Page 30 of Confined Space

"You just wait right here and calm down. I'm going to let my team know I'm leaving for the day." She carries Archer out with her, and I take a moment to try to calm myself. My grandmother taught me to accept other's generosity, but lately I’ve been fighting against it. I guess it’s time to accept some help, as long as it's only temporary. I'll text Rowdy later and tell him we need to talk. I just hope he doesn't think I'm taking advantage of his mother.

After using a couple of her tissues, I feel a bit better. She returns, and we head out with her plans in motion.

* * *

Three hours later, we pull up to a large white building that looks almost like a barn or modified A-frame. The garage is attached to the side of the house by a covered walkway.

"Just leave your bags and boxes for now, we'll get them after I show you where you're staying."

She was shocked that everything I own would fit into three suitcases and a couple of boxes. Her SUV was just perfect. I haven't been able to buy too many things since moving here. I carry Archer in his car seat that she went and bought before she came and picked us up. She said that she was going to have more things delivered over the next couple of days. I tried to tell her we didn't need anything, but she wouldn't listen to me.

She opens a door and we pass through the covered walkway, then through another door into a large mudroom with a laundry room and other shelves. She leads me through an area that looks like a tower with a powder room and coat racks. I slip off my boots, and we continue. The main part of the house is a large great room with a galley island kitchen, dining room, and family room. We walk past the large windows at the double door entrance, one on each side of the doors, and then into another hallway.

"These two bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. My suite is across the great room on the other side of the house. I suggest you give Archer the first room and you take the back one, that way you have an entrance out onto the lanai. The pool out back is fenced in, so we don't have to worry when Archer starts getting mobile."

"Thank you, but he can just stay with me in one bedroom. I don't expect to be here that long, but I appreciate all you've done for us."

She smiles at me. "Sure. Just for now." Her grin is mischievous.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You'll see. Let's get your stuff moved into the house and then we can sit down to eat."

"Sounds good, but I can do it by myself if you want to keep an eye on Archer for me."

"Oh no, I have a couple more things in the car I want to unload."

We set Archer, still asleep in his car seat, by the entrance and then hurry to unload the car without leaving him for long. She purchased not only a car seat but a bouncer seat called a MamaRoo that has hanging toys and moves around in rocking motions to relax him. She also bought him a high chair and keeps hinting there is more. I don't know how I'll ever repay her. But when I brought that up, she told me they could just stay here when we left so he would always have things here. It's like she expects us to visit from now on.

I text Rowdy, who is on shift tonight, that I need to talk to him and for him to call me tomorrow on his day off. I don't tell him via text that I've moved in with his mother. I don't know where he lives, but it's not here, so he won't find out before I talk to him, or at least I hope he won’t.

Georgia helped me pack my things and said that she would be visiting every chance she could. I fall asleep with Archer in my arms, and for the first time in months, I'm completely rested when I wake up the next morning. JoAnna leaves for work, but she showed me where everything is and told me to make myself at home.

* * *

Rowdy

I wake up after working my night shift, ready to find out what's going on with Coral and ready to get to her, when I get a text from my mom.

Mom

Can you run by my place and wait for the delivery man? Please.

Me

Something’s going on with Coral. I need to find out what it is. Can they deliver later when you are home?

Mom

They'll be there at about 1.

Me

Mom, I can't. I need to go check on Coral.

Mom

Just do this for me, please. You can see Coral soon enough.