“She didn’t ask you to do it.” Sloan looked away, but Matty shifted into her line of sight. “You carry things before they’ve even been handed to you. Maybe not all of it has to be yours.”
“You make it all sound so easy.”
“Maybe some of it is.” Matty smiled and folded the wheelchair. “So, big question… The scooter doesn’t fit in your car. Do you want me to walk back with her while you take the wheelchair, or…”
“Or?” Sloan frowned.
Matty shrugged. “Let her go home by herself, and we follow behind in the car without making a thing of it.”
“You mean stalk my mother?”
“That’s one way to put it.” Matty laughed. “I think it gives her a chance to enjoy a bit of independence…to work out what feels manageable and what doesn’t.”
“How do you mean?”
“She’s used to someone always being there, whether she liked it or not, which means the responsibility’s always been theirs, not hers. Maybe if she gets a bit of freedom, she’ll either rise to it, or understand why you keep pushing her to embrace the help.”
Sloan huffed, but then she turned and walked across to Gloria, who was getting herself comfortable on the scooter again.
“They do a rain tent for it,” she said brightly.
“Do they?” Sloan gave her a tight, unconvincing smile. “So, we are going to take the wheelchair back to the car. Are you done for the day?”
Gloria stared at her. “I am a bit tired,” she admitted.
“Okay, so shall we all head home?”
“I guess so,” Gloria acquiesced.
“Right, and you know the way?” Sloan asked.
Gloria’s stare widened. “Home? By myself?”
“Yes,” Sloan answered. “This doesn’t fit into the car, and I will have to put the wheelchair into the boot.”
“Matty isn’t going to skate with me?”
“She doesn’t have her skates. She can walk beside you, but you’ll have to go at her speed. No zooming off.”
Gloria thought about it. “No, I think…I can do it by myself. You and Matty can take the car.”
“Are you sure?” Sloan checked.
“I said so, didn’t I?” She turned the key and the scooter came to life. “It’s not that far. Gerry, how many miles beforeI need charging?”
Gerry grinned at them. “This model can do up to forty-five miles, but I’d suggest maybe recharging at thirty-five just to be on the safe side.”
“Right, well, it’s less than five miles home, so you should be fine,” Sloan said. “I thought we’d go out tonight for dinner.”
“Out?”
“Yes, Mother. To a restaurant. Unless you’d prefer to stay in.”
“No, I wouldnotprefer to stay in,” Gloria answered. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“You have a wardrobe full of things to wear, and it’s not a fancy restaurant. Just somewhere nice, to thank Matty for putting up with you all week.”
Gloria smirked. “Bribing her to sleep with you and using your old, disabled mother as cover. Bit elaborate, if you ask me, but I admire the commitment.”
