Page 75 of A Me and Him Thing
I’m there for a full hour when Jack, Ren’s father, shows up.
“Bree?” he seems shocked. “What are you doing here?”
Is it my imagination, or does he seem unhappy with my presence? This is Ren’s wife. I suppose he’s allowed to feel protective.
“Just thought I’d visit Allison. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Human contact is good for her.”
The nurse chimes in. “Allison loves Miss Kingston. She’s great with her.”
“That’s kind of you, Bree. But I always feed her at this hour. It’s her dinnertime.”
“You always feed her dinner?” That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. “You’re amazing, Jack Chambers. It’s no wonder Ren is pretty amazing too. But I’ll be on my way and get out of your hair.”
Then I show the nightgown to Allison. “I bought you a new nightgown.” It’s beautiful, like a thin wisp of air on her skin.
Her hand reaches, but she can’t manage once again. So I bring it to her. Her fingertips brush the soft material lightly.
Allison is more aware than I thought. Maybe her periods of agitation hide what’s left of her personality.
“We’ll put it on her after dinner, Miss Kingston. Dinnertime can be a messy affair,” the nurse says.
As I stand to go, Allison grasps my wrist with the meager strength she possesses. I didn’t know she could do that.
“Oh my, she likes you. I’m Patty, by the way. Please come again. You have a comforting influence on Allison.”
“Call me Bree. I’ll come again tomorrow, if that’s okay.”
“Thanks, Bree,” Jack says. “Good of you.” He offers me a polite nod.
I can’t help myself. I give him a huge hug. “I see why Ren is the man he is with you for a father.”
I never had a father. Jack reminds me of how much I missed.
Jack actually blushes. “You’re a good one, Bree. My son is smart enough to see it.”
“Does…does Ren have to know I was here? I don’t want to upset him.”
“I’m family, and I approve of your visits, especially since you’re good with her. Tell you what, I won’t say anything unless he asks. If he asks, I won’t lie to him.”
“Fair enough.”
Patty shrugs. “I can’t override a family member’s decision.”
“May I ask, where are Allison’s parents?” I’ve been wondering.
“They said their goodbyes,” Jack shakes his head, “and they refuse to visit again. Crying shame, if you ask me. But nobody does.”
That’s when I take my leave. I loved visiting Allison. It made me feel like part of Ren’s family.
It made me feel needed. I love to feel needed.
I plan to visit often. But as I’m walking away, I hear Allison shriek. I run back to her room, only to find that she has pushed the bowl of mush—that doesn’t look appetizing at all—and it has landed on the tile. Upside down, a pile of oozing goo slowly moving across the floor.
“Allison doesn’t love mealtime,” Patty mumbles under her breath.
Yeah. If I was being fed food that has been through a blender several times, I would hate it too. I imagine eating normally is impossible in her state.
