Part 13 (1/2)
”If you don't, someone else will,” Star commented.
”What about a waiting list?” Nova asked.
”There isn't one. It's a fairly new home. The director told me that very few people know about it. I guess Mr. Waterson's a.s.sistant knew someone who lives in La Conner and told her about it when it opened last fall.”
”Kismet,” Star commented. ”Honey,” she continued, addressing her daughter, ”turn left up here at the light.”
”I see that, Mom. There's a very large sign that says 'La Conner.' But thanks.” She rolled her eyes toward her hairline.
Star saw the movement in the rearview mirror and tapped the back of Nova's seat with her foot. ”Be nice,” she instructed, her voice edged in warning. The air suddenly felt tense, as I sensed the same unease between Nova and Star that I often felt with my own mother.
”Still hate backseat drivers, huh, Nova?” I joked, trying to lighten the mood in the van.
”Backseats are only good for one thing,” Nova said, smiling. ”We learned that in high school, right, Nic?”
”Along with a few other things,” I answered.
Star covered her ears. ”Please. I don't need to hear this.” She grimaced. ”I may be hip, but I'm still your mother.”
”Please. Like you don't know how I ended up with four kids.”
”I'd rather not think about it, thank you.”
”How did you end up with four kids?” I asked, laughing more.
”Easy. I'm a s.l.u.t.” Nova and I both roared at her joke, and even Star couldn't help but join us. Jenny giggled at us all, and Layla cooed and smiled, batting at the colorful toys that hung over her car seat. The tension in the vehicle had lifted, suddenly upbeat and oddly out of sync with the purpose of our trip.
I sighed, still laughing a bit. ”I envy you, you know that?” I twisted to look at Star. ”You, too. Both of your marriages are so great.”
”Ha!” Star and Nova snorted at the same time, sounding so alike their relation suddenly became apparent.
”What do you mean, 'ha'? You and Orion have been together how long, thirty years almost? And you and Ryan seem so close, Nova. I don't know how you do it.”
Star reached up to touch my elbow. ”You don't think thirty years has been all candlelight and flowers, do you? Because it definitely has not.”
”And popping out a baby every few months is not exactly fuel for the romantic fires,” Nova added. ”Seems like every time I'd actually get up the energy to do it, Ryan'd knock me up and poof! 'No s.e.x in the Suburbs.'”
I laughed again, wistful. ”I know. I guess I just wonder how it is to connect-I mean really connect-with someone. The right someone.”
”Seems like I saw some connecting going on with that Garret fellow at the barbecue,” Star commented knowingly. I wondered what Nova had told her about us.
I blushed, tucking my curls behind both ears. ”Well, yeah, maybe, but I guess what I mean is how do you make it last? How do you stay together through the times when you don't connect?” My thoughts fled to Shane as I considered whether we had ever actually connected on any level other than the physical.
”I think it's really about expectations,” Star said. ”If you expect to connect all of the time, you're doomed.”
Nova whistled. ”Watch out, Dr. Laura. Star Carson is on the air.” She followed the curve of the road onto the short main strip of downtown La Conner.
”Nova,” I groaned, s.h.i.+fting my body to look at my friend's mother. ”Star, that was very helpful. Thank you.”
”It was, Mom,” Nova relented. ”I also happen to agree with you.”
”Well, will wonders never cease?” Star smiled. She looked out the window. ”Here's the street we're looking for.”
”Okay, Mom!” Nova tooted the horn, obnoxiously. ”Got it!”
”Just trying to help,” Star said, crossing her arms over her chest, her tone defensive.
”Well, give it a rest,” Nova said, turning the steering wheel. It was good to see another person get so easily annoyed with her mother. It almost made me feel normal.
We pulled up in front of a boxy, two-story gray house with white shutters and a wraparound porch. A wide ramp served as entrance to the double front doors, so Star and I didn't have any trouble getting Jenny inside. Nova stayed in the car to nurse Layla, promising to join us soon.
When we entered, a short, stocky woman of what I guessed to be Latino descent approached us from behind a small desk. She wore violet-hued polyester pants and a matching nurse's smock with sensible white orthopedic shoes.
”h.e.l.lo,” she said, sticking out her hand. ”You must be the Hunters.”
”Two of us are,” I answered, introducing myself, Jenny, and Star.
She bobbed her dark head sharply in our direction. ”Did you have any trouble finding us?”
I shook my head. I had been expecting the director. ”Is Ms. Navarro here today?”
”I'm Natalie Navarro.” Her r's had a slight purring sound. She gestured to her appearance. ”I'm also a nurse a few hours a day. Shall I give you the tour?”
”Please.” I held my breath as she led us through the house, fearful that the next corner would reveal the darkness I had been expecting, the stench that I believed accompanied all residences such as these. But all I found were orderly, professional surroundings edged by personal touches of photo galleries and stuffed animals. The two other residents were female, both with their own rooms on the first floor. The remaining room would be Jenny's; it was a small, square s.p.a.ce with a large window that looked out into the backyard. There were two bathrooms, both well-equipped with safety measures. Upstairs was Ms. Navarro's office, along with an extra bedroom and half bath for the nurses to share. The kitchen was set up family-style, a long white picnic table along the wall opposite the countertop and sink. The girls' wheelchairs would roll easily up to the table to eat. There was a television in the living room; one girl sat on the slightly worn couch watching a Sesame Street video. Nova joined us there; Layla slept peacefully in the sling. I smiled vaguely at her, and when she gripped my hand in her own, I did not let go.
”We encourage music therapy with movement,” Ms. Navarro said as we came to a halt next to the front door. ”Art therapy, too. There is a reading hour every day as well.” She stepped over to the resident on the couch and adjusted the pillows around her lolling head to be of better support, then kissed the top of the girl's head.
”Where's the other resident right now?” Star asked, her hand resting on Jenny's shoulder.
”Outside for physical therapy,” Ms. Navarro replied. ”We try to get the girls out for at least a couple of hours a day if it's not raining.”
We followed her down a narrow hallway out the back door, then down another ramp to a covered patio. A small gra.s.s area edged the cement, and a high wooden fence lined the entire yard. There were several thickly padded mats on the ground, one of which had a resident on it. A nurse worked the range of motion for the girl's legs. Her touch seemed efficient but gentle.
Jenny looked at the girl with awe. She had clawed hands similar to Jenny's and a head that drooped forward to her chest while the rest of her body looked like a tightly bound pile of rubber bands. ”What do you think, Jen?” I asked nervously.
”Ahhh,” she groaned, perhaps with a touch of apprehension.
”It's not quite what I expected,” I said.
”I'd imagine not,” Ms. Navarro concurred. ”I know the flaws of most other homes; we aspire to a much higher standard of care. Residents are always supervised here, never left alone except when they are sleeping.”
”What about male nurses? Or visitors?” Nova asked the question she knew I wanted to.
”We can't exclude male nurses from applying to work here, but so far, none have. My staff is very happy, and I don't expect to replace anyone anytime soon. As for visitors, no man is allowed to be alone with any resident except the one he is related to.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. ”Would you like to join us for lunch?”
We agreed to stay, though I spent less time eating and more reading Jenny's reaction to her surroundings. She seemed to relax around the table, emitting short, happy yelps along with one of the other girls. It was almost as though they were holding a conversation. By the time we left, I was emotionally exhausted but fairly settled on placing her there. I told Ms. Navarro to let me know when a room became available, and she a.s.sured me, sadly, that it looked like it might be soon.
We were a quiet bunch as Nova drove along until Star spoke up. ”It wasn't exactly a beautiful place, but I don't think you could do much better. The staff seems very caring.”