Page 11 of Confined Space

We walk out to Georgia's car, and Georgia steps out to greet us.

"JoAnna, how are you doing?" Georgia pulls JoAnna into her arms. These ladies are the huggy type. My granny was that way too, but no one else I was around growing up was.

"I'm well. How do you know Coral and Archer?"

"They are my neighbors, and now friends." Georgia smiles at me.

"JoAnna helped me yesterday by keeping an eye on Archer," I say as I go to the back door and open it so I can get Archer out of the seat. It was very sweet of Georgia to buy him a car seat for her car. I hold him out so JoAnna can take him. It's so hard carrying him one-armed; it helps that he’s still so little and light.

"There's my little man. How are you doing? Granny Jo missed you, baby boy." She coos as she takes him from me and loves on him. He smiles at her and takes it all in. Granny Jo? I'm shocked she would give herself that nickname to my baby.

"Um?" I don’t know what to say as I reach for him again. She turns away from me as she continues to coo and talk to him before she turns her head back to look at me.

"Oh, yesterday we got to know each other so well. I hope you don't mind. The way my son is heading, I'm never going to be a grandma." She chuckles.

"That's not fair that you claimed him first. I've known him longer," Georgia gripes. She stomps her foot and juts out her lip like a petulant child, and I can’t hide my chuckle. I know she’s just pretending, but it’s funny to watch.

"Well, you can be Grandma Georgie," JoAnna says, and I'm shocked again. Everywhere I turn in this small town, I’m welcomed with open arms.

"I don't get it. Why?" I finally ask the question that is burning in my chest to find out.

"Why what, sweetie?" JoAnna turns to look at me as Archer coos back at her and babbles. He's just started doing that. The doctor was impressed as technically Archer is still a month behind in his physical development. He is progressing fast in other areas though.

"Why are you and Georgia wanting to help me so much and be like a family? I don't understand it."

"Coral, do you have a family?" I start to nod in response, but she cuts me off. "I mean a family that wants to be a part of your life. Rowdy said you left the hospital and took a bus home last night."

Her words give me pause. My head rears back and my eyes blink. "How did he know that?" I ask softly. I remember the feeling of being watched.

"He pulled up to the hospital as you were waiting for the bus. He said he was about to see if you wanted a ride, but the bus beat him. If you had a family that would help, wouldn't they have been there?" She’s right.

"They live in Alabama." I try to cover for the fact that my family isn't here.

"Yet, when you were asked if you had family they could contact, you said no one. Not even Georgie here. I've known her for a very long time, and she would have dropped everything to be there for you."

"But I don't want to be a burden." I've been told how demanding of attention I am. How I expect people to focus solely on me. How I interfered with their lives when I asked for help. Every time I turned around, it was thrown in my face what they did for me. I don’t want that anymore. I’ve learned enough to know that’s a form of manipulation.

"If people offer to help, it isn't a burden. Whoever told you that is full of crap."

"Why would Rowdy show up at the hospital to help me?" I fidget with my cast.

"Oh boy, this is going to be so much harder than I thought it was going to be.” She chuckles. “Sweetheart, I'm fairly certain you made an impression on my son." Her bright smile tells me I’m missing something.

"He was doing what he needed to do to help me." I grab for Archer again, feeling uncomfortable with where this conversation is going.

"Rowdy very rarely gets into the car with a trapped individual. He likes to be in control. But with you, he jumped right in there. He didn't leave your side, and he wanted to go with you in that ambulance. I know my son."

"But that’s his job. I think you’re overthinking this.” I look up at them and shake my head.

"Well, did you like him?" Georgia asks me, and I start to shift from foot to foot.

"I think it's time to go. I need to ice my wrist, and Archer is going to want to eat soon." I don’t answer her question because I don’t know how I feel. I know how I should feel, but I also know he caused my body to react like it never has before. Again, I try to reach for my son, and again they avoid giving him to me.

"Hmm… That's interesting." Georgia laughs, and I look from her to JoAnna, who is smiling too.

"I don't know what you two are conspiring about." I wave my hand between them both, one eyebrow hitched up. "But I'm telling you right now, stop. I'm content with where everything in my life is right now. I just moved here, and I’m still getting used to being here. I don’t want to confuse that. Besides, I have too many issues I need to get control of." I say the last part softly, hoping they don’t hear me, but I’m not that lucky.

"Such as?" they both say with bigger smiles.

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