“You back then?”
“No. Hopefully soon.” It all depended on how well my mom did this weekend. If she thrived on her scooter and if her dizziness subsided, maybe I could be home in a couple of weeks. That thought twisted my insides, and I tried to ignore it. Iwantedto be home in a couple of weeks. I wanted to get back to my life.
“I didn’t realize you were taking care of your mom. You didn’t say.”
“That’s because I’m a super private shit,” I said.
“Your words, not mine,” he returned.
I helped Mac with the rest of the boxes, and as he was about to leave, I said, “Oh, I have our contract for you. Let me get it.”
I retrieved it from the office and handed it over.
“I was wondering if I was ever going to get this back.”
“Our year mark was only last week,” I said.
“But I gave that to Raya three weeks ago.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No problem.”
He left and I pulled out my phone. At first, I was going to call Raya, ask her if there were other things that she’d forgotten about but realized my whole point in taking over delivery this morning was so she could sleep in. Plus, she’d had a lot on her plate. I was sure she’d remembered the most important things. Instead of calling her, I spent some time unloading boxes and cleaning areas we never got to, like the supply closet. Things that might help her after I left.
When I was done, I realized a couple of hours had passed. Chef would be in soon, and I needed to get home to change. I headed for my car and dialed my mom while I did.
“I’m fine,” was how she answered. “Lucy said she doesn’t even need to be here.”
“I didn’t say that,” I heard Lucy call out.
“How did yesterday go?”
“Tara took me on a walk. How come you haven’t taken me on a walk in seven weeks?”
“I have asked you a dozen times to go on a walk. You always say no.”
“I don’t remember that.”
Did she think I was lying? “But I take you to doctors’ appointments where we walk.”
“I don’t like doctors’ appointments,” she said.
That makes two of us, I thought, but kept to myself. “Did you like those cupcakes I sent you last Christmas? I could pick you up some more to bring home tomorrow.”
“No thanks,” she said. “I’m supposed to watch what I eat. Tara made me healthy granola bites.”
“Sounds delicious,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I turned the handle and shoved open the door with my shoulder, my hands full of bags from the grocery store. If Elijah was stuck at my house today and tomorrow, I figured I’d better feed him.
“I’m sorry,” I said, seeing Elijah sitting on the couch, his notebook on his knees.
“Your hair.”
I pushed the door shut with my butt. “I know, it’s insane.”
“No, it’s big, but not insane. I dig it.”
