Page 71 of Home With You

"Yes, and I've been trying to get her to stay with me the entire time I've known her but she refuses, saying it would upset my husband, which is true but he needs to get over it. She's sick and I'm not taking no for an answer. I've talked to my husband and he's okay with her staying in the spare bedroom until she gets better." She looks at the tent, then back at me. "You shouldn't be out here either. It's going to drop into the twenties tonight. Why don't you come home with me? You could stay on the couch. It'll be a little crowded but we'll manage."

"She can stay with me," Miles says. "I have plenty of room."

I look at him. "Um, yeah, I'll just stay with Miles tonight."

Zoe nods, then unzips the tent and crawls inside. Gladys starts coughing and I hear Zoe talking to her.

"That was a good idea," I say to Miles. "Calling Zoe? I didn't even think about that."

"I knew she'd offer to help," Miles says. "The first night I went in the coffee shop I saw them together and thought Gladys was Zoe's mom, the way they interacted."

"Yeah, Zoe's mom died a few years ago and Gladys has kind of become her second mom. But I had no idea she'd asked Gladys to live with her."

"Sounds like that wasn't really an option if Zoe's husband wasn't on board."

"Yeah, plus they have two kids so their house is pretty full."

"At least she'll have a few nights of being warm."

Gladys and Zoe come out of the tent.

"Going to a sleepover?" I say to Gladys, smiling so she knows I'm okay. She doesn't like leaving me. If I act sad that she's leaving, she won't go.

"Just for a few nights." She comes over and kisses my cheek. "Zoe said you're staying with Miles."

"Um, yeah. Just for a night."

She winks at me. "Good, dear. Oh, and thank you for the sweater. Where did you find such a beautiful thing?"

I look over and see Zoe holding it, along with the rest of Gladys' stuff.

"Miles got it for you," I say. "Along with a new blanket. He did some shopping."

She goes over to him and gives him a hug. "Such a nice young man. You take care of my girl."

"I will." He pats her back. "You get better, okay?"

She nods, then walks down the alley to meet up with Zoe, who's packing up her van. Zoe helps Gladys into the front seat, then waves at us from the street. "I'll call and let you know how she's doing."

"Thanks!" Miles says.

We watch them drive off, and I feel a wave of relief knowing Gladys is with someone who I know will take good care for her. I also feel relieved that someone isn't me. I love Gladys, and I don't mind taking care of her, but it's a lot of responsibility and sometimes it gets to be too much. Even just one night off is like a weight being lifted off my shoulders.

16

Raine

"Need to bring anything?" Miles asks.

"For what?"

"For staying over. Get what you need and we'll go."

"Oh, I'm not really staying with you. I just said that so Zoe and Gladys wouldn't worry."

"Raine, you can't stay out here tonight. It's too cold."

"I have to get used to it. It'll be winter soon and it'll be a lot colder than this."

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