It was emotional, watching out the window as Wam drove out the driveway of the cabin, knowing I likely wouldn't be here when he returned. I enjoyed our time together, but for his benefit, I had to move out to clear his name. I gathered Kedron's clothing to take to him and walked out to the truck. I had only the bare minimum of my belongings in the cabin, so it wouldn't take me long tomorrow to pack once I was able to make arrangements.
Kedron was sitting up in his bed, watching the 5PM news when I arrived. He shifted his eyes in my direction, "I thought you'd forgotten about me," he said with a bit of sarcasm in his tone and a straight face.
"Oh dear brother, I could never forget about you. Hopefully I brought enough clothing for you to only wash once a week. I brought athletic wear since you have so much. I figured it would be most comfortable," I explained as I set the bag momentarily on the bed. "Where would you like me to put your clothes K?"
"The nurses aid said something about needing to put tags in the clothes, so maybe at the nurse's desk? " he suggested.
I walked back out to the desk and approached someone in scrubs whose name tag said, "Cherry, CNA".
"My brother said you needed to put his name in his clothes, where would you like me to put his bag?" I asked.
The girl looked up and smiled at me, "oh, I can take them. Who is your brother?" She asked as she grabbed a marker, paper, and safety pins.
"Kedron Knutson. He was just admitted and is looking forward to his own clothes again," I offered with a smile of my own. "Thank you for your help."
I returned to Kedron's room after Cherry said, "you're welcome."
Kedron's concentration was back on the television, but he appeared to be using his voice to change the channel. "There is nothing decent to watch at this time of day," he complained.
"Wow, you're using your voice to change it?" I asked with surprise.
"Yeah. They have all kinds of cool voice activated things I should be able to utilize when I go home. Supposedly there are grants available for disabled people to get tools to make them more independent in their homes. I hope to get a bunch of voice command tools to allow me to make calls, run a computer, control the television, move my bed, and other helpful things. Pretty cool huh?" He asked with a hint of a smile on his lips.
"That is cool. I hope you can swing it. How do we apply for these grants?" I asked.
"They have a social worker here who is supposed to help me fill out the paperwork once I learn how to use it all. I have to prove I can do it before I'll qualify for any grants to purchase them," Kedron explained.
"You've always been better with technology and electronics than I am," I smiled. "I've no doubt you can do it," I reassured him.
"Thanks Kynlee, that means a lot," Kedron said. Again I saw a hint of a smile.
He seemed to really be doing well here. His spirits were better, he seemed less angry, and he was adapting to the things they were trying to teach him. Maybe this was the right choice? I wanted nothing more than to see him bounce back and make the best of his situation. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be doable. It had to be.
I was interrupted from my thoughts when Kedron cleared his throat, so I looked his way. He asked, "would you like to watch a movie with me?
"That all depends what you're gonna watch," I joked. "I'm kidding K. I'd love to."
I watched and listened as Kedron used voice commands to run the television and chose a newer movie that neither of us had seen. Being a private facility, the channel choices were so much better than they had been when he was in the hospital.
Three hours later, I'd enjoyed the action flick with Kedron and was headed back to the cabin. When I walked in, I noticed it was too quiet with Wam and Sammy gone. I had really enjoyed having Sammy greet me at the door. I delighted in having Wam here to give me love and affection and although I'd always been just fine as a young single woman, I now missed his presence.
I slipped out of my shoes, hung my coat on the hooks by the door, and turned to go upstairs. My phone went "ding", as I stripped out of my clothes. As I picked it up, my heart beat a staccato rhythm thinking it was likely Wam wishing me "good night." I saw a text from Jane, and immediately I felt disappointed. Then I felt guilty because I really liked Jane, but she wasn't Wam. I opened the text message.
Jane: Are we still on for tomorrow Kynlee?
I typed a quick reply. I could practically type and text in my sleep. It helps we were practically raised with cell phones, and learned to use computers in school.
Kynlee: Yes. I'll meet you outside your office at 12PM.
Jane: Wonderful! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. (Hug emoji).
I couldn't help but smile she had sent me an emoji, and replied.
Kynlee: (hugs) to you as well. Sleep well Jane.
Jane: Goodnight. You as well.
Clothes now in the hamper, I started the shower. I quickly washed my hair and then my body before rinsing off. I wrapped a bath sheet around myself and a smaller towel similar to a turban around my head, to help rid my hair of the excess water. Flannel pajamas donned, I sat on the edge of my bed and combed out my hair.
Once ready for bed, I padded back downstairs and double checked that I locked the door and all the
lights but the one on the range hood, were off. No need to waste electricity. Being Fall, it was already pitch black outside except for one lonely yard light right near the shed. It appeared breezy outside as fallen leaves blew around the yard.
I returned upstairs and climbed into bed. As I lay there, I realized I'd been slacking on my nightly prayers, and that needed to stop. There would never be a time in my life that I wouldn't need God, and I needed to remember that and be grateful for what I have. My mom used to say, "there is always something to be thankful for, but sometimes you just have to look harder to find it."
I smiled as I remembered one of the wise pieces of advise Mom liked to hand out. Luckily she was a wise woman and never steered me wrong. I felt tears sting my eyes as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. I folded my hands, shut my eyes, and prayed. Finally I hugged a pillow to my chest as I turned on my side and tried to sleep.
It felt like I tossed and turned for hours, but when I checked the time, saw it was only 11:30PM. "Come on Sandman. Where are you when I need you to bring me a dream?" I asked out loud.
Of course I got no response, so decided maybe a drink would help. Marching back down the steps, phone in hand, a long sigh left my lips. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was nervous about meeting with Jane tomorrow. She offered her help, but that was before Marve was diagnosed with lung cancer.
The cold drink of water from the faucet felt good on my throat. I placed my cup in the dishwasher and headed back to the stairway, but as I reached the bottom step, I smelled Wam's scent coming faintly from under his bedroom door. Maybe I could steal his pillow and sleep with it? He won't be back until Thursday, so it's not like he'll miss it. I opened the solid wood door and as I approached the bed, his scent hit my olfactory senses like a Mack truck. Instead of grabbing his pillow and going back to bed, I set my phone on the stand and laid down in Wam's spot. Here in his domain, I was completely surrounded by his scent and it was like something inside my chest felt lighter. I laid down and closed my eyes to allow my nose to take it all in, and that's the last thing I remember.
I woke in the morning to the sound of the front door opening. My eyes shot open and I gasped, realizing I'd slept in Wam's bed without him. The door could only be one person… on the tail end of that thought, Aggie pushed the slightly ajar door open, peered inside, and appeared startled to see me there.
"Well hello there Kynlee. I didn't see Wam's black SUV, but I thought maybe he had decided to stay last night when I saw his door unlatched." Aggie tilted her head to the side and studied me briefly before asking, "are you okay? Anything I can get you?" Aggie gave me a hint of a smile when she finished questioning me.
Shit! What do I say now? "Umm, I'm okay. I thought I left something in here yesterday when I visited with Wam, but I must have fallen asleep when I sat down to think. I'm sorry. I'll get out of your hair." I could feel my cheeks heat even though I had nothing to be embarrassed about. I couldn't help but wonder what this woman thought of me now, sleeping in her boss's bed. If I was texting, I'd insert a 'face palm emoji' here.
I raced upstairs, mortified and began to ready myself for the day. "Shit," I said loudly into the empty room. I focused on getting ready and remained in my room until about 11AM. I then gathered my belongings and drove to the hospital.
I was early, but I'd rather be early than late. I sat in the truck outside the hospital until 11:40 and then walked to meet Jane.