She shook her head.
“Gen, your mother is returning in two hours, and the place looks like a dump.You don’t really think she’s not gonna notice, do you?”
“Too tired.”
“Okay, so we’re getting somewhere.Are you sick, or just tired?”
Gen coughed.“Both.”
Sick and tired.A memory prodded regarding when he had joked about exactly that not so long ago.“Gen, you’ve been complaining about feeling tired for a long time.For as long as I’ve known you this time round, and previously too.So I’m not surprised it’s finally taken a toll on your health.Now, are you strong enough to get out of bed or do you need me to help you?”
She frowned.“Help me?”
“Yeah.You need to get out of bed so we can wash the sheets and so you can have a shower.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Okay then.”It was time for tough love.He drew near and ripped back the blankets.
“Hey!”
He instantly averted his eyes.He hadn’t expected her to be wearing such short, uh, pajama shorts.“Do you want me to pick you up and take you to the shower?”
“No!”Then, when she refused to move, he bent down and she yelped.“Stop it!”
Footsteps raced up the hall.“Mommy?Kyle, what are you doing?”
“How long has it been since your mom had a shower, do you think?”
“I don’t know.At least two days.”
“Do you think you can go turn it on so it’s nice and warm for when she gets there?”
“I’mnothaving a shower,” Gen protested.
“You are.You need to.I didn’t want to say this before, but you smell.”
She gasped, as Bella said, “That’s not very nice, Kyle.”
Kyle, not Dad now.Okay.“It’s still true though, isn’t it?”
Her nose wrinkled.“Yes.”
“Go turn on the shower, Bella, while I get your mom there.”
Bella scampered away while he bent to scoop Gen up, doing his best to not notice how long her bare legs were.Or how loose the tank top was, that revealed interesting curves and—no.
Gen wriggled away from him.“I don’t want you to help me, Kyle.”
“Then help your daughter by getting in the shower.Now.And if you don’t, then I will take you there myself.”
“Why are you being such a bully?I have enough of them in my life,” she muttered.
“It’s called tough love, baby.Get used to it.”
“This isn’t love,” she snarled as she finally moved and snatched clothes from the floor.
Maybe not the kind of love she wanted right now.But Jesus didn’t let His friends stay in their mess, and he wasn’t about to let Gen stay in hers.And sure, some might see that as controlling as anything that Minnie had ever done, but he was concerned for Bella, and her obvious helplessness.That was his motivation, nothing else.And knowing time was of the essence before Minnie returned he couldn’t wait an hour to plead with Gen until she finally agreed.
