Deciding Moment
Copyright© 2008 by John Smith
Chapter 7
We arrived at Theresa's house a little while later. I was still in ... well, shock, from her having to root though my things to find clothes that would work. She had comments about men, and living conditions, that weren't very favorable. It made me wonder if this was such a great idea.
Jessica, on the other hand, bounced out the door. She had a big smile on her face.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Don't give me that. You get to carry in John's things and wash them. All of them."
Jessica looked at me a bit concerned. I gave her a little half smile.
Theresa wasn't finished. "Did you clean the room out, and vacuum?"
"Yes, Mother. It's all ready for him."
"You didn't need to go to any fuss for me," I said.
Theresa was pulling me out of the car. She looked me in the eyes and said, "Jessica gave up her room for you to stay in. It was part of the deal."
I glanced quickly over to Jessica, before asking, "What kind of a deal?"
"Never you mind," Theresa said. "Right now you need to pay attention to your crutches. You're no longer in the hospital."
"If she's not in her room, where's she doing to sleep?" I asked as we walked up to their apartment.
"Don't worry," Jessica said.
"Why does that make me worry?" I asked.
It was the first glimpse of a smile from Theresa, since we arrived home. I stopped, acting like I was arranging the crutch under my shoulder.
"Jessica, go take that in. Please," I said.
Jessica gave me a sour look, but went inside. I turned to Theresa.
"You still can take me someplace else. I can see this makes you very uncomfortable."
She frowned, and then said, "I didn't really understand how it would make me feel ... you know..."
"Having a man in the house?"
"Yeah."
"The way I feel right now, I'm not much a man."
"John," she said sharply, "I don't want to hear you talk like that again. You most likely saved that girl's life. It is the biggest compelling reason Jessica hit me with."
"So you made a deal with her. When do I find out what it is?"
"Why should it matter to you?"
"Because if she bargained away too much, she's going to feel miserable."
Theresa gave away a little smile.
"Why do I feel you may have set her up?"
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