Prairie heard the unmistakable choke in Dot’s voice.
“No, yeah, she’s… she’s good. Really good, Dot. Surprisingly, actually,” Prairie said with sincerity. “The first couple of days were kinda dicey—as you can imagine—but, she just… she’s really strong. Stronger than I realized. She kinda surprised me.”
Dot exhaled heavily. “Well, thank you, Lord.” Dot shook her head, thinking about Em and how scared she must have been. “I think, if your roommates agree, and Em agrees, it’ll be the best thing for her. The hospital’s not always the best place to get better—especially with perverts running loose.”
“Well, they caught him, but…
“She’ll do better, I’m sure.”
“I so agree.” Prairie was relieved Dot saw the situation the way she did.
“Well, okay.” Dot hated to hang up, but she knew Prairie had work to do, as did she. “I better let you go. Thank you for taking my call, Prairie, and taking such good care of Em. You… are very special. I hope I didn’t take you from anything important.”
“No, no, and thanks, I… it’s a pleasure working with Em. Really.”
“That’s a relief. Well, anyway, it was great to finally talk. And thank you for letting me know about, y’know…” Dot cleared her throat. “Please let Em know I’ll call her sometime Thursday to wish her a happy Thanksgiving, all right? Take care. I’ll see you both in about a month.”
“Good-bye, Dot. Thanks for calling, and I will—I’ll pass the word on to Em.”
“‘Bye-‘bye, Prairie. Take care now.”
For several minutes Prairie sat without moving, just thinking. Her head was filled with too much confusion. She picked up a black pen from her desktop and began to doodle on her yellow-lined pad.
10.4—Mystery
“Prairie?”
Prairie looked up from her doodling to see one of her therapists, Melissa, standing at the doorway. “Yes, Missy?”
“I’m going to take a coffee break.”
“Sure, fine, Miss.” Distracted, Prairie continued to doodle on the yellow lined paper.
Melissa was somewhat taken aback by Prairie’s strange, detached mood. Prairie was normally upbeat and energetic, but at the moment, she was subdued and her lack of energy was almost palpable.
“Um, and uh, Jim’s done with Mr. Jacobs’ ROM exercises, and then they did a little bit of walking. Is there anything else you wanted him to do before he releases Mr. Jacobs back to his room?”
“Huh?” Prairie’s response was delayed by a few seconds. “Oh, no, no… yeah, schedule an appointment for tomorrow, same time if possible, and then go ahead and get a volunteer to take Mr. Jacobs back to his room. Thanks, Miss.” Again, Prairie returned to the elaborate design that now nearly filled the entire sheet, retreating back into her own rumination.
“Okay then.” Melissa quietly backed out of Prairie’s office, puzzled.
The call with Dot Baverstock, Em’s Base Commander from Goodfellow AFB, left Prairie somewhat troubled and confused. The Colonel was extremely nice—her Southern charm practically oozed through the phone line—and extraordinarily concerned about Em and her progress. Prairie was an Air Force veteran, but she couldn’t recall, in her entire military experience, any officers taking such a specific interest in an enlisted person. They did their duty in times of tragedy, expressing their heartfelt condolences to the families in case of death or significant accidents. Dot Baverstock’s concern was far and above the call of duty.
It was almost as if The Colonel and Em were friends, or family, even; which was truly odd, because The Colonel went out of her way to avoid suggesting or acknowledging a personal bond of any type. Prairie couldn’t help but wonder if there was a forbidden relationship going on. That certainly would be a reason to pull strings, she thought, and if true, would explain a whole lot. The optimist in her didn’t want to believe that, but that small, persistent, cynical part of her thought it was a distinct possibility. Prairie had spent the last thirty minutes going over the conversation in her head, mindlessly doodling, as she tried to figure out what exactly was the story of Dot and Em.
ELEVEN
Roomies
11.1—Beck and Call
“Did any of you not understand the memo I issued last week regarding my work hours?” Prairie addressed her staff of six, lined up in front of her desk.
“I precisely requested I not be disturbed while I’m sleeping in the ward. I’m not sleeping there so I can be closer to work, to be at your beck and call 24/7. I’m sleeping there to protect one of our patients, and to provide her with peace of mind. What part of my memo was vague?” she demanded, waving the memo at them.
No one answered Prairie’s question, but instead collectively stared at the floor.
“How would you like it if at all hours throughout the evening and early morning I called you on the phone, or showed up at your door requesting assistance with something I know if I spent just two minutes trying to figure out on my own I could do so?” Prairie tapped her pen on the desk to make her point.
Again, no response.
“If it is between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, you may bother me ad nauseam if you feel the need, though I will be forced to seriously reevaluate job performance reviews if that were to happen. Beyond those times, even if I’m standing in the hallway, right in front of you,” she slapped the desk with her hand as she said emphatically, “I am not here. You all have watches—use them!” She glared at her staff, her distress evident in her facial expression. “Do you understand?”
Everyone nodded almost in unison.
“Good. Please note that if I am unsuitably crabby today and every day this week, it is precisely because I have not had one night of uninterrupted rest since I began sleeping upstairs. It ends today,” she emphasized. “Now please, get back to work and leave me be,” she practically hissed, waving them out of her office. On the verge of becoming hysterical if they didn’t leave immediately, Prairie watched as her staff silently turned and slunk out of the room. She hated to dress them down, but her patience had all but worn thin, if not completely away.
Once her office was cleared, Prairie thought for a moment or two, then picked up the phone and dialed Barbie’s number. It rang three times before Barbie picked up the phone.
“Barbie Tilding, how may I help you?” Barbie asked with a smile on her face that was evident from the other end of the line.
“Hey, Barbie doll,” Prairie began. “Can we call a house meeting tonight? I need to ask everyone an important question, and I would prefer if everyone was there all at once.”
“Of course, honey. Anything I should be worried about?”
“Naw. You’ll see. Listen, I’ve gotta go, but can we gather about seven tonight?
“I don’t know why not. Plan on it, but if someone can’t make it, I’ll let you know before you come home. See you later.”
“‘Bye, Barb.”
Prairie hung up the phone, took a drink of her cold coffee and then headed out the door for her next session with Em.
11.2—House Meeting
“Come on, little brother. We can’t begin until everyone’s here,” Barbie urged her brother Chip who was opening a can of Coke as he strolled leisurely into the living room.
“Hold on, sis. I’ma comin’,” Chip joked as he plopped down on the floor next to Gwen who was leaning back against the couch. “Hey, Lovey, mind if I sit next to you?” Chip winked at Gwen who playfully rolled her eyes, then leaned into his shoulder, nudging him. He nudged back.
Prairie had called a house meeting in order to make a special request of her roommates, and was visibly edgy as she waited for Chip to arrive. She heaved a sigh of relief once he walked into the room.
“Okay, Prair,” Barbie said, “we’re all here, honey. What’s the deal?”
“Yeah, what’s up Prairie? You moving out or something?” Chip asked, his usual get-to-the-point personality showing. “C’mon, spill it.” Prairie’s head s
napped in Chip’s direction.
“Shush, Chip,” Macie gently warned, “let Prairie speak. Go ahead, Prair.”
“No, Chip, I don’t have plans to move out,” Prairie began. She took a drink of her water and then began her proposal. “I wanted to call everyone in for a family meeting because I have a special request to make, and I wanted us all here at once so everything is clear, you know?”
“Sure, babe,” Gwen responded. “Go ahead, what’s going on?”
Prairie shifted in her chair and cleared her throat. Though she felt confident the house members wouldn’t object, she was still nervous. What if they did? Then what were her options?
“Okay, well, you know I’ve been staying at the hospital, you know, in my special patient’s room, so that one, she’s not scared, and two, to make sure nothing terrible happens to her in there again.” Prairie paused, then quickly added, “I mean, you know, the likelihood is probably nil now that that freak is locked up in the loony bin, but still, I’ll feel better knowing she’s for sure safe.”
“Of course, Prairie,” Barbie responded. “I think what you’re doing is so wonderful—above and beyond your job description, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah, but—” Prairie began to protest, but was interrupted by Chip.
“Hey, I’ll stay with her.” He grinned mischievously. “Hey, she’s smokin’ hot.”
All of the women groaned.
“Oh, man.” Prairie shook her head in amused disbelief. “Here’s the thing. I can’t stay there anymore. I mean, I need a break from work, and I don’t get a break being there practically round the clock. Rather than waiting for my shift to start, my staff and even the night nurses are coming to me with stupid questions at the hospital—while I’m sleeping—and I can’t do it anymore.”
“Then don’t,” Macie stated.
“Well,” Prairie hesitated because she was so worried about the outcome of what came next. “I’m not. But…” She took a deep breath. “The reason I asked everyone here is that I, uh, I want to—”
Gwen interrupted, “Why don’t you just move her in with us? Can you do that?”
Prairie and the others just stared at Gwen.
“Well, it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?” Gwen continued. “She’d certainly be as safe as anything here, and she can go to work with Prairie everyday. Right, Prairie?” Gwen smiled knowingly. She knew what Prairie was trying to ask because Gwen knew everything.
Prairie sputtered, “I, well, uh, uh…”
“Lovey,” Barbie replied, “That’s a great idea, but it would be up to Prairie if she wanted to take that kind of responsibility on. I certainly don’t mind. Do you, Mace?”
“No, well, I don’t know where we’d put her, but sure, if Prairie thinks it’s a good idea,” Macie nodded her head, convinced. “I’m all for it, that poor kid.”
“Chipper? What do you think,” Barbie asked as Prairie watched the process in shocked disbelief.
“Hell, I don’t care. You girls live in the house. I don’t. I’m just the field hand out in the garage.” He laughed heartily.
“Oh, pshaw, Chip,” Barbie feigned a scoff. “Your studio over the garage is more than adequate for a college student. Brat.”
“Aw, you know I’m just joshin’ you, sis.” Chip flashed his famous smile.
“Yeah, yeah. I know,” Barbie grudgingly acknowledged. “So, Prairie? How do you feel about it? I know we kind of dumped this on you, but—”
“No, no, Barbie, I was planning on—”
“Where would we put her?” Gwen inquired, once again interrupting Prairie, looking directly at her, while trying her best to mask the smile she was hiding. “We’d take her, but not only is our room upstairs, it’s also in the far corner of the house—that turn around the landing would be murder for her wheelchair.”
“Um…” Barbie began to protest until Gwen’s wink told her she was playing with Prairie. Barbie nodded knowingly.
“Well, I was think—” Prairie once again tried to get a word in edgewise, but was stopped mid-word by Barbie.
“Yeah, I think the stairs would be tough. We could get her up and down, but I don’t think she’d be happy about it. And our bed is barely big enough for us. Hmmm. I don’t know her, but from what Prairie has shared with us…”
“I could carry her up and down,” Chip offered, joining in on the joke. “But, naw, I’m not here that much.”
“Whatever will we do?” Gwen fretted with mock seriousness.
Prairie finally got that they were playing a joke on her. She smiled and shook her head.
“We could move into the back room. It’s not being used for anything,” Prairie offered, knowing it had already been decided. It’s what she wanted to ask them in the first place, but somehow they preempted her, and then messed with her for sport. She smiled thinking about the amazing people she lived with.
“It’s big enough—I could put a couple twin beds in there, because, y’know, I’d have to be near her, and it’s—”
“It’s perfect, Prair,” Barbie agreed. “No stairs, other than the four on the front porch.”
“Hey, the porch is no problem—I’ll build a ramp,” Chip stated nonchalantly, then gulped down the rest of his soda.
“It’s near the living room, kitchen, dining room—” Barbie continued, “But are you sure that would be fine with you, Prair? You have such a nice room upstairs, would you really want to move down there?”
“Sure.” Prairie shrugged. “It’s no problem. She still needs a lot of help with, well, everything, so…”
Gwen smiled at Prairie, admiring her dedication and care for her patient. “Then it’s a done deal.”
Prairie replied humbly. “Thanks, you guys. I know, well, I’m pretty sure she’ll really appreciate it, and you know I do. I think it’ll be good for both of us.”
Prairie breathed a sigh of relief. She could never get over how great her roommates were. In fact, they were far more of a family than anything else. In any other living circumstance, Prairie would be craving time with her own family as she did while she was living overseas in the Air Force; but since moving into the Hill Top Place house, she rarely felt the need. She missed her biological family, but when everything was said and done, this group was her tribe.
“Then it’s settled,” Barbie stated. “When can she move in, Prairie?”
“As soon as I get the room set up, I guess. Though there is one little matter I need to deal with first,” Prairie admitted, biting her bottom lip as she mentally contemplated whether she would be able to convince Em to move into the house or not.
“Oh?” Macie inquired, her brow furrowed. Everyone else turned their eyes to Prairie who was clearly bothered by something. “Spill.”
Prairie sighed. “I haven’t actually asked Em yet. You know, if she even wants to move in.”
Everyone began talking at once.
“I know, I know, I know!” Prairie shook her head, somewhat ashamed. What if Em said no? And if she was being honest with herself, that was the most likely answer.
“You guys, I just wanted to get my ducks in a row is all. You know, before I go and ask her. My boss says it’s cool, her boss says it’s cool, that colonel from Texas says it’s cool…” Prairie’s voice trailed off.
“Now, now, honey,” Gwen chimed in. “You know whatever happens is okay with us. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’m kind of excited already, so… No worries, sweetie. Just let us know.”
There was a chorus of concurrence with Gwen.
“Thanks, guys.” Prairie patted her heart with the palm of her hand. “You all…”
“Wonderful,” Barbie proclaimed, not wanting the meeting to turn into a blubbering love-fest. She turned to Gwen. “Now, Lovey…”
“Yes, babe?”
“What’s for dinner?” Barbie grinned as everyone laughed.
“I’ll get right on it, Barbie doll.” Gwen lifted herself off the floor, patted Chip on the head and headed for the kitchen.
“Come on, Prairie. Come do some KP duty with me.”
“You got it.” Prairie sprang from her seat, gathered up the empty glasses from everyone and followed Gwen into the kitchen, saying as she went, “Thanks again, everybody. I love you guys.”
11.3—The Proposition
“So that’s basically everything.” Prairie paused briefly as she searched Em’s face for any hint of emotion or a response, a reaction—anything.
Em sat next to the bed listening to Prairie’s proposition, taking in all of Prairie’s pros and cons as she mulled over her own. She knew she was sick to death of being in the hospital—any hospital—and would happily put that part of her life behind her if at all possible. But she wasn’t sure she wanted to become roommates with Prairie in a house of several other people she didn’t know. She’d spent many years in boarding school, then the Air Force, and didn’t look forward to going back to that type of living, especially at this point in her life. On the other hand, she absolutely did not want to go back to her parents’ house. Though she would be well taken care of there, the idea of going back home made the hospital seem inviting.
“Obviously, it’s a temporary solution.” Prairie continued, still hoping to get a response of some kind from Em, who had merely sat and listened, expressionless, to Prairie’s proposal.
Em wanted to say no in the worst way, but she also wanted to say yes just as much. She was so self-conscious about her current physical state that, to a certain degree, the thought of having to interact with strangers frightened her. Of course, if she didn’t like it, she did have options, however unpalatable they might be.
In the short time she’d spent with Prairie, Em had begun to enjoy her company, despite her every effort not to. Driven by the stubborn part of her personality, she didn’t want Prairie to know that while her initial anger and sullen behavior were genuine, over time they had become more of an act than anything else. The more she grew to like Prairie, the more embarrassed about her behavior she became, and the less she knew how to change. Em feared any type of reproach from Prairie if she began to behave like a normal, civilized, person. It was a terrible dilemma. She felt trapped by the failings of her own stubborn, stupid, personality.
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