by Syndi Powell
“You’re asking some weird questions.”
“In a weird mood, I guess.” He paused then took a seat on the bed. “I keep my house clean.”
“You mean sterile.”
“But that’s what feels normal to me. A bunch of boxes and a stack of newspapers dated from years ago doesn’t.” He waved off her questions. “Never mind. Just thinking of someone I know. She grew up with a messy house.”
Tori’s face broke into a grin. “I knew it must be a woman that had you acting so strangely. Maybe that nurse Suzy?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Uh huh. You think she’s pretty.”
He thought she was beautiful. “That doesn’t matter. She’s in trouble, and I don’t know how to help her.”
Tori paused and looked him over. “You mean fix her.”
“Same thing.”
“Helping means that you work together towards a solution.” She wagged her finger at him while she folded their mother’s clothes and put them in the suitcase. “You, dear brother, prefer to step in and take over by fixing it yourself.”
“Do I do that with you too?”
She checked the items in the suitcase before shutting it and zipping the lid closed. “And Ma. We’re used to it. Is Suzy your friend?”
“I don’t know if we’re friends. More like...” He coughed then stood. “Acquaintances. And barely that.”
“But you want to be more.”
“I want to help her out because she needs me.” He felt his cheeks warm. “I mean, she needs help. Whatever.”
Tori laughed and put her arm around him. “Oh my. You must have it bad.”
“I don’t have anything.” He shook her arm off him affectionately. “And speaking of fixing, what’s with the new hair color?”
Tori reached up and touched the blond ends. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s fine. Just wondering what prompted the change.” He bumped her hip with his. “A new friend?”
“I wish.” She heaved the suitcase on to the floor. “Think you can carry this to your truck?”
He lifted it easily and followed her down the hallway then out to his pickup. With the suitcase in the back, he could swing by the home before going to his own townhouse. Maybe sneak a peek at his favorite nurse.
“You’re doing it again.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re thinking of Suzy who’s just a friend.” She used her fingers to put quotes around the word. “You get this look on your face when you do.”
He reached up and touched his cheeks. “I do?”
“Yep. Like I said, you’ve got it bad all right.”
An image of Suzy filled his head, and he tried to clear it before his face gave away anymore. “Never mind. So why the new haircut? And don’t think I didn’t notice that you’re wearing new clothes too.”
She reached out and touched the hem of her shirt. “I get a discount since I work at Roxy’s so I thought I’d take advantage of it.”
“Is that all there is?”
“I’m lonely, okay?” She ran her fingers through her hair. “This is my desperate attempt at trying to attract a guy.”
“Any particular guy?”
“If you’re asking if there’s someone I’m interested in, no. Sadly. Seems that every one I meet gets compared to Shawn. That should make it easy since he turned out to be a jerk. But...” She hesitated and pulled her hair off her neck then let it go. “I’ve loved him since I was fifteen, Will. More than half my life. I can’t just forget that.”
Will put his arm around his sister and let her gain her composure. He knew that there had been a reason behind these changes. Had suspected it was his ex-brother-in-law, but his sister had the same strength they had been taught. She could get over him. Find a new life. Right? “It will get better.”
“When? Because I’m tired of being alone. Raising twin teenage boys is a challenge, and to do it alone is impossible at times.” She shook her head. “They’re starting to ask questions about girls and sex and...I’m clueless. I’ve loved only one man my whole life. What do I know about dating anymore?”
“I can talk to them.”
She gave a short, bitter laugh. “No offense, but you haven’t exactly been burning up the dating scene. When was your last one?”
He paused and tried to think. “I date.”
“Trish was three years ago. And she was no catch.”
“It hasn’t been that long.” Had it? He tried to remember when he’d shared a meal with a female that he wasn’t related to or worked with. “Okay, so I’m no expert, but I am a guy and I remember what it was like being a teenage boy. I’ll talk to them.”
She finally nodded. “Fine. Thanks.” She looked up at him. “You done trying to fix me?”
He smiled. “Only offering my help.” He glanced at the darkening sky. “I think I’ll lock up the house then swing by and deliver this to Ma. Interested?”
“I’ve got to pick the boys up from soccer practice then try to find something to feed them. I swear, they’re turning into walking stomachs with hormones.” She hugged him around the waist. “Thanks.”
Will hugged her back. “Lovey.”
* * *
A KNOCK ON the front door startled Suzy. Was Will back to remind her that she had less than four weeks? Would he recognize that she’d begun in the living room? Four bags of trash waited by the garage to be taken to the curb for collection, but it didn’t look like she’d made much progress.
Another knock. Suzy peered through the peephole. She sighed. Presley.
She opened the door but only slightly. “Hey, what’s up?”
“You’re not answering your cell.” Presley tried to look beyond Suzy. “You going to let me in?”
Suzy glanced behind her then opened the door wider. “Sure.”
Presley walked past her and entered the living room. Then she turned to face her. “Why didn’t you tell me, Suze? I thought we were best friends. That we shared everything.”
Suzy frowned and scanned her brain for what she’d kept from her. “About Will?”
“About the big notice on the front of your house.”
Oh that. Will had stopped by two days before and taped it to the front window. Notice of eviction if the premises didn’t pass inspection. And the end date. “It’s no big deal.”
“You’re losing your mom’s house, and it’s no big deal?” Pres shook her head. “Why can’t you ask for help? Especially when you need it the most.”
“Because this is my problem. Not anyone else’s.” She swept her hand around the room. “If I don’t know what to do with this, how can I ask anyone else?” She pointed at the boxes. “You don’t understand what it was like growing up like this. No one does.”
“So tell me.”
Suzy covered her eyes with one hand. “There was always...stuff. Everywhere.” She looked up at Pres. “And it didn’t matter if I cleaned things up or threw things out, she’d just get more. It was never enough. Never.”
“You don’t have to deal with it alone.” Pres put her arm around Suzy’s shoulders. “I want to help. There’re other people who do too. Please let us.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because Mama said we couldn’t let anyone see this. Our secret she called it.” Suzy picked at one of her nails, avoiding her friend’s piercing gaze. “Mama wouldn’t let me—she was depressed and wouldn’t let anyone in. Sometimes not even me. And definitely not anyone outside of the family. She had a few friends, but they never came over. We’ve been friends since college, and you’ve been in my house how many times? Twice. And only so far. Because I couldn’t let you see. Couldn’t let you know what it was like in here.”
“Well, I’m here now. So show me.”
Suzy sighed. “You’re pretty much seeing it. It’s like this in every room. Still feel like helping?”
“You’re my best friend, so yes. Of course I’ll help.” Pres left Suzy in the living room and went towards the bathroom and bedrooms. She paused as she saw the path that Suzy had made after moving in with her mom to take care of her. “Oh, Suze.”
“Don’t say it.” Suzy walked past her and led her to the bathroom and opened the door. “It took me almost a month after moving in to get the bathroom cleaned and be able to use it.” She motioned towards her mom’s bedroom. “Mama stayed in there her last days. I couldn’t move her around so I had to make these paths to get to her.” She opened the door to her childhood bedroom. “I haven’t slept in there since I left for college. Mama seemed to fill it with stuff once I was gone, and I haven’t been able to get in there since.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“What am I supposed to say? My mom can’t throw anything away? She shops for things she doesn’t need, doesn’t even want?” Suzy felt the tears coming. “If I told you what it was like here, would you have believed me?”
“I couldn’t imagine this.” Pres pushed on the door to Suzy’s old room and peered inside. Clothes in bags. Boxes of books. Not one, but two full sets of dishes stacked against the wall. “It’s like she needed to fill the space you once held.”
That was exactly what Mama had done. Suzy had finished her first semester at college and come home for the holidays to find her bedroom brimming with stuff. She’d been forced to sleep in Mama’s bed with her because there hadn’t been any room. And it wasn’t just her room. It was in the living room where the loveseat got covered so they had to sit on the couch next to each other. And at the dining room table, so they ate meals at the counter sitting on stools pushed together. The stuff crowded them in, until soon, Mama filled so much space that there wasn’t room for Suzy anymore. “Will gave me thirty days, Pres. Thirty. I’ve been working on this since before Mama died. How in the world am I going to get it all taken care of in time?”
“We can do it.” Pres looked at her then back at the bedroom. “Because we have to. You can’t lose the house.”
“It’s all I have left.”
Pres shook her head. “That’s not true, Suze. You have me. And I promise to be there for you.”
Right. Because people had never left her.
Suzy tried hard to clear away those negative thoughts. Presley wasn’t like her dad or mom. If she said she’d be there, she would be.
Suzy nodded. “Thanks.”
* * *
PAYDAY, AND THE living was good. Will made a beeline for the bank. At the desk, he took his check out of his back pocket and tore the stub off that listed how much of his check had gone to taxes and insurance. He tried not to look at the gross amount. It would only depress him. He endorsed the top then completed a deposit slip and double checked his math.
There wasn’t much of a line, only one person waiting ahead of him so he was at the teller window pretty quickly. He handed his check and deposit slip to the teller. “Hey, Sandy. How’re things going?”
“Pretty good, Will. How’s your mom?” She glanced around then leaned forward. “We really miss her around here. When is she coming back?”
If she was coming back was a better question. “It might be a while.”
Sandy reached out and touched his hand with hers. “Tell her we miss her and love her. And to get better so she can get her butt back here quick.”
Will chuckled. “I will. But you might want to stop in and see her. I’m sure she’d get a kick out of a visit.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to find Toby standing there. The man gave him a short nod. “Would you mind stopping in my office before you leave?”
Sandy handed Will his receipt and counted his out cash. “We’ll see you soon.”
He nodded then walked back to the branch manager’s office and knocked on the door before entering. Toby looked up from the papers he’d been reading and motioned to the chairs in front of his desk. “Thanks for stopping in. How’s your mom?”
“Hates being at the seniors’ home. I’m sure she’d appreciate a visit.”
Toby winced. “I stopped in there soon after she was moved.” He pushed the papers toward Will. “According to our records, you are your mother’s power of attorney.”
“Only in the case that she can’t make a decision for herself.”
Toby pushed the papers closer to the edge of the desk. “Your mother needs to read these and sign them.”
Will quickly scanned them. “You want her to quit?”
The manager colored and cleared his throat. “We...I want her to take a medical leave for an indefinite period.”
“In other words, quit.” Will stood and tossed the papers back onto Toby’s desk. “By law, my mother is allowed six weeks of leave. And your company policy extends that another six.”
“Do you think she’s coming back? Really?” Toby lumbered to his feet and walked around the desk. “I can only keep her position open for the twelve weeks. After that, I can’t promise to keep her here. They’ll find her a teller position in another branch.”
Will shook his head. “I gotta go see my mother. Assure her that everything is okay.” He opened the door then paused with his hand on the knob. “She always told me that you were a jerk, but I chalked it up to you being her boss.”
“My hands are tied, Will. I can’t keep going short a teller.”
“So find a temp to fill her spot until she returns from her leave.”
“Can’t. I need Eva, or I need a permanent replacement.”
Will glared at the man. “Good to know you care about my mom.”
He left the office and walked through the bank lobby. An older man stopped him. “How’s Eva doing, Will?”
He glanced towards Toby’s office. “On the mend. You should stop in at the seniors’ home and see her.”
The older man shook his head. “Those places depress me. Probably because I know I’ll be there myself one day.”
“Give me a break, Walt. You’ll be living forever in your cottage.” Will pounded the guy’s back. “I’ll tell Ma you say hello.”
“She’s a heck of a woman.”
Will nodded. “The best.”
* * *
FROM THE BANK, Will drove home to his townhouse. When he pulled up to the curb, he noticed a familiar yellow Volkswagen parked not far from him. He walked over, but this car was missing the smiley face bumper sticker. Not Suzy’s car then. The thought of her reminded him that he missed her. He wondered what she was up to. Not the clean-up, though he hoped she was busy with that. But if she was okay.
When he let himself into his townhouse, he flipped on the lights and put the truck keys on a hook near the front door. His stomach growled, reminding him that lunch had been hours ago. He went through to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He peered inside at the scant supplies. Since Ma had been in the hospital, he hadn’t had much time for domestic chores, particularly cooking. He claimed an old apple and washed it before biting into it.
He took his dinner out into the living room and flopped onto the sofa. Will glanced around the room. No pictures. No knick knacks. Nothing that proved who lived there. The walls painted white. The carpet a light beige. Little color.
Little life.
He didn’t have to walk through the rest of his home to know that he’d find more of the same. The only thing that held any meaning was the picture of him and Ma at his graduation from Parris Island that he kept on his nightstand. One of the proudest days of his life. How he’d missed his dad that day he graduated from boot camp. Even if it was only to prove to him that he was a man.
He thought of the differenc
e between his house and Suzy’s. While his was clean and neat, hers teemed with too much stuff. But it showed a life lived.
Restless, he stood and walked room to room. His house needed something that he couldn’t give it. It was merely a place to sleep for him. He could sell it tomorrow without a second thought.
Shouldn’t a home mean something more?
* * *
SUZY WANTED TO shake off the blues that had edged her mood after Pres had left. They’d worked for an hour on her old room, and five more trash bags had joined the ones already by the garage. She’d also filled the back of her car with donations to take to the charity center. Maybe other families could use the clothes and dishes.
Now at the nursing home, she pasted a smile on her face and ventured out on her first rounds. She made Mrs. Stone’s room the last on her stops. She noticed that she had been eating more lately, especially desserts. Not exactly the most nutritious, but it was better than nothing. She breezed into the room and stopped at the sight of Will sitting in the chair next to his mom’s bed. “I can come back later.”
He stood. “I was about to leave anyway.” He leaned over and kissed his mom’s cheek. “Lovey. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He glanced at her before leaving then walked past her, leaving a chill in the air. Mrs. Stone looked at her son’s departure then to Suzy. “What was that about?”
“Nothing. Why do you all say lovey when you leave?”
“You’re changing the subject. That was not nothing.” She narrowed her eyes. “Did something happen between you two?”
“Not what you think.”
“We say lovey because it’s something my grandmother and my mother always told me, so I passed that on to my kids.” Mrs. Stone peered at her closely. “Did you two have a fight?”
Suzy warmed the stethoscope then placed it on the older woman’s chest. “Your heart sounds good.”
“And how does yours sound?”
Suzy straightened and looked at her. “We’re not discussing my heart. Did you see the therapist today?”
“What does my chart say?”
“It says that she wants you to start getting up and putting weight on that hip.” Suzy placed the walker at the side of the bed, then moved the bedside table out of the way and left the tablet on top of it. “Want to try?”