Page 47 of Until Now
Maxen
That great night. Everything I was feeling wanted out, and it was impossible to keep it to myself any longer. I said it. For the first time in my life, I meant it. Not that it was said recklessly before, but now that I know what love feels like, everything before was misidentified. I had been in lust, in like, but never in love. I sound like a woman. Obviously, they’ve understood what it’s about for a long time. Us men take longer to get there.
After we made love, Dominique asked how we were going to do the long-distance thing. I said we would figure it out, and nothing would stop us from being good at it. But in the light of day, the question lingers.
There are only three weeks until my return to California, and the hours and days pass quickly now. How am I supposed to be without her? It’s the daily connection that forms a relationship, how we work together to navigate everyday problems. How we handle our moods. Do we become stronger with each challenge or weaker? Shit. It’s time spent together. I want that kind of consistency with Dominique. This could slip through our fingers if both of us aren’t aware of how easily it could happen.
“Where are you, Maxen?”
Kim’s voice carries from the hallway to the kitchen, where I’m making us a snack. Thought it would be good to serve the comfort food our mother always made us when someone was sick—toast with butter and sugar. Grabbing the plates and two paper towels for napkins, I head her way.
“Watch how good I’m doing!” Kim says, taking careful steps with her nurse at the ready.
Lunch gets placed on the coffee table.
“Wow. You’re walking so much better. Good job, Sister. And you too, Arlene.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ripley.”
Try as I have many times, Arlene won’t call me Maxen.
Kim looks sixteen with those braids. My throat tightens with emotion, thinking I could have lost her.Shake it off.Kim’s improving by the day now. I expect by the time my brother takes over, Arlene won’t have to be sleeping here anymore.
My sister can take care of her grooming already. Bathroom duty she does by herself. It’s just the bathing that requires assistance. Daily visits from the nurse should handle that, along with her physical therapy.
I’m going to miss being around Kim. We have always been close, but this experience tightened the bond. I’ll miss Hunter too. He’s a happier kid, a more expressive boy, and it’s all due to Bing. He’s had a good influence over my nephew. He’s even got him through the raw grief of losing Boomer. Cali and McFly are the beneficiaries of his rediscovered love of dogs. I’ve noticed a kind of special canine attention paid to Hunter. Like they know he’s the one who needs it.
Nurse Arlene watches as Kim settles in her recliner and puts her feet up.
“I’ll be leaving for just a few hours. You good?” She directs her question to Kim.
“I’m fine. My brother will take care of me; I’m his favorite sibling. Besides, he made me my comfort food.”
Grabbing her purse from the tabletop, Arlene heads for the front door. When she opens it, Bing and Hunter can be seen leading the dogs up the walkway.
“Bye, boys,” she says as they pass.
Leashes and harnesses are removed, and the dogs move to find comfortable spots to rest. McFly curls at the foot of Kim’s chair. Immediately his eyes close. Cali comes in for a pet, which I gladly give, and then she lays facing her best friend.
“You look like you climbed the Alps,” I say, looking at the red faces.
“Where did you guys take the dogs?” Kim asks.
“We found a cool path behind McDonald's. You know those houses on the hill? That’s where it led,” Bing says, flopping on the couch.
He grabs a piece of his mother’s toast and takes a big bite.
“We’re starting an Explorers Club.”
“That McDonald's is a good three miles away.”
Hunter checks his watch. “We did seven-point-one miles in total.”
“We saw a skunk and a tarantula!”
“And he wanted to bring it back!” Hunter says, pitching a thumb at Bing.
“Which one?!” Kim and I say it at the same time. It makes us all laugh.
