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If she wished that he’d found another way to do things in her life, she kept it to herself.
She understood his limitations but not everything had to be solved with a bankroll.
“Let’s go get my stuff out of Dad’s van,” she said. It was easier to load everything in her father’s vehicle knowing they’d be closer in a handicap spot.
“One benefit of today,” Stewart said cheerfully. “Your mother and I must be half a mile away.”
“Not that far,” her mother said.
“Close enough,” Stewart said.
The three of them got everything out of the van by the time her father came back in his electric wheelchair. He had a manual one he used most times and had a strong upper body from it. But not knowing everything that would be going on with this trip, he opted for this one instead today.
“These three young men are more than willing to earn money for a few trips up and down the stairs. What are your names again?”
“Kyle, Stefan, and Mike,” the first guy said. He pointed to himself when he said Kyle and then the rest of the men.
“I’m Laine and it’s nice to meet you. Thanks for helping us out.”
“No problem,” Mike said. He was cute and gave her a look like he wanted to check her out more but was trying not to with her parents all around.
“We loaded everything on the dolly. It just needs to go to the second floor.”
“Well then, let’s go to your room,” her mother said.
She handed her key to her mother. “I’ll be there in a second.”
Her mother nodded while Laine stayed behind with her father. “I wish you could go up too.”
“It didn’t work out that way,” her father said. “It’s all about you. The second floor is more secure than the first and you know it.”
She’d had safety shoved down her throat for years. The only child that was protected by everyone other than her father.
Correction, it was on her father’s dime, but she wished he didn’t always push it off to someone else.
The fact he took the time to come with her today was something though.
He was a busy man with a large company to run. The business took a lot of time, energy and put stress on his shoulders.
Her father tried to make time for her over the years and she welcomed what she got. She was just happy he was in her life when there were times she wasn’t sure he would be.
Her father pulled a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket. “Here is the name of a man you call for anything you need. He’s local and a retired trooper.”
“Why?” she asked, opening up the paper and seeing the name there. “Why can’t I call you?”
“You can and I expect you will. But he lives locally and is on the company payroll while you’re here. Anything you need, you call.”
“Like if I want a milkshake in the middle of the night?” she asked, giggling. She’d never do that.
“I want to say yes, but you wouldn’t inconvenience anyone that way. Next year you’ll have a car on campus. You might get a flat or your battery could die.”
“Oh,” she said. “I get it.”
He was always thinking ahead and looking out for her.
“If you need anything in this area, he’s who you call. Where to go, the safest places to eat and party. I know you’re going to party. I want it done the right way.”
She forced a smile. She knew why he was saying this and hated every minute of it.
