Chapter 25: The Weekend

Friday was occupied with sending off the clothing donations. Amy looked uncomfortable, seeing her closet mostly empty. “Tomorrow, were going shopping, Amy, you need new clothes.” That brightened her up.

Jacob used his contacts to introduce Melanie, and she was able to schedule two interviews for the coming week.

Saturday, after the shopping trip, Melanie was surprised by a telephone call.

“Melanie, it’s Dan Hoyer. I know it’s short notice, but you volunteered, so I’m asking. Can you take Jordan tonight? I have, believe or not, scored a date. It’s a nurse at the rehab hospital where I work.”

“Sure, bring Jordan over. On one condition, you come back Sunday night to have dinner with us. You need to meet my man Jacob and we can take the girls to the park during the day. They will have a blast. Got it?”

“OK, sounds good. I’ll drop her off at 5:00.”

“What’s her name?”

“It’s Karla, with a K.”

“Interesting. See you at 5. Bye.”

Whirling Motion.

Two pre-schoolers can wind each other up to incredible velocity. Mostly they stayed in Amy’s room, but the noise was easily heard throughout the apartment. On the other hand, their mainsprings did eventually wind down.

By 7:30, they were drooping, ready for their pajamas. Jacob had one girl on each arm, as he read a command performance to them from Dr. Suess: The Cat in the Hat. Amy did a little showing off, displaying her mastery of the word “cat,” impressing her friend Jordan.

And then the girls were in bed, with a nightlight burning and the door ajar.

“This reminds me why I never thought about getting pregnant again. I couldn’t have successfully raised Amy AND another child. As you know, I wasn’t really doing well enough with just her, with the low income and all the problems we had.”

“I hope you have gotten past all those worries.”

“Oh, Jacob, I am so grateful. But, after years on the edge of poverty, it’s hard for me to overnight change to a ‘it’s only money’ mentality. There are times I still struggle.

“When I saw how much unwearable junk was in our closets, I went into the bathroom and cried, Jacob. I truly believe I would have lost Amy. Not immediately, but when I couldn’t meet her needs, the state would take her. I was skipping meals just so I could feed her properly.

“I can’t forget that. I was failing her. She’s a great kid, and I was a terrible mother.”

Melanie was weeping again. Not only were the tears running down her face, but they were in her nose, too. She was sniffling and snorting.

“Oh, honey, don’t cry. You’re supported now, you know that. I’m not going to leave you. I love you. Amy loves you. You have a new Buick!”

That forced a chuckle from her.

“Next week, you’ll have a new job, with good pay and benefits. And, two or three years from now, Amy won’t remember any of the before-Jacob tough times. That’s the beauty of being four years old. What she won’t ever forget is that her Mama loves her. And I love her.

“The pain you’re feeling will fade, because it will be in the past. You and me, together, will be strong for each other and for Amy. Every year that goes by, a fading memory for Amy.

“Do you believe me?”

“I do. You incredible, wonderful man. I think I need to ravish you, because that’s the best way I can show you right now what you mean to me. Would you like some big tits to play with?”

“Oh boy oh boy oh boy!”

Dan Hoyer.

Sunday afternoon Dan arrived at Melanie’s apartment. He went back into the master bedroom with Jacob for a full discussion.

“Jacob, you present a lot of challenges for physical therapy, but I can tell you it is absolutely necessary. Honestly, your ortho has already fallen down on the job by not arranging PT already. Rolling around in that contraption all the time is going to drastically slow your healing and make you weaker.

“And there’s another problem. This room is too small and crowded for you. You need room for a specific machine, a reclining horizontal leg press.”

“Oh, I’m glad you mentioned that. My apartment is in this complex, about 12 doors from here. It’s much larger, and the three of us are going to move over there next week. How much does this machine cost?”

“They range from $1,500 to $5,000.”

“I’ll give you a check tonight for $5,000. Please order me a good one and we’ll have it delivered, say, a week from tomorrow, to the other apartment. Now, next question, what are your fees for private clients?”