Page 45 of Lorna's Savior
“And how much longer will your mother be away?”
“Another six weeks.” Lorna laughed. She hurried back to the kitchen when she heard a pot overboil. After checking things, she looked at Ronnie. “Hungry?”
“Starving. It smells so good in here, what’s for dinner?”
“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes. If I can remember how to mash them, and corn.”
“Sounds delicious.” Ronnie nodded as she joined her friend. She picked up a fork and instructed Lorna how to test for doneness. When they were ready, she gave step-by-step instructions as to how to mash them. It was only twenty minutes from the time Ronnie walked in, to when they sat down and ate.
“God, this is so good. You made it?”
“I did,” Lorna sat up with pride. “This recipe is from Lori, mother’s chef. I have never made it before.”
“Damn, girl, you did good.” Ronnie shoveled another mouthful in, and washed it down with a sip of water. They had opted to do wine afterward. They caught up on little things as they ate, then after the dishes were done, and the food put away, they both flopped on the couch with a sigh of relief, each with a glass of wine in their hands.
Ronnie looked over at Lorna, and gave a small smile. “I know I don’t have to ask, but I’d like to make it official. Will you be my maid of honor?”
“Abso-monking-lutely!” Lorna screamed, and hugged her friend.
“What the hell was that?”
“What?”
“Monking-lutely? What was that?”
“Oh,” Lorna laughed. “I’m trying to clean up my potty mouth, and I’ve come up with two words that replaces every swear word.”
“What?”
“Monk and ball.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Okay, I just said abso-monking-lutely, right? Well, in actuality what I could have said was abso-fucking-lutely, but I didn’t.”
“Ah, I understand.” Ronnie giggled. “I’m sure Finn feels better about you not swearing at the office.”
“Yeah, he does,” Lorna admitted. “Did Finn tell you I took Janis’ job?”
“No, he doesn’t talk to me about the Foundation, unless it’s to tell me when a fundraiser is coming up. Hell,” she grinned. “Or maybe I should say, ‘Monk’ I’m so busy I don’t even know what day of the week it is half the time.”
“Didn’t Grady come back after his surgery? It’s been months, hasn’t it?”
“Don’t get me started on that shitstorm.” Ronnie sighed as she took a sip of her wine. “Better tell you anyway.” She settled into the corner of the couch with her feet pulled up to her, and her head on the back. “Grady’s surgery was picture perfect. Couldn’t have been better. He healed nicely. He followed the doctor’s orders, and didn’t use his arm for the eight weeks after surgery, then his doctor sent him to physical therapy. That’s when it went to hell in a handbasket.”
“What happened?”
“Grady’s therapist was a male, which is no problem. However, we found out later that he lied on his resumé.”
“How?”
“He said that he had been a physical therapist for eight years. Lies. He had been a personal trainer for eight years, and believed in the adage,‘no pain, no gain’.”
“Oh, monk, what happened? I see a train wreck coming.”
“Yes, that first visit he worked Grady’s shoulder hard. So hard that the next day Grady went back to his surgeon, and that’s when they realized the therapist had torn everything the doctor had repaired.”
“Holy monk balls.” Lorna stared at her in shock.
