Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,23
him into the bathroom.”
Being ordered about isn’t something I’m used to, but no one messes with Betty Boswell.
“Come on, Dad. Mrs. Boswell is right. We stink.”
“Now, Kris, I didn’t say that.”
Dad puts his good foot on the floor and slowly lowers his injured foot down. “You might as well have, Betty,” growls Dad.
Mrs. Boswell smiles at me and shakes her head.
Dad places his arm around my shoulders, and we awkwardly make our way down to the family bathroom. When we enter, I’m surprised to see it’s been completely remodeled.
“Dad, when did you do this?”
The bathtub which had the shower over it has been removed, all the walls are covered in white subway tiles. There are grab handles on the walls and there’s no step into the shower. It makes it easy for anyone with a disability to be self-sufficient.
Dad sighs. “Hurt myself last year, and Athena got the people in to do this.” He waves his hand around the room. “She figured I’d have a hard time getting in and out of the bathtub.”
“She did a good job.”
“Yeah, and she paid for it. Little minx wouldn’t tell me how much it was.”
First, Athena gets attacked, and now my dad has had some sort of accident, and I didn’t even know. I point at the toilet and motion for him to sit. Begrudgingly he does, and I remove his work boot and sock followed by the medical boot.
Dad touches my shoulder. “Thank you, son. I’ve got it from here.”
“You sure? I don’t mind helping.”
Dad smiles as tears well in his eyes. “I’m old, but I’m not that old. Now, get.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll get you some pajamas to change into. Yell out when you’re done.”
I close the door behind me and go back into his bedroom where Mrs. Boswell has already put the clean sheets on and is bundling up the dirty ones for the wash.
“I’ll put these in the machine but won’t turn it on just yet. Are you going to go change?”
“Yes, ma’am. Just waiting on him to shower before I go, in case he needs help.” Mrs. Boswell nods and goes past me. “Why didn’t anyone contact me about the bathroom?”
She stops and looks over her shoulder at me. “Why didn’t you know?”
There’s no accusation in her voice, it’s merely a question, one I don’t have an answer to. Mrs. Boswell continues on, and I’m left feeling like a horrible human being. I wanted so badly to make it in the movie industry that I neglected everyone around me who was important to me, who is important to me. A pounding on the front door draws me out of my self-recriminations as I go to it.
“Hey, Kris. Does your dad need help?” asks Ashlea.
“What are you doing here?”
“I left work early. Doc doesn’t mind.” Ashlea pushes past me. “Is he in his room?”
“No, in the shower.”
“Kris!” yells Dad as if on cue.
“Coming!” Ashlea smiles at me. “Could you go and grab him some fresh pajamas? They’re in the top drawer of his dresser.” As I take a step away from her, Ashlea grabs my hand.
“Do you need help with him in the bathroom?”
I frown. “I don’t think he’d like that.”
Ashlea shakes her head. “I’ve been your dad’s nurse before. It’s not a problem.”
“How about this time you grab the PJs, and I’ll make sure he’s decent?”
“You know I’m a nurse, right?”
“I can see why TB is marrying you.”
Without waiting for an answer, I go in to help my father.
***
I’m back at the motel sitting on the bed with a towel wrapped around my waist. Dad is with Mrs. Boswell and Ashlea, and they told me to take my time. Sophia opens the door between our rooms and walks in.
“Do you know how to knock?”
“Oh, please, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before.”
“Sophia,” I reply warningly.
Ignoring me completely, she sits beside me on the bed. “Where have you been?”
“With my dad. He hurt himself, and I’ve been at the medical center with him.”
Sophia’s hand rests on my knee, and she turns into me, so her breast is on my arm. “Are you okay?”
Tilting my head to look at her, Sophia reaches up with her other hand to cup my face, then she moves in to kiss me.
I stand and walk toward my suitcase on the floor. “I’m fine, and my dad will be, too.”
“Oh, don’t be like that.” Looking back at her, she’s leaning back on one arm while the other undoes the top button of her blouse. “I’ve