I noticed this and didn’t, mainly because I was busy trying to tel Mom about the mess I was in without giving her another stroke. I sat on my knees on the floor in front of her, she was sitting on the couch and Eddie was standing beside me.
I told her the story of my week.
Mom’s face got pale.
Then her eyes got hard.
When I was done she said, “Your f**king father.” Wow.
I didn’t think I’d ever heard Mom say the f-word.
“Mom, stay calm,” I said.
“I’m calm. I’m calm enough to say when they put me away for murdering your father, they’l know it’s premeditated. One-armed or not, I’m gonna kil that jackass.” She looked up at Eddie, “Sorry Eddie.” He cocked his head slightly, indicating he wasn’t going to cuff her just yet.
Mom’s eyes turned back to me. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t—” I started but she interrupted me.
“I know what you didn’t,” she snapped in a mother-talking-to-idiot-daughter voice, “you didn’t want me to get sick again. Jet, for goodness sake, I’m not made of glass.
You can’t handle me for the rest of my life like I’m going to shatter.”
“Easy for you to say,” I whispered and stared at her.
She didn’t see herself in the hospital bed after it had happened; her whole left side limp and slack, even her face, her voice slurred and her eyes unfocused. It was horrible.
I wasn’t going to say it but I didn’t have to.
Her hand went to my cheek.
“Thank you, dol face,” she said quietly and I pressed my cheek into her hand as tears fil ed my throat.
Then she said, “But from this point on, you’re off duty.” My eyes flew to hers but she was looking at Eddie.
“I’m moving in with Trixie,” she announced.
I gasped.
Eddie spoke.
“You’re stayin’ with my mother tonight. Tomorrow you’re movin’ in with a friend who can keep you safe. I don’t know what’s gonna go down next and I’m not takin’ any chances.
When it’s over, you can move in with Trixie,” Eddie said in a voice not to be trifled with.
“Okay,” Mom said immediately, deciding not to trifle.
“But…” I started, feeling the somewhat desperate need to trifle.
Eddie pul ed me up by my arm and talked over me.
“Trixie, you come back with us, pack a bag for Nancy, enough for a week.” He turned to me, “You pack a bag too.” I opened my mouth to speak but Eddie kept on issuing orders, looking at Trixie.
“You can bring Nancy’s bag back, but I don’t want you two to go anywhere unless you arrange to have someone with you. Do you understand what I’m sayin’?” Trixie nodded, eyes wide as saucers.
“Indy, stop by to see Tex. Tel him he’s gonna have company.”
Indy nodded too.