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“I have a new friend,” I venture since my secret is well and truly safe with her. “His name is Ben, and he’s really…he…”
I realize it’s not so easy to describe him.
“He’s not overly nice or anything, but I think he’s a good man with a good heart.” I chew my bottom lip, thinking it over. “He’s quiet and reserved at times. It seems like there’s so much more going on behind the scenes, things he hasn’t shared with me. I told him he seems lonely and it’s true, but when he looks at me…” I shake my head. “I guess I just know how he feels, and I think he can recognize that. Maybe he and I are kindred spirits.”
Her gaze meets mine, and I swear I see my real Nan buried deep down in her blue eyes. The moment is fleeting though; she’s already looking away, back to the TV.
“You wouldn’t know him, but he’s pretty famous too. He plays in the NBA. I know that sort of thing wouldn’t impress you. It didn’t really impress me either at first, but now I find myself just a little bit curious. I wish I could watch him play before he leaves. Oh, did I mention that part? He’s leaving in twelve days to go play basketball in the Olympics.” I laugh. “Yes. The Olympics. You and I didn’t watch much sports growing up except for when the Summer Games came on. Remember how much we loved watching the gymnasts in Rio a few years back?”
There’s a knock on her door and I know it’s time for me to go. They’ll want to help Nan with her supper then get her ready for bed, and I’ll just be in the way.
I stand to gather my things, about to head out when I get intercepted by Lori, one of the women who works in administration. She looks tired and I think, not for the first time, what a tough job it would be to work in a place like this.
“Raelynn, do you have a second? I’d like to discuss a couple things with you.”
My stomach drops. I’ve been worried about this day for a long time. Either I’m too overdue on bills here or her disease is progressing faster than they thought it would. Lori never pulls me aside with good news. I eye the hallway behind her, contemplating for a brief second whether or not I could just bolt.
“—whether you want to focus on occupational therapy two times a week or—”
I frown and refocus my attention on her, not sure I fully understand what she was saying.
“Occupational therapy?”
“Yes. We’ve not been able to offer it to your grandmother before now. As you know, specialists like that are expensive in a private facility like ours, but the lump sum that the foundation donated will afford her any specialist she might need. I’ve been in touch with her care team and they’ve suggested occupational therapy as well as speech therapy. We also have someone we could bring in from Austin who’s done music therapy with our patients before, and we’ve seen wonderful results. As you know, we can’t reverse the prognosis of your grandmother’s disease, but with the right combination of medications and therapies, we can greatly—”
“Lori, what in the world are you talking about? What lump sum? What foundation?”
She frowns, looking just about as confused as I am.
I’m glad it’s a long drive from Nan’s facility to where the basketball team is training. It gives me enough time to work through a whole gambit of emotions, starting with rage and leveling off at simmering annoyance by the time I park and step out of my car. I have no idea where to find Ben. I don’t know which cabin is his and I don’t know if he’d even be there right now. There’re people milling around everywhere though, security guards and staff. I had to check in just like last time, and for a split second I panicked that I wouldn’t be allowed to stay since I don’t have a cleaning job here or anything, but apparently, I’m on some list of approved guests. Ben’s doing, I’m sure. That innocuous action is another tally mark against him in my book. Don’t ask me why.
I walk up to a security guard standing near the parking area and try to give him a convincing smile. “Sir, do you know if the players are still practicing?”
He shakes his head. “They’re eating dinner,” he says, nodding toward the main house behind him. “You can go on in. Most of the wives and girlfriends eat in there too.”
Over my dead body.
I can’t imagine what it would feel like to walk in there, all eyes on me.
“Okay if I just sit out here for a bit instead?”
He shrugs and I get the sense he couldn’t care less about what I do, so I go back to the car, climb up onto the trunk, resting my feet on the back fender, and wait.
