Saving Grapes - Madeline Kirby Page 0,56
headed inside.
The pharmacist reviewed the prescriptions and told him what each of them were for.
“He says he doesn’t want the painkillers filled.”
“Well, it’s up to him,” she said. “What is he taking instead?”
“They gave him ibuprofen at the hospital. The doctor suggested one with a sleep aid for nighttime – do you have that?”
“Yes, it’s on aisle two. It’ll take me a few minutes to fill these if you want to do any shopping. I’ll page you when they’re ready.”
Ben thanked her and stepped away from the window. There wasn’t anything he needed, and he’d pick up the ibuprofen on his way out, so he sat in the small waiting area and opened the email app on his cell phone. He had emailed the brewer training program last night to find out more about admission and tuition financing. He had reviewed their requirements online, and had been relieved to see that the prerequisites had been covered by his undergraduate classes.
There was an email from the program, and he debated about opening it now or waiting until he got home. He’d stayed up late the night before tossing around ideas and plans with Steve and Mindy and his Dad. The support system was in place, and the money could be worked out if everything else was organized. He just had to sell his crazy idea to Thom, but it didn’t look like Thom would be buying anything he was selling today.
“Mr. Loomis?”
Ben went back to the pharmacy window to collect Thom’s prescriptions.
“What should I do with this?” he asked, taking the unfilled prescription out of his pocket.
“Hang onto it for now, in case he changes his mind. Just keep it in a safe place.”
Ben thanked her, picked up the ibuprofen, and headed back out to the car.
“Did you fill the painkillers?” Thom asked when he got back in the car.
“No,” he said, holding the slip up for Thom to see.
“Shred it when we get home.”
“The pharmacist told me to hang onto it for now, in case you change your mind.”
“I’m not going to change my mind.”
“And I’m not going to go against the advice of a trained professional.”
Thom didn’t answer, turning his head to look out the window.
By the time Thom was home and settled into his temporary bed in the dining room he was too tired to do anything but sleep. Nothing was where it belonged and there were too many people in the house. Even though he still believed he should send Ben away, he hated the thought of sleeping without him. Even if the narrow hospital-style bed would have held both of them, it wasn’t an option since he was sharing the room with Granddad, who couldn’t handle climbing to the second floor with his arthritis.
No one was letting him sleep yet, though. Everyone was coming in and out of the room, fussing over him and insisting he eat something so he could take his meds and keep his weight up. He finally managed to force down enough food to satisfy Ben and Mindy so they’d give him his antibiotics and ibuprofen.
He knew everyone was in the kitchen, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. It sounded like Jon was trying to convince Ben to do something. Every once in a while he’d hear Mindy’s and Granddad’s voices, sounding like they were backing Jon up. He wondered what was going on, and why they seemed to be ganging up on Ben. He wanted to call out and ask what was going on, but when he opened his mouth all that came out was a yawn. He closed his eyes, and was almost instantly asleep.
“Is he asleep?” Ben asked when Mindy came back in the room.
“Yeah.”
“Good. I was afraid we were getting too loud.”
“We weren’t, so let’s get back on topic,” Steve said, leaning forward in his chair.
Ben folded his arms on the kitchen table and rested his forehead on them. He knew what everyone wanted him to do, but he wasn’t sure it was the right thing right now, and said so.
“We talked about this already. No better time, with your dad and Mindy and me here.”
“He’s right,” Mindy said. “And you’ll still be here most of the time.”
“But I’ll have to put so much time into studying, and you’ll need to study too. I worry that it’ll be too much for Steve and Dad.”
“I’m almost finished,” Mindy said. “I have a light course load and it’s all electives this semester.”
Ben sat