Page 55 of Southern Comfort
“Well, not exactly.”
“She wouldn’t tolerate it either. Come on, Dad. You know that’s true.”
Kim doesn’t wait for his agreement.
“So let’s just reboot. You got into a bad habit. You can reverse it again. For me this time.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t run it in the ground,” he says as a deep line appears between his eyes.
She ignores the ominous look.
“Good. You’re going to survive, I promise.”
“What else?” I ask.
“I’m available till the middle of August. When Hunter returns from his road trip I want to spend the last few weeks together before he goes back to college.”
“That gives us plenty of time. Six weeks or so. Great. I should have the property cleaned up and you should be fine on your own by then, right Dad?”
“Sure.”
There is no confidence behind his agreement or mine. Kim will change that. I think. I hope.
“What about the money? What would be acceptable? We are planning on selling a few pieces of equipment and I think we will be able to swing a thousand or two.”
Her hand comes up, stopping my pitiful offer.
“No. This will be an act of friendship. I have the means to take care of Hunter and myself, thanks to my husband’s life insurance. I invested it early on, and over the years didn’t spend more than I could afford. That’s how I was able to work part time at Holly’s clinic. Money wasn’t the draw. Feeling like I was making a difference was. You are buying me another month or so before I have to stop putting the job hunt off.”
“No, no. That’s very nice of you, Kim, but I couldn’t feel good about myself if we didn’t come to an agreement,” Dad says with no room for discussion.
She leans back in her chair and stretches her legs out. She meets his gaze.
“Then I want you to pay me in other ways. You can’t monetize everything in life, Ronnie. For me, there are things you can do that mean more. You’re asking me to be in charge of overseeing your physical therapy. That I am willing to do. But there are jobsyouneed to do to get back your life, and they involve more than leg lifts. If you agree, it will be payment enough. And we will gradually add to your abilities. Each week there will be some new goal.”
“What kind of jobs?”
“Number one. Why don’tyoucook forus? You can make it to the kitchen.”
“Oh shit,” he says under his breath.
“I will order the food and handle the cleanup, but it will be your job to plan and execute the meals, not mine.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” I add my two cents.
“You would,” Dad says.
He realizes it isn’t going to be the easy time he was hoping for. Kim is not one to be handled. Not by him, not by Hunter, and not by me. She is cut from the same strong cloth Mom was. I love that about her.
“So what do you say, guys? Are we clear on our roles?” She dips the statement in a little sugar.
“I am.”
“One more thing,” Dad says, acting like he didn’t hear the question.
“What’s that?”
“If you two are sleeping together, sleep together here. We’re all adults and I don’t want anybody walking around on eggshells. It bothers me.”
