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She didn’t know how he was doing, but he had said ten o’clock, and her clock said five till. Thanks to her grandmother’s insistence, Megan always liked to be early. It was just the anticipation on any social interaction that was the killer.
Levi’s tail started to thump against the blanket she had put down for him when she saw the glass doors open and a man in scrubs rolling Mr. Chapman toward her. Levi barked a few times and started pacing in the back.
She opened the door and walked around the car to stand by the back door where Levi was waiting. “Hello, Mr. Chapman. Levi’s missed you!” she said, getting out of the car just like she had rehearsed in her mind, while Levi went from excited to ecstatic in the back seat.
Mr. Chapman gave her a smile and a wave before murmuring a thank you to the nurse, who helped him stand up. Megan opened the door to the onslaught of love. Levi went berserk jumping, barking, and licking while his tail went a mile a minute. Mr. Chapman laughed and rubbed both ears, flopping them all over so much his hospital bracelet shook on his wrist. He then pressed his head to Levi’s and closed his eyes, in the way only pet lovers did, silently sending his love and thanks to his counterpart. Levi’s brown soulful eyes blinked slowly in understanding and singular love.
He was carrying a bag with his pajamas, which still smelled of smoke. She didn’t know if he had a wallet, but he was going to need to make some purchases soon since everything in his bedroom was in the same boat. As far as she knew, Buzz and the inspectors hadn’t cleared the house yet.
“Thank you again for watching him.”
“He was no trouble at all,” she said, rubbing Levi’s head. “I have two cats, and they got along pretty great.”
“He’s a good boy. I can’t thank you enough. I—” He swallowed and shook his head once, coming up empty for words.
“I was happy to do it.”
“Thank you for the ride. I’ll pay you for your gas and trouble.”
Megan, who had been having anxiety about not knowing what to talk with him about, found herself nodding before she could overthink it more. They got in the car, and he eased into the seat with some evidence of stiffness and other pains, but was moving on his own which was a good sign. His pills rattled in the a little white bag he carried.
She found it a little odd that he had accepted her offer of a ride, when she knew he had two bedrooms for children at home. Neither had been occupied, but surely his sons would come home to see about him.
“Would it be too much trouble to stop for breakfast? Drive-thru is fine.”
“Not at all. Where would you like to go?”
“Do you have anything against McDonalds? It’s my favorite, and I could use a pick-me-up.”
Megan smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
It was a short drive from the hospital, and they ordered through the mic and ate in the parking lot. Mr. Chapman ordered a senior coffee and pancakes with sausage and eggs, and Megan ordered an orange juice and sausage biscuit. Not at all shy, Levi had stuck his head in between both of them, giving the eye, which earned him two sausage patties.
Megan took notice of him while eating. He had showered and washed off the soot and gotten some clean clothes. The sun came through the window and glinted off his worn, gold wedding band.
“This is the best meal I’ve had in days,” he said with a hint of a smile that cracked through the sadness.
“I’m sure after three days anything gets old.”
He shook his head and kept eating. “Bunch of worriers obsessed with health. ”
“Were the people at the hospital able to help you make a plan?”
He took a sip of his coffee, which was black. “The Red Cross came and got me in touch with insurance and helped me get new credit cards and paperwork. Assuming none of that can be recovered.”
Megan didn’t meet his eyes. “I’m not sure it’s safe to go back into the building until an engineer and inspector have checked it.”
His only sign of further grief was a slight pause in eating. “Then paperwork it is.”
“What about living arrangements?” she asked before taking a sip of orange juice and wiping her mouth with the paper napkin.
“There is another house on the property. It needs some work, and they’re getting me some donations for furniture and housewares, since it’s empty now. I should be able to manage well enough; my son should be coming in tomorrow.”
Four days after his dad had lost everything? Megan was not impressed.
“Well, let me know what you need until your son can get here.”
He shook his head. “He’s in the army, and I didn’t want to distract him with this, but the case manager insisted.” He took another sip of coffee.
