A few moments later, Kenny shuffled in, assuming his spot in front of the back room, nose poked through the curtains. A few minutes ticked by, causing Bette to frown, wondering what was keeping Kerrie, but then the truck door slammed, and Kenny stood back.
Kerrie walked in with her lunchbox and a haggard look. Bette's frown was back, seeing the lines around Kerrie's eyes and stooped shoulders. "My lord, what a day."
Kenny gave Kerrie a hug. He chastised Kerrie. "You're late."
"I know, I know. I promise I'll be on time tomorrow," said Kerrie, turning to Bette. She leaned down and kissed her, leaving the taste of coffee on Bette's lips. "Thank you for staying with him."
Bette beamed up at her, shrugging. "My pleasure. It's not often I get to cook dinner for a handsome man."
Looking away, Kenny laughed as he rubbed the balding spot on his forehead. "It was good."
"I'm guessing he told you it was cheeseburger night."
"Yeah, even showed me where to find the meat and insisted they be cooked in the cast iron skillet."
"I mean, that is the only way to cook a good burger without using a grill."
Bette rolled her eyes at the Matthews twins and motioned to the microwave. "Well, your cast iron-cooked dinner is in the microwave. I hate to run, but I promised Zoe I'd look over her insurance options at her new job to help her pick one."
"That's okay. I'm going to eat and call it a night. I'm beat."
They bid each other goodnight, and Bette went downstairs using the basement laundry entrance. They didn't bother locking the doors that separated the shared laundry room anymore. It was more convenient and safer than walking outside to use the exterior doors.
After making herself a cup of tea, Bette settled into her bed and opened her laptop to the email Zoe had sent her.
Sometime later, she woke up having fallen asleep with her laptop still open, streaming The Golden Girls that she had been watching after she had finished her Zoe task. Something had woken her, but she didn't know what.
She closed the laptop, hearing something that sounded like a cry. Then it came again.
Frowning, she slipped out of bed, grabbing her phone.
"Help!"
She definitely heard it that time. It was coming from the laundry room by her bedroom. She opened the door and heard Kenny's frantic cry as he tried to get down the steep basement steps. He was clinging to the railing, crying as he tried his best to get down to the next step. "Help!"
"Kenny, what is wrong?" She asked, hurrying up the stairs to stop him before he hurt himself. "No, don't come any further. You'll fall."
"Help! Kerrie!" he sobbed, his eyes wide with fright. Tears fell down his face, and snot was collected on his top lip. Without thinking, Bette planted herself in front of him and used the hem of her robe to clean up his face. He shook his head. "Kerrie!"
"What about her? How did you get down here this far?"
"Kerrie!" he demanded louder, pointing to the top of the stairs.
Clarity began to pierce through her confusion. "Kerrie? Is Kerrie okay?"
"No," he sobbed, hugging her.
"Shit, okay. Come on, let's get you upstairs so I can check on her."
The climb back up wasn't nearly as fast as Bette wanted it to be. Kenny's legs were wobbly, and his coordination was shot. Kerrie had told Bette before that it was from inner ear damage from when he was younger. The upset state he was in didn't help either. Once they were safely upstairs on solid ground, she was able to let him go. "Where is she?"
"Upstairs."
"Okay, stay here. Don't try to go up the stairs without me."
He nodded and began to pace, rubbing his head and crying. The sight broke Bette's heart, but she didn't dwell. She gathered the hem of her robe so she wouldn't trip and sprinted up the stairs. She could hear water running from the bathroom and see the light was on.
She gasped when she looked in, finding Kerrie face down on the bathroom floor, only in her boxers. "Kerrie!"
