Page 21 of The Man Next Door
“She’s not going to be able to stay by herself,” Bree said.
“I know,” said Zona.
“How are you gonna manage this, Mom?”
“I’ll take the rest of this week off, then I’ll have to get her set up with some in-home care during the day.”
“I can help in the afternoons,” Bree offered.
“Just come visit her once in a while. That will keep her spirits up. I can handle the rest,” said Zona. So much for getting that evening job as a waitress that she’d been considering. She’d have to come up with something else, something more flexible. Burglary, perhaps. She could do that while Louise was asleep. Haha.
“Gram’s gonna go nuts,” Bree predicted.
“At least she has a good view of the new neighbor’s house from the guest bedroom. She can spy on him. And watch her true crime shows.”
Bree grinned. “And work on her mystery novel.”
“There’s an idea. How about doing me a favor and picking her up a fancy notebook to write in after you’re done with your shift tomorrow? It might help take her mind off her troubles.”
“Good idea. I’ll get her some colored pens, too.”
“Great. Wait a minute.” Zona hurried to her purse and pulled out her wallet, fishing out the twenty-dollar bill she’d been hoarding.
“Keep it, Mom. I’ve got this.”
“No, take it,” Zona insisted, shoving it at her. “Call it bad Mom tax.” She’d half hoped her daughter would say, “You’re a great mom.”
She didn’t. But she did say, “No way. Save it and buy yourself some chocolate. God knows you’re gonna need it by the time you’re done getting Gram set up.” She gave Zona a quick kiss on the cheek, then went to the door where Darling had been whining and scratching.
“Oh, crud. Poor Darling. He’s probably dying to go out. I’ll get his leash,” said Zona just as Bree opened the door.
“No, Darling,” Bree said, trying to push him away from the opening with her leg.
Darling was too good an escape artist to be stopped by a leg as slender as Bree’s. Off he dashed into the night.
“Oh, for crying out loud. Grab him, will you?” said Zona, and hurried to fetch his leash from where Louise kept it hanging on the coat closet doorknob.
DARLING WAS HAPPILYalready on the new neighbor’s driveway, pooping. No wonder he’d been whining.
Dog poop. Ick. Bree was willing to help with Gram, but no way was she picking up poop. Anyway, Mom would be out in a minute to pick it up. Poor Mom.
“Come on, Darling. Let’s get you back inside,” she said, and herded Darling back toward the house.
Her mother was on the porch when they got there. “Darling pooped on the neighbor’s driveway,” Bree informed her.
“I’ll get it,” Zona said just as Gram swore and called out, “Zona, I knocked over my stupid water glass.”
“Want me to stay?” Bree offered. It was late and she had to be up before the birds, but so what? She didn’t need that much sleep.
“No, go on home,” Mom said as Darling raced off to the guest bedroom to check on Gram. “Thanks for helping.”
“Anything for Gram,” Bree said.
Her mother looked exhausted. “You gonna be okay?” Bree asked.
“Of course,” Mom said. “We’ll be fine.”
Things have a way of working out, Gram always said. If you asked Bree, nothing was working out for any of them.
