Page 2 of River
The bigger man stares at him with his fists clenched. His jaw tense. “Get inside,” he growls. “Back to work.”
2
River
“Kara…”I squeeze the back of the chair and then swing it around. Straddling it and resting my elbows on the top as I sit across the table from her. “I think we need to have a talk.”
She perches on the chair opposite me. I hadn’t really noticed how beautiful she was until right now.
The light from the window shines across her face. Lighting her up like an angel. She’s so stunning she takes my breath away.
“If this is about yesterday, I’m really sorry. I won’t let it happen again.”
“I know you won’t,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm and polite, even though the anger inside me is building up like a pot of water left on the hob for too long. “Because, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to work here any longer.”
“Oh…" her mouth hangs open. I swear I see tears well up in her eyes. But I’m determined to do what’s right here. And not for Kara. A woman I don’t even know. But for my mother. The woman she’s meant to be looking after.
“I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice person. And I wish you all the best. If you need a reference, then I’ll be happy to give you one. But, I have to make sure my mom’s in the best hands possible. I didn't realize how frail she is. How–”
“I understand.” Kara stands up. Her back straight and her chin held high. She puts out her hand and I shake it. “If you’ll just give me a minute or two to say goodbye, then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Of course.” I push the chair back and stand up. Kara turns around and walks back towards the living room. Before she goes through the door she takes a second. Breathes in. Wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.
Thirty seconds later, my mom’s shouting, “River! Where are you! Get your ass in here right this very second or so help me God!”
I roll my eyes. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
“Coming,” I groan.
“What’s this I hear? You’ve taken it upon yourself to fire Kara? Who gave you the right?”
“The right?!” I spread my arms out and look around for some support. But it's just me and my mom, and boy is she pissed. “I’m your son, goddamnit. That’s what gives me the right. And you’re sick. And I’m trying to look after you.”
“Trying to look after me,” she scoffs. “I’ve managed seventy years looking after my own damn self, I don’t need my son to step in at the last minute and take control of my life. I’m not a goddamn baby.”
“Yeah,” I slump down into the armchair beside her. It used to be my dad’s. He’d sit here in the evening watching TV and drinking beer. Shouting out the answers to the game shows as my mom sat quietly beside him, reading and sowing and occasionally butting in when my dad had the wrong answer. “A baby would probably be easier.”
She picks up her newspaper and slaps me on the knee. “Don’t give me cheek, boy! I may be old and I may be dying, but that doesn’t mean you can speak to me like that.”
“Sorry, mom.” I sit up and take her hands in mine. They’re smaller than I remember. Less fat on them. Covered in big blue veins and brown liver spots. The skin is still smooth. She still smells the same. But she’s shrinking. Disappearing right before my eyes. I have to take a second before I talk to stop my voice from cracking. “Mom, I arrived here yesterday, and the first thing I see is Kara on the doorstep with her boyfriend. Arguing. Having some kind of fight. I don’t want you to be around that kind of thing. I want you to be comfortable. Is that too much to ask?”
“Huh!” She pulls her hands back and reaches out for Kara. “Fat lot you know! That wasn’t her boyfriend, it's her loan shark!”
“Loan shark?” I jump up off my seat a little too fast. Kara steps back. She probably thinks I’m going to attack her or something. It’s easy to forget how big I seem to other people. How intimidating I can look. Especially if they’re not used to me. Especially if they don’t know me. “I hardly think that makes it any better.”
“You’re right,” my mom says, “it doesn’t. And to be honest with you.” She looks up at Kara and squeezes her hand. “I’d give anything for it to be her boyfriend out there on the stoop arguing with her. The woman’s an angel, you hear me. She’s a damn angel and she’s been here for me when there was nobody else and if anybody is going to fire her - which they damn well are not! - then it’s going to be me, and not my damn son!”
I go to say something, but she puts her hand up. It’s best not to get in her way when she’s like this. She may be old, but she still has her brains and her personality. It almost makes me happy to see her all riled up. Although I wish it wasn't me on the receiving end.
“Lord knows I’ve offered to pay off her debt for her. But she won’t take my money. She says it’s not right. That she doesn’t want to take advantage of me... and I know it’s not your fault you haven’t been here.”
“You didn’t tell me,” I say, lamely, sitting back down. Putting my head in my hands, and hiding my face from her. I don’t want anybody to see my pain. “You said it was just some aches and pains. That the doctors thought it was nothing.”
Mom lets out a sigh. “Well, I didn’t want to worry you and your brother. And I wanted you to remember me like I was. Strong. Confident. Not frail and weak and needing someone to wipe my damn ass for me.” She grimaces. Straightens out her hair with her thing, boney fingers. Looks out the window to her side with those glassy blue eyes that used to be so clear and bright but are now cloudy and pale. “Anyway, what’s done is done. I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you again, River. To have you hear staying with me. Under the same roof. Just like old times. But you have no right to fire Kara. She’s putting her brother through college, and she’s the best nurse I’ve ever had, and that’s the last we’re gonna speak about it.
“Now,” she turns back to look at me. “I’d like you to say sorry.”
“I’m sorry, ma,” I say. “You’re right. I overstepped the line.”
