“I’m gonna hook my other arm under your knees. You’ll let me know if it hurts?”
I only nod because I can’t speak with this man so close. I’ve got to get a picture of him to send to Mom and Mai.
He gingerly lifts me. It hurts a bit at first, but once I’m settled in his arms, I feel fine.
“Not too heavy,” Malcolm says. “Just right.”
Butterflies fill my stomach as we head to the narrow staircase where he has to turn me slightly to make it through. The trip up is painless, except that now I know exactly what he smells like. Clean and fresh, with a hint of peppermint. Unfortunately, he likely now knows what I smell like. Probably antiseptic, and chicken broth, with a hint of body fluids.
I’m going to have to try to shower tonight.
He sets me down outside the bathroom door.
“Thank you.”
“Just call for me when you’re ready to come down.”
“Okay.”
I do not, in fact, call him when I’m ready to go back down. I decide to test scooting down the stairs and find that with gravity on my side it’s not bad at all.
He comes into view when I’m halfway down and gives me a look. “What are you doing coming downstairs on your bahookie?”
I pause and can’t help my huge grin at him. “On my what?”
“Your bahookie. Your backside.”
My smile widens. “You helped me up, and gravity’s helping me down.”
“As long asgravitydoesn’t overdo his job.”
I smile and take another slow scoot down. “So gravity’s a man?
“Gravity’s too cruel to people to be a woman, don’t you think?”
I laugh and continue downward. “Gravity also keeps us all on the earth.”
“True.” He chuckles. “How about we watch half an hour more, then have a wee walk around the garden?”
12
Malcolm
Iforgotaboutmymam coming by until there was a knock on the door.
“That’ll be my mam. I forgot to tell you. I asked her about gluten-free foods because her good friend is gluten-free, and she insisted on bringing soup tonight.”
Makenna’s responding smile is so beautiful. “That was so thoughtful of you to ask, and of her to want to come with soup.”
“Ah, she loves taking care of people. She’s a nurse like your mam. I didny think to mention—”
There’s another knock.
I smile at Makenna and go open the door.
“Hey, Mam.” I lean in and kiss her cheek, then step back andmotion toward Makenna on the couch. “This is Makenna.”
Makenna starts to stand, but Mam waves her down. “No, no. Don’t stand. I’ll come sit.” She hands me her big ceramic pot. “Set this on medium and we’ll be ready to eat soon.”
