Chapter 8

I was sprawled on the couch. It was one of the few places that I would fit with my cast. Theresa was in a chair, across from me, and Jessica was sitting on the floor between us.

The two bags that Jessica had brought in were in her room, waiting.

This was time to get down to, as my mother would say, 'brass tacks.' I had always wondered where that expression came from, but not enough to look it up. At any rate, here we are.

"I want to hear the details," I said.

"John," Theresa said, in a tone that sounded like she really didn't want this conversation.

Fortunately for me, it had taken a good ten minutes to get us here. I had time to think.

I looked at her and said, "I'm guessing that you are not taking me in by the goodness of your heart. You want, and need, to be compensated."

The blank stare she gave me made me realize that she hadn't thought about that. She knew there was money, but just how the details would work had eluded her.

"I guess you're right," Theresa answered, as her demeanor changed.

"This time," I said with a little smile. "Now, let's see what we have. I'm going to pay what for living here? In other words, how much do you want, and what do I get?"

These were better terms for Theresa. She went into nurse mode, and listed off the things that were needed.

"You need a place to stay, food to eat, clothes washed, room cleaned..." she started, and paused for an acknowledgement from me. "Then there are the other details."

"Oh?"

"Transportation to your doctor and physical therapy visits. Those were my jobs and Jessica is doing everything else. That is the agreement."

"I hadn't thought of needing to be taken around. Anything else?"

"You don't want to pay for an apartment that you can't use, do you?"

"No. I can't afford to, really."

"So your things need to be sorted and packed."

"Oh."

"Will we bring those over to Aunt Jeanie's?" Jessica asked.

"Aunt Jeanie's?" I asked, wondering where my shit would end up.

"Where your car is," Jessica answered.

I looked over to Theresa.

"That is probably the best place. My sister has the room, that's for sure, and she'd never charge me. Plus I'm sure we'd need Ernie's help to move your furniture."

"I don't own any ... well, not really. The place was furnished."

"Oh, well that makes it easier," Theresa said. Then with a glint in her eye she added, "All we need are some shovels."

"It's not that bad, is it, Mom?"

I said, "No it's not," at the same time that Theresa said, "Yes it is."

Jessica started to laugh, and we joined in.

When that died down, I asked, "Have you thought of anything else?"

Apparently she had. Theresa adverted my gaze.

"You thought of something."

"Bathing," Theresa said.

It was dead silent. I had no idea what Jessica was thinking, but what came to my mind was that Theresa had said that her part of the bargain was to drive and that was it. Did she think ... no, she hadn't thought of my needing that. She wasn't going to have Jessica bath me.

Before anyone said anything, the phone rang. Theresa jumped up to get it. I'm sure to get away, right then.