Page 83 of Together in Harmony
“My love,” she says, putting out two shaky hands.
“Sheila.”
Me and the bro’s stand back, trying to be respectful and give Sheila and Harmony their moment. In truth, none of us know what the aunts are going to make of our relationship.
“Sheila, I have brought some friends to visit you and Patsy, I hope that is OK?”
The woman peers at us, then smiles. “That looks more than OK to me my love, gosh, what a heap of hunks you’ve got there.”
That’s when I realize Sheila is a lot younger than she looks. Parkinson's has aged her prematurely. Asa steps forward. “Good afternoon ma’am, the name is Asa. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Ah yes, of course farm-boy Asa would know how to handle all this.
Time to let the big guy take the lead.
ASA
Ms. Rowen opens the door of her apartment and welcomes us in.
"And please dear, call me Sheila," she says.
"With pleasure," I say.
Hugo and Lennox are cracking me up. They are so out of their depth being in a care home. I had plenty of practice when my gran was dying.
She’d been great, my gran. Taught me to bake, I'd really loved her.
One day I want to teach my grandkid to bake.
Sheila leads us to the kitchenette. “Come meet Patsy.”
Patsy is a beautiful black woman, her short gray curls framing a face with wide eyes and high cheekbones. She is also in a wheelchair, and it looks like the left side of her body is not working very well. We all exchange introductions while
Harmony helps her aunt make tea.
Classical music is playing quietly in the background.
“Thank you for bringing our Harmony to visit,” says Patsy. “So nice for her to have three big escorts.”
Harmony starts bringing the cups and saucers to the table.
“Can I help?”
“Oh no dear, you stay where you are,” says Sheila. “Too many cooks.”
As the kettle comes to a boil, Sheila gets down to business.
“So which one of you fellas is my niece's boyfriend?”
“Sheila…” starts Harmony.
“Hush, love,” Sheila says. “Let the boys answer for themselves.”
Might as well take the bull by the horns.
“Well ma’am, Sheila, the truth is, all three of us have fallen in love with Harmony, and she has done us the honor of allowing all three of us to be her boyfriends,” I tell her.
I think Patsy is raising an eyebrow, but it’s hard to tell, given her stroke symptoms.
