if we stay at Erys’ until the house gets finished?”
Ernie’s eyes lit up. “You saw it.”
“I did. You let it fall apart, Ernie,” she crooned.
