I say. “We can’t cook; you saw the kitchen in the video.”
My Aunt shuddered and looked ill. I took her in my arms, and she started crying. We were sitting on the edge of the bed next to Mom.
I kissed the top of her head, holding her, and she stopped crying and said. “How about seafood tacos and Tex Mex?”
Mom says. “Get some soup, please, baby, and some salad. The Doctor said to eat light.” So I called the restaurant, the one I was laughed out of.
I asked. “If we could order and list what we wanted, could I send someone to pick it up?”
He says. “We know where you live, son dinner is on us, and can your Mother drink I send a bottle of our house wine?”
I say. “Yes, and thank you if you, please drop it off in room #1 at the temp office. I asked how much, please?”
The owner says. “No, my money was no good here as long as he was alive.”
I say. “Thank you that’s quit kind. Have a great night.”
I called down and say. “I had food coming in. I should have asked if you guys wanted something. Instead, they bringing it out and told him the place’s name.”
Doug says. “He called to see if they could add to the order; they were happy to pay for it themselves.”
I made a mental note to add a few bucks to his paycheck. Opening my laptop, I looked at his time card and saw he did not show the day in the hospital. He covered the day desk missing classes. Mom and my Aunt were talking.
I asked. “Excuse me Mom, Doug did his time card and did not list the day I was hospitalized. I want to pay him overtime for working and missing classes. How much do you think?”
Mom says. “After sending off your prom film to the feds and there is a court case pending, I say make it five hundred mark it for consultation fee. So we can get a tax break and the same cash for our computer guy. I’m fuzzy and hurting; I can’t remember names.”
I say. “It’s Fred’s Mom; you need to eat first, then you can have a pain pill. You get so sick on an empty stomach.”
I walk over to the bed, climb on and sit near you and say. “Brenda, Mom, let me rub your hands and head. Remember when you were in the hospital, and I did this? It helped you not hurt so bad.”
My Mom looked at me with true love. I could only do one hand and your head, but with my soft talking on how I make fried fish tacos, you dosed right off.
My Aunt Ginger says. “I’m dying to eat your cooking now. Nobody said anything about where I’m sleeping, but I need a quick shower between flying here and driving. Can I use the bathroom here?”
I nodded yes and say. “I need to use it first, and I can put you next door. Then, I’ll call the office and ask if it’s doable. I forgot to check. Sorry, my mind, fuck, how long is my mind going to be this muddy?”
My Aunt held me and says. “Young man, watch your language, but hush, son, this will pass. You need to talk to someone soon; your, not yourself.”
I called the office and asked. “Doug, may I have the therapist’s number and if the room next door was booked?
I was given the number he says. “To call her now, her name is Gloria. She’s said to call anytime; this is the home number she heard of both videos.”
I called and say. “If I could make an appointment as soon as I stop eating these pain pills, and I can drive again.”
I was told that she would come to me.
I asked her. “If sitting on our private deck, no one can see, and we can get some sun, I’m sure my Mother will want to talk to someone also, but she hurt much worse than I am.” Hanging up the phone, I felt better just getting that started.
I did not know why, but I started to cry as my Aunt went to shower when Mom told me to come to her and damn if we did not cry together, we were still holding each other when my Aunt came out in cute pink gym shorts and a cute top and a beach wrap. The door knocked. I opened the door and was grabbed in a big hug by all the eggheads. I did not wince as no one squeezed me hard. Both girls kissed my Mother on her head as her face was still swollen.
Janet says. “You’re both so brave you fought back; you did not quit.”
They came, split the order, kissed us, and left, giving us the energy of their love; it was terrific.
Mom ate a fish taco, had some guacamole and soup with a few chips and a few sips of soda, but she dosed as we ate.
I say. “My whole body hurts. I’m going to fire up the hot tub, but I forgot my suit, but my sleep shorts work wet, but it shows shapes like a wet tee-shirt contest.”
My Aunt laughed and says. “I can use it after you; you looked too hot in your hotel run, son.” As you winked at me.
Doug called and says. “The connecting room was ready, and the door was open. I just needed to unlock it on my side.”
I did that and dragged in my Aunts case. I saw a tiny box of candies on the pillow. So I go and soak in the hot tub. The timer set for twenty, and I dried off, grabbed my robe, and went out as my Aunt, with a smile, went in.
I changed into dry shorts and a black Tee in the bedroom. My Mom gasped when she saw me covered in black and blue, band-aids covering broken skin cuts, and stitches made from his high school ring or baton. Mom watched me and said without speaking mouthed. “Sexy.” As you winked at me, I went to bed, sat back next to you, turned the T.V. on, started a movie, and held your hand. My Aunt came out in sexy black silk P.J.’s. I waved you over onto the bed. My hands were full, and my bruises stood out as the picture on the screen got brighter. My Aunt kissed my hand softly.
Mom asked. “If she could have a head rub and another pain pill.” We gave her one as I rubbed your head till you fell asleep again. I fell asleep as the movie ended.
My Aunt helped me out of bed and onto mine. You kissed me goodnight. I slept for hours, but I awoke, something was off; it was my Mom. She was crying out in her sleep, she was saying. “You hurt my son, you bastard. I’ll end you.”
Then you screamed. I was out of bed and holding you telling you. “I’m here, Mom; you’re safe. I’ll end anyone who hurts you.”
I say I rub my Mom’s arm and keep kissing your head. “Hear my voice, Mom; it tells you you’re safe.”
Mom says. “It reminds me of you holding me when Danny died as I cried for I don’t know how long, but every time I looked, you were there.”
I say. “It was only a few days, Mom. You were in bed, I saw you hurting, and I could only show you still had love. I ate peanut butter and most of snacks for the rooms for two days without meals. We got through that, we get through this, Mom I love you, Brenda.”
I feel my Aunt’s hand rubbing me, offering support and love. I turned and looked back and smiled at my Aunt. She has never shown much love to me, just like my dad, but I feel it now. It’s making up for years of not getting it. The week went fast. The police tape was removed, the clean-up crew was called, and I went and got my wet suit and swimming shoes. Then, I went for a long walk at eight am. I am walking back to see my Aunt and Mom sunning on the beach. It means they walked out there; it’s a good sign. I stopped by as the contractor crew was patching the holes and painting. The floor replaced the Island is now a granite top, and it looks grand, so much better than the old Formica. The rest of the counters are painted concrete made to look like granite looks incredible.
I met with the therapist her first question she says is. “Why do you feel like a failure when your actions led to saving your Mom? Were you willing to give your life to save your Mom? Not once did you stop. You never gave up; you still hit him as he was strangling you. I heard it from Susan and from Doug. They described your fight. Susan said watching was hard, but you impressed the hard-nosed officers. A couple offered hand-to-hand combat training at the gym the police train at. They have given you a year of training there.”
We talked for over an hour. I learned how to see and change how I act on PTSD triggers; we touched on the hotel hazing and how it felt to be betrayed by someone you thought you were in love with. But, unfortunately, lots of things to deal with my Mom and I were not part of our talks, nor would they ever be.
I was walking back to the office I had been working for half a day when I saw a police car pull in. My back got stiff, and I noticed how alert I was.
I started breathing, centering myself, and I saw Susan walking up to me, and I say. “I hug you, but we must step inside to do it.”
Susan grabbed me right outside, held me tight, then kissed me and says. “Thank you, Dan, for helping me save my best friend. I’ll take you to the gun range soon and teach you how to shoot. Good news: the department has paid for a year at a martial arts school for you. It will give you peace knowing how to fight.” We walked into the office, and the donuts tray was empty. I say. “Why no snacks to go with the hot coffee?”
The counter help from a sixth hotel says. “They not been in at all. They had to be thrown out, so we called them and stopped ordering them.”
Susan says. “We stopped coming by. We thought you feel better us not coming by as we once did.”
I say. “Yes, but you still need to come. I felt better; it triggers me to see you drive up. Before I knew it was you, my fear kicked up. I was ready to fight or run, but seeing it was you, I had to hug you, and when the kitchen was done, I’ll cook you a nice dinner to thank you for saving us. You want steaks and seafood?”
Susan answered. “You still want us to stop by? What do you think your Mom will say?”
I laughed and say. “She was the one who started it after dad died. I guess she felt it safer knowing you guys were here to help. Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
I took over the desk, letting them go home early as I worked it for the rest of the day. I checked with the hotels and talked to the H.R. departments asking what they made a day so we could pay for their time. I was told by each hotel that the owners told them to pay for their time, and we could not pay them. Having two guys work maintenance left little for me to do. I went next door to see the crew I thought was finishing up was putting in an extra heavy security door. It had sliding locking bars in the door like a bank safe no madman would kick this one in shit. That madman was me. I was told the counter-top, and the door were gifts from the police department. I sat on the new bar stools; it took my breath away.
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