The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) π
Read free book Β«The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) πΒ» - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
Read book online Β«The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) πΒ». Author - Frost, J
She gives me her vague smile back and rearranges the fresh flowers Iβve brought her. I bring them every week. Iβll have to have flowers delivered while Iβm away. Another thing to do before I go. I read her another story, then cut the visit a few minutes short so I can speak to Jenetta about my trip.
Jenetta, the home director, welcomes me with the same wide, white smile that she gave me four years ago when I first brought my mother here. It was that smile that sold me on this home. Not the nicest, or the newest, that I visited, but that smile reassured me that the lady in charge cared, when I wasnβt sure anyone else did. When I felt so lost and alone caring for this woman Iβd known all my life, who was becoming a stranger to me.
Jenetta rises and comes around her desk when I knock on her open door. The door to her office is always open. I love that about her. She takes my hand and leads me to one of the two chairs facing her desk. She sits in the other one, beside me. She never faces off across the desk. Iβm not a people person; I have no intention of ever doing anything that has me interfacing with the public, but if I did, Iβd take Jenetta as my role model.
She pats my hand, her coal-black hand covering mine as it rests on the chairβs cracked faux-leather arm. βHow was your visit with Vi?β she asks me.
βThe same. Howβs she doing? No outbursts?β
βNone at all.β
It was Jenetta who warned me that people with dementia sometimes act out. People who would never have hurt a fly before they developed the disease. The whole world becomes an incomprehensible, alien place. Bewildered, frightened, they rail against it. But my motherβs never done any of that. Sheβs just slipped gently, terrifyingly gently, into the twilight.
βI saw The Princess Bride in her room. Is she reading it?β
Jenetta shakes her head and gives me a softer, sadder version of her usual smile. βOne of the volunteers was reading to her. She says she canβt understand the marks on the page anymore.β
I swallow the tightness in my throat and let out a long breath. My mother loved to read. It was her gift to me, her love of books. Now itβs gone. When sheβs already lost so much. βWell, I just wanted to let you know Iβm going out of town for two weeks. I, um, was invited on a cruise to Mexico. Itβs a little last minute, or Iβd have given you more warning.β
βWeβve got the emergency contact number for your brother if anything comes up, but Iβm sure Vi will be fine while youβre gone. Do you have a contact number on the cruise?β
My cell, but she already has that. βSorry, I should haveβdo you mind if I make a call?β
βOf course not. Do you want some privacy?β
βNo, this will only take a second.β I take out my phone and dial Logan, glad that I havenβt changed his contact name over to βBig Daddy Dom NYCβ yet, which I intend to do, just to tease him.
He answers on the first ring, βEmily, everything okay?β
βYes, um, Iβm just with the director of my motherβs care home and sheβs asked me for a contact number on the cruise. I was just, I was wondering if I could give her your number? If thatβs okay?β
βYes, itβs okay. Text me the number of the care home after youβre done so Iβve got it, too.β
βThank you, uhββ I almost say βsir,β but that would be too weird in front of Jenetta. βThank you so much, Logan.β
βYouβre welcome, baby doll. Call me later.β
βI will.β
I hang up and look at Jenetta, who is watching me with the slyest grin. βWhat?β
βNothing,β she says, unsuccessfully trying to suppress her grin. βLet me just jot this down.β She retrieves a pad and pen from her desk and takes down Loganβs number. βPicture?β she says, as she finishes writing.
βPicture?β I repeat dumbly.
βFor the file,β she says innocently.
I shake my head at her, before I show her the picture I took of Logan over breakfast. Iβve already labelled it his βGreek Godβ picture. I caught him as he was reaching back to scratch his neck, so heβs got one arm stretched behind his head, his big biceps bunched. The morning light illuminates his tanned torso. Heβs unshaven, heavy-eyed, shirtless and absolutely gorgeousβat least, to meβbut I donβt know what he looks like to her. Maybe sheβll think he looks like a bum.
She whistles. βFine looking man.β
βYouβre shameless.β
βIβll just note that for the file. James Logan. What, thirty, thirty-five? Brown and, what, black or dark brown? Two hundred pounds? All hunka-hunka.β
My cheeks have ignited. βThat has to be a HIPAA violation.β
She laughs. βProbably. Bane of my existence, HIPAA. Anyway, now I know why youβre rushing off to Mexico. Have a wonderful time, Emily. Donβt worry about a thing. Your mother will be fine and you know if you want an update or need to tell us anything, just pop me an email.β
βI will. Thank you. Thank you for everything. I havenβt ever told you how grateful I am for you, for everything you do here.β I feel myself tearing up and blink back the prickle. βBeing, um, with Logan, itβs made me realize that I take too much for granted. I donβt tell people often enough how grateful I am to them.β
Jenetta tucks her chin back into her neck like a surprised turtle. Then she reaches out and takes my phone from me and inspects Loganβs picture again. βWell, he donβt look like the Second Coming, but he must be if
Comments (0)