“You wanna try it alone today? Or do you want me to help?” I asked.
Mom was walking around a bit. Depending on her energy levels, she could get herself in and out of her chair, to the bathroom, around the apartment, even stand at the kitchen counter for awhile. She was also doing a lot better at getting herself dressed, which was exhausting one-handed. The PT and OT told her she’d get used to it, get stronger, and it would eventual y be a walk in the park (literal y). Even though progress was slow, it was happening.
Mornings were good. Evenings were not so good. Ada came over at night to watch TV with Mom because Ada wanted the company but also to be close to Mom in case something happened. Ada was too old to do transfers or pick Mom up if she fel , but she could make a phone cal or go down the hal to one of the more able-bodied neighbors.
“I’m gonna try it alone,” Mom told me, ever the trooper.
“Okeydoke.” I said, pul ing the door to but keeping it slightly ajar so she could have privacy but I could hear if she cal ed. I turned away, my hands going back to holding up my hair, my eyes to the floor. I walked a step and then stopped dead.
I saw two bare feet, their heels and ankles covered with the hems of some faded jeans. My eyes traveled up the jeans, hit a set of wel -defined abdominal muscles covered in luscious olive skin. The abs gave way to a very nice chest and shoulders and on top of it al was Eddie’s head, complete with sexy-sleepy eyes and messy hair.
I froze and stared.
I total y forgot about Eddie.
“Where’s your bathroom?” he asked, his voice slightly gruff from sleep.
I didn’t have the capacity to speak, so I just took one of my hands from my hair and pointed at a door.
He walked the three steps to me, stopped, put his hand to my jaw and brushed his lips against mine. A thril of electricity tore through my body, rooting me to the spot and then he walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
I stood there a second, then whirled and ran to Mom’s bedroom, suddenly ful of energy. I threw her door open and charged in, then closed it behind me.
Mom had the light on and was sitting on the side of the bed. Her head shot around and she looked at me, her eyes bright and wide-awake. “Was that a man’s voice I heard?” she asked.
I didn’t answer.
What could I say? I was in a tizzy.
I ran to her bathroom, throwing on the light and staring at myself in the mirror. Thank God, I didn’t look a fright. Face free of makeup and I didn’t have a bedhead. In fact, Trixie’s new ‘do seemed the ultimate, it looked good al the time, even after I’d slept on it.
When I turned around, Mom was standing, leaning against the doorjamb to the bathroom. “What’s happening?” she asked.
“I forgot to tel you, Eddie’s here,” I said.
Her eyes got wide.
“You brought a man home last night?” she asked.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It isn’t what you—”
“That’s great!” she cried.
I closed my eyes.
My mother.
I opened my eyes.
“Mom, it isn’t what you think. It’s a long story, I’l tel you later.”
“You have a lot of long stories lately, none, incidental y, that you’ve actual y told me.”
I didn’t have time for this. It was morning and Eddie was there.
“Mom,” I whined, sounding like a six year old, “Eddie’s here!”
Mom looked at me for a second, nodded and turned, al business. “Right. I need to use the bathroom then you can help me get my bra on and I’l get dressed.” We took care of Mom first and I left her to the dressing bit. I used her bathroom and her face soap and tore her brush through my hair. I stared at myself in her mirror. I was wearing the LA Dodgers nightshirt that my sister sent me. It was huge and shapeless and came down to about mid-thigh. Eddie had already seen me in it, which wasn’t exactly devastating but I wished I’d been wearing some cute, girlie pajamas or a nightie.
I didn’t know what to do, if I got al dol ed up before appearing in the common areas of the apartment, I’d look like I was trying too hard. But the Dodgers nightshirt lacked panache.
Who was I kidding? It was me who lacked panache. I’d just have to go with it.
By the time I was out of her bathroom, Mom was no longer in her room so I went into the hal way and the main bathroom door was open. I ducked in quickly, brushed my teeth and came out, hearing voices coming from the kitchen.
I took a calming breath, squared my shoulders and forged ahead.
I walked in the kitchen, trying to look cool and casual, as if I had guys over al the time and didn’t feel like an idiot in my Dodgers nightshirt.
Eddie was sitting at the table. He’d topped the jeans with a tight, red t-shirt and had a mug of coffee in front of him. He looked up at me when I walked in, his eyes moved the length of me and I could see the dimple come out. I didn’t know what to make of that but decided to consider it a good thing.