Perfectly Adequate(76)
“Oh my gosh, Eli! W-what an unexpected surprise. Dorothy didn’t say you were coming. She’s not even home from work yet. Come in. Do you need some help? Hi, Lori. So nice to see you again.”
“It’s so nice to see you too. Sorry for the unexpected disruption.”
“It’s no problem. Have a seat wherever you’ll be most comfortable. Actually the most comfortable chair is in Dorothy’s game room, but there’s only one.”
“Perfect.” I work my way to the game room and her expensive reclining chair with all the bells and whistles.
“Oh … okay. Can I get either of you something to drink while you wait?”
“I’m not staying.” Mom wrinkles her nose while depositing my overnight bag just inside the door to the game room as I ease into the soft fabric, letting my crutches drop to the floor on either side of the chair.
“Oh.” Kellie narrows her eyes at my bag before shifting her attention to my mom and then to me.
“Dorothy hasn’t been able to make time to come see me, so I thought I’d surprise her. But since it’s late, and I can’t drive, I brought a bag. I’ll figure out how to get home tomorrow. Hope this is okay.” I smile.
Kellie grins as if my intentions are quite clear. She most likely knows enough about the previous weeks to know that Dorothy simply isn’t ready to see me. “Sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”
Yeah, she knows.
“Great.” Mom clasps her hands next to her chest. “Looks like you’re good, Eli. So … I’ll head home.”
“He’s in good hands.” Kellie winks at my mom and walks her to the door.
They murmur a few more things to each other, but I can’t make out the words. After the door shuts, Kellie brings me some water and a bag of microwave popcorn.
“Dorothy really misses Roman.” She hands me the popcorn and stands next to the chair, tightening the sash on her robe.
“He adores her. She’s his superhero. I’m sure he would love to show her his Flash costume that my mom and Julie bought him for Halloween. He’s going to have it worn out before he gets a chance to go out trick or treating in it.”
Kellie laughs. “Oh Dorothy would love to see it.”
“Kellie, I’m … I’m sorry. I feel like I’m failing Dorothy at the moment because I’m injured and dealing with my ex-wife living with me again and my family always around helping me. I just …”
“Dorothy thinks you belong with Dr. Hathaway.” She blurts the words out so quickly, it takes me a few seconds to process them. “I want to believe that she’ll tell you that to your face, but it might come out as a different version. However, those were the words she said to me. And it’s not because she doesn’t like you. She does … so much so. But … you need to know where her head is right now, and I fear she won’t be able to adequately articulate her thoughts. You see, her grandfather cheated on her grandmother many years ago. Not just cheated, he fell in love with another woman. My brother was three at the time—Roman’s age. I hadn’t even been conceived. My father left his new love to go back to his family. My mother took him back. Had she not taken him back, I wouldn’t be here, therefore Dorothy wouldn’t be here. She knows the story. It’s been retold to her many times.”
After careful thought, I return an easy nod and a tiny smile. What can I say? Maybe nothing. Maybe the right words don’t exist. “Thank you for telling me that.”
She smiles. “Thank you for loving my daughter.”
Outwardly, I keep a soft smile. Inside? It feels like a jagged piece of metal being shoved into my heart.
“Yell if you need anything. I’ll be going to bed soon, but I’m a light sleeper. And Dorothy should be home soon too.”
“Thank you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Fuck the Truth
Dorothy
Yes!
Barbecue jackfruit sandwich and apple pie leftovers in the fridge. It’s enough to keep me from taking a walk. With it getting darker earlier, I find it less appealing to take walks on the nights I get home close to nine from the hospital.
After throwing the leftovers on a plate, grabbing a fork, and a glass of water, I make my way to my game room.
“What the fuck?” I flip on the light to the room, seeing a figure in my chair.
“Hello to you too.” Eli pushes the button on the side of the chair, bringing it to an upright position. Then he shuts off the TV before I can register what he’s watching.
“What are you doing here?”
He grins. “I’m here to see you. Is that apple pie?”
I glance at my plate. “Yes.”
“I love apple pie.”
“So?”
Eli chuckles. “So get your ass over here and share some with me.”
“It’s only one piece.”
“Hence the word share.”
My nose wrinkles.
“I won’t go down on you until after we share the pie.” He winks.
I squeeze my legs together.
“I’m joking. Do I look sexually active yet?” He gestures to his cast.
“How’s Romeo?” I sit on the arm of the chair, with my plate on my lap.