Part 25 (2/2)
24.
BEN.
”Well, Duncan, why don't you take my phone right there and open the map app and help me?” he jokes.
I take the phone out of its holder and laugh. He gives me the address and I punch it in.
”Oh. We're close. Two more blocks make a right and then...a left onto Was.h.i.+ngton Place.”
”Thanks.”
When we pull up to the small crowded cape, the first things I notice are a makes.h.i.+ft wheelchair ramp and a gutter filled with old leaves.
”What a cute house,” Rose says as I turn off the engine.
”Yeah.”
Rose hasn't quite gotten out of the car when I reach the other side.
”You okay?” I ask, wondering if her legs still hurt from her walk.
”No, no. I'm fine. Just slow moving. I am a little nervous though.”
”Don't be. He's happy to have you here.”
”You told him.”
”Oh yeah. I never wanna show up unexpected.”
His mother answers the door, runs us through the sanitizing routine, and brings us to his room in the back. ”Isaiah is with him now, but they're done with therapy.”
”We can wait,” Rose suggests.
”Nonsense. Isaiah's great. He won't mind at all.”
”But Johnny?”
”No. Johnny won't mind either. He's coughing a lot again, so just keep a little distance. With his oxygen, he doesn't really cough, but he's stubborn and won't use it while you're here.”
”Oh.”
”His lungs struggle, but he's okay.”
”If it's a bad time...” I start to say, but she stops me.
”Please,” she says almost desperately. ”He needs to see you.”
”Of course.”
Johnny is staring out the window while his therapist sits ankle over knee on a recliner.
”Dude. Is that how you greet your guests?”
He spins his chair around and smiles when he sees us. ”Wow, Rose.” His greeting is interrupted by his cough. ”You look amazing.”
”Oh, thank you, Johnny. I'd kiss you, but your mom said...”
”Don't listen to my mother, she's just protective.” Johnny wheels himself over and Rose kisses him on the cheek.
”Hi. I'm Ben.”
”Isaiah.”
I sit on the couch alongside the wall. ”How's it goin', John?”
A couple coughs later, ”Not bad. You meet Isaiah?”
”Yeah.”
”Hi,” Rose and Isaiah say to each other.
”These are my friends Ben and Rose.”
Isaiah nods.
”So, Rose,” Johnny coughs. ”How's recovery going? You're walking so well.” Johnny's tone almost sounds as if his sentiment isn't genuine.
The slight drop in Rose's shoulders as she sits confirms she recognizes it too.
”Recovery's going okay,” Rose answers. ”What about you?”
”Eh. You know.”
”He's doing wonderfully,” Isaiah says. ”Had some movement in his fingers.”
”Really? Dude, that's excellent.”
”Yeah. Look what I can do.” The middle finger on Johnny's right hand slowly rises off his hand pad.
”Nice,” I say before flipping him off and cracking up.
Rose looks like she doesn't know how to react.
<script>