“No. Because it will always come back to me to fix whatever carnage she creates,” Sloan continued, not hearing the full meaning of what Matty had said.
“I think she does that because she’s feeling out of control, too.” Matty shrugged. “Maybe you have more in common with each other than you think.”
“Maybe it’s not your place to psychoanalyse me,” Sloan said curtly, and walked off.
Matty followed her and tried not to huff as she caught up. “Maybe not. Still doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
Sloan reached out for her hand as she walked. “No, it doesn’t mean you are wrong.”
***
“Is there a problem?” the sales assistant asked as Gloria drove back into the store barely ten minutes after she’d left it.
“Yes, Gerry. I need one of these yesterday.” Gloria grinned at him. “Can we make that happen?”
Gerry grinned back. “You liked it, huh? I had a feeling you would.” He picked up a clipboard and started scanning. “This model I can get in for you by the end of the week.”
“No quicker? Not even with a bribe?” Gloria said, winking at Gerry.
“’Fraid not, but you can hire this one for the week until yours arrives. I could give you a nice discount on it.”
When Sloan and Matty caught up and entered the shop, Gerry looked up and smiled. “Be with you in a moment.”
Gloria looked round. “Don’t worry, they’re with me—the fun police.”
“Oh.” His smile slipped.
“Gloria, that’s a really unkind thing to say,” Matty admonished.
The older woman turned and looked at them. Her daughter stood rigid, eyes glistening, but Matty frowned at her. “Sorry,” she said, then turned back to the assistant. “They mean well, and I should appreciate that more.”
He smiled awkwardly. “Indeed.” He clasped his hands together. “Shall we take a seat? And I can go through some things with you?”
The empty wheelchair was to Gloria’s right, her cane resting against it. Sloan moved towards it, but Matty put her hand out to stop her.
“She can do it,” she whispered. “And if she can’t, she’ll ask for your help. Or she’ll work out her limits soon enough.”
“Another six hours in A&E isn’t my idea of a great weekend, Matty,” Sloan said, but she didn’t move forward. Instead, they stood side by side and watched as Gloria shuffled around. The mobility scooter seat twisted when she unlocked it, making it easier for her to place both feet onto the ground. She heaved herself upright, wobbled, but gained her balance with a satisfied smirk on her face.
“See?” Matty nudged her lightly. “She’s not as helpless as you think she is.”
“I’ll suspend judgement for now,” Sloan muttered. “But if she falls, you will be hearing a great manyI told-you-so’s.”
Matty grinned when Sloan’s fingers slid against hers again, lacing through, reassuring in a small, gentle gesture that meant a lot to Matty.
With her cane now in hand, Gloria shuffled off after the young man.
“I might take her to the gym,” Matty said as they followed behind. “Help build her strength up a bit.”
“Perhaps start with dumbbells at home.”
***
There had been a dozen or so questions from Sloan. “Would the scooter fit into her car?” and “How easy was it to get repaired?”
Eventually, Gloria had arranged everything to her liking—delivery, a cover for when it was parked outside, and already forming a plan for some kind of small shed.
“As if I haven’t got enough to do,” Sloan said under her breath to Matty.
