Page 136 of Tainted

“Excuse me for trying to help.”

“I thought you’d be more excited that she's coming home.”

“I am excited. I just.”

“Worry too goddamn much,” I replied, finishing her sentence.

“One of us has, too. You don’t worry enough.”

“We’ll be there

“Kenyon!”

“I’ll see you later,” I hung up and pushed through Banana Girls’ door.

She sat on the edge of the bed in her Sunday’s best. Banana Girl didn’t see the point in making a big fuss, but Zara wasn’t having it any other way.

“Where are the girls?”

“It’s your big day, so I’m here to take you out on the town.”

She smiled and tossed her hand in my direction.

“If I were forty years younger, I’d take you up on that. Right now, I want to go home.”

“I prefer the town, but if that’s what you want.”

There was still some weakness on her right side, but nothing that couldn’t be worked out at home. The staff gave her a round of applause on the way out. I wasn’t sure if they’d miss her or was happy to see her go.

The sun shined, casting an orange glow through the windshield as I drove. Banana Girl sat in the passenger seat, her wrinkled hands resting on her lap. She hadn't stopped talking since I picked her up, bouncing from one thought to the next.

“Zara says she’s meeting your family tonight.”

“Unless you need her to stay.”

“I don’t need her hovering over me.”

“She worries because she loves you,” I explained.

“She loves you too,” she smiled, and the words came out of nowhere. “You know, sometimes good people make bad decisions. It doesn’t make them any less good. Life is complicated like that.”

I glanced at Banana Girl, half-expecting to see her looking at me, but she was staring out the window, watching the world pass by like she was thinking about something deeper. Or maybe she knew more than she let on.

"You think so?" I asked, keeping my voice casual, but my grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"We’re all just doing our best, even when it doesn’t look like it from the outside,” she paused, her eyes flicking over to mebriefly. “Just make sure, no matter what, you take care of My Zara.”

"I will," I said quietly, the promise rolling off my tongue before I had time to think it through.

She smiled softly, her eyes returning to the window as if that settled the conversation. We pulled into the driveway, and I helped her out of the car and up the old porch steps. She paused, waving to the neighbors before entering the door I held open.

“Welcome home!” Their unison startled her, and she leaned back into my frame.

“Y’all didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me!” That’s what her mouth said, but the tears in her eyes told another story.

“Of course we did!” Zara insisted, rushing to her side.

“This is real nice. Real nice,” She groaned as she slowly lowered into the armchair.

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