Just A Friend: Small Town Stories Novella #3

by Merri Maywether

  Then she received a call from Glenn Turner. He said that the house was livable, but it wouldn’t be in the near future. At the first signs of a snowmelt, the moisture would seep through the roof compromised by the tree damage. Until he repaired the roof, it was better for her to find more suitable accommodations. Glenn offered to help her move her belongings into an apartment. “I can have a crew of people when you tell us where you want it moved.”

  Pam had hoped physical therapy was a sign of things taking a turn for the better. That what was happening in her body would materialize in the real world. Those woo woo people on the talk shows claimed it happened all the time. Apparently, it wasn’t her turn.

  It was time for her to consider her options. There were some apartments close to the senior center. She wouldn’t mind staying there for a while. A familiar pattern of footsteps pulled her mind to the present.

  At first, she thought she was mistaken. There was no way anyone from her family would be in the hospital in Montana. She blamed anxiety for getting the best of her. It was tricking her into thinking the moment she dreaded was about to make an entrance.

  Nancy’s “She’ll be happy to see you,” added to the rising tension in Pam’s gut. Ready or not confrontation was about to make its way through the door.

  All smiles, Nancy walked through the door. “You have a guest.” She stepped to the side and held her hand out Vanna White style to make room for Pam’s older brother Curtis.

  “Hello, stranger.” The tight smile on her half-brother’s face gave no hints of why he chose to visit or how he knew to find Pam in the hospital.

  She searched his eyes hoping there was something to help her determine his mood. His steel gray eyes only conveyed concern. “You’re looking cozy in those cute pajamas. I didn’t know hospitals had things like that.” He held out a vase of flowers. The leaves on one side were darker from being crushed. “I got these for you.”

  “We can set them on the shelf.” Nancy took the vase from Curtis. He watched her set the flowers beside the bouquet Jorgen brought the day before. She made her way to the door. “I’ll let you have your privacy. If you need anything buzz.”

  She loved her brother, but she hadn’t called anyone from home to tell them that she was in the hospital. How did he know she was there? “I am surprised to see you.” And she was. He was not happy about her leaving Oklahoma. When she said that he’d like Montana when he visited, her brother said that wasn’t happening, “in this lifetime or the next.”

  His lips formed a crooked smile. “You’re not half as surprised as me.”

  “Why are you here?”

  His brows dropped, and the gray in his eyes darkened. “Isn’t it obvious? You’re in the hospital.”

  “But I didn’t call. How did you know?”

  “The hospital called your next of kin. But we knew something was up long before this.” Curtis moved the chair, so it was closer to Pam. He tested it with his hand before sitting. “Mark’s been back in town for three months. He told us you two broke up.”

  So, her family knew. She could imagine the things they had been saying about her. “Poor Pam doesn’t want to come home with her tail between her legs. We told her this was going to happen.” Pam didn’t want to look her brother in the eye and see the confirmation of her family’s disapproval.

  “He also said it was his fault. Why didn’t you tell us?”

  The disappointment in his voice stabbed her in the gut. Avoidance fueled her intentions. She wanted to escape their judgment, not pass it on to them. Yet, she understood that silence leaves room for misinterpretation. She looked down at her hands. “You all knew it was going to happen. What was the point in telling you that you were right? Being the recipient of I told you so is not fun.”

  “I can’t imagine it being any worse than our mother finding out when Mark came to the house to apologize.”

  “He did what?” Indignation gave her the confidence to look her brother in the eye. Not only had the snake come between Pam and her family, but he also set out to drive a wedge between them. He accomplished the mission.

  “Mark said that coming to Montana opened his eyes to how things were between you.”

  Pam tried to keep her cool. She bit her tongue. She forced herself to make a pleasant expression.

  “It was nothing like that,” Curtis explained. “Mark said he hadn’t done enough to prove himself to you. So, when things got rough, he didn’t have a leg to stand on.”

  She waited for it. The part where Mark said she forced him away.

  “He asked for Mom’s help to get you to give him another chance.”

  There it was. If Pam said no, it was her fault that they fell apart. Then her family would hold it against her. “Why isn’t he here instead of you?”

  “He’s getting things ready for when you come home.”

  “I’m not going home.” Someone had taken Pam’s life and shaken everything out of place. Two days ago, she sought after excitement. Now she had her fill of it. In the recesses of her mind, she heard her mother’s voice, “Be careful of what you wish for because it always surprises you when it comes true.”

  Three strong knocks preceded the door opening. “How’s my favorite girl doing?” Jorgen’s rich voice filled the empty spaces in the room and made them a little brighter. He halted and remained in place when he saw Curtis sitting in the seat beside the bed. A stoical expression replaced his smile. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No,” Pam scooched to sit taller. “This is my brother Curtis. Curtis—Jorgen.”

  Nancy came up behind Jorgen, “Good news, the doctor is releasing you to go home.”

  “Did you hear that?” Curtis replied, “I got here just in time.”

  “Time for what?” Jorgen asked.

  Curtis stood to shake Jorgen’s hand. “I’m taking Pam where she belongs. Back home with her family in Oklahoma.”

  “I think there’s been a mistake,” Jorgen replied. “I’m here to take her home with me.”

  We Have A Runner

  “Is he why you haven’t called home as much?” Her brother’s mouth fell open as he asked the question. Standing beside Jorgen, her brother did not seem as tall or big. Curtis’s eyes traveled the length of Jorgen’s body. He was sizing him up too.

  “I am an adult. Why does it have to be a man? Couldn’t I have just stayed out here because I like it?”

  She wasn’t lying. Pam loved her community. People waved at each other as they passed on the road. The clerk at the local store knew she loved salt and vinegar potato chips. She looked at the empty bag on the side of the bed and nodded to herself. That was why she chose to stay. The little day-to-day ways people showed they cared that made her love small town living. Not a man.

  “Because you are going to need help getting around. How is that going to happen here?”

  “I’ll let you two talk. I’ll be back in a minute,” Jorgen said. He handed Nancy a small bag he had been holding and left the room.

  Curtis watched Jorgen leave. When he was out of sight, he spoke to Nancy, “You can help me talk some sense into her.”

  Pam couldn’t tell if Nancy’s scowl came from dislike or confusion or a mixture of both. Nancy was the typical mama bear personality. Once she took to someone, it was her job to make sure they were taken care of. Curtis used family relations to assert his rank. He not only put Nancy in her place, but he also tried soliciting her support without asking her first.

  The gunslinger music played its first notes, and the duel of the strong personalities was about to begin. Pam grimaced as she thought, “Bad move big brother.”

  Nancy’s eyes went straight to Pam. Pam frowned and shook her head no.

  When Curtis turned to decipher the silent conversation, Pam’s face went straight. “I have a job. I have friends. I have responsibilities. I cannot just walk away because you think it’s a good idea.”

  “You’re in as bad shape as the geriatric people you’re supposed to care for,”
Curtis scoffed. “Pam, you’re coming home. Where you belong.”

  A siren went off and blared through the overhead speakers. “Code blue in the emergency room. We have a code blue in the emergency room.”

  “I have to go.” Nancy turned to join the shuffle of doctors and nurses that passed by the door of Pam’s room. Hearing Claire’s name in the communication system kicked Pam into action.

  “Pass me the scooter,” Pam commanded.

  “What are you doing?” Curtis asked.

  “Claire is my neighbor. I need to go help.”

  Curtis folded his arms in front of him. “You’re not fit to help.”

  “Never mind.” Pam threw the covers aside. She landed on her good foot and hopped to the scooter parked in the corner of the room. “I cannot help the doctors, but I can be there for her family.” She planted her leg on the scooter and gripped the handlebars. “Excuse me.”

  When Curtis didn’t budge, Pam pushed off with her good leg. She knew he’d step aside when the scooter threatened to run into him. Curtis hadn’t anticipated her tenacity until it was too late. He leaped to get out of the way a moment too late. The wheel of the scooter walker ran over his foot. “Hey, be careful with that thing,” he yelled.

  Driven to get to the waiting room to meet Claire’s family, Pam called behind her, “Or, you can move a little faster when I tell you to.”

  With the doctors and nurses being preoccupied in the emergency room, Pam had free reign of the halls. At that moment she was not the feeble woman who has been spanked by life, she was a friend with a purpose. Pam would make sure that Claire’s family knew their mother was well cared for. She passed Jorgen in the hall. He called after her, “We got a runner.”

  Pam turned the corner a little too quickly, and she temporarily lost control of her walker. It tilted and rolled on two of the three wheels. She over corrected and aimed the scooter to head straight into the wall.

  Jorgen caught hold of the handle and stopped her inches away from the crash. Speaking with a breathy voice, he asked, “Where in God’s green acres are you going?”

  She looked up to see Claire’s family walk through the emergency room doors. There was no mistaking them. All four of them were bundled in coats and scarves. Their hair glistened where the snow had landed. The man's hair waved in the same pattern as Claire. His son looked like a miniature version of him. The wife had her hair pulled back in a ponytail, and the daughter's hair was up in a messy bun. Their eyes scanned the area around the entrance as though they were trying to make sense of the hospital. Pam pointed. “To see them.”

  Sounds Like Her

  Claire’s son took one good look at Pam and clutched his teenage daughter to his side. His wife’s mouth dropped open. Their son held up his cell phone like it was a weapon. “I can catch it on video.”

  The image of Claire’s frightened family brought Pam back to her senses. “I’m your mother’s neighbor, Pam.”

  Seeing their faces tighten in disbelief, she added, “I live in the house with the tree that fell on the roof.”

  “Oh! We didn’t realize anyone got hurt.” The man loosened his grip on his daughter. “My name is Darius, and this is my wife, Madison. He swiped at his son’s arm. “Put that away, Randy.”

  Randy scrunched his mouth toward his right cheek. “There wasn’t anything worth adding to YouTube, anyway.”

  “I’ll go with you to the waiting room,” Pam offered.

  “She knows the nurses,” Jorgen added. He offered his hand for a shake, “I’m Jorgen, by the way.”

  In the middle of the slow walk to the waiting room, Pam fell into nurse mode, “What was your mother complaining about before you called the ambulance?” She made eye contact with Rachel and signaled that she’d sit with the family in the waiting room.

  “She was trying to shovel snow off the back deck.” Darius ran his fingers through his hair. “I sent Randy out to take over. She wouldn’t let him.”

  “That sounds like Claire,” Pam agreed. Her neighbor was always doing something active. Claire said it kept her young.

  “Then out of the blue, she handed Randy the shovel, went into the house, and sat in a chair.” His brow wrinkled as he relived the memory. She was out of breath.” Darius sat in one of the seats and Madison sat beside him.

  “She rested her head on her forearm.” His eyes darted back and forth like he was searching his mind for a detail he had missed. It was like she was a little kid trying to sneak in a nap.”

  “We knew right away something was wrong.” Madison set her hand on her husband’s forearm. “And, here we are.”

  By this time, Rachel joined them. “Right now, the doctors are taking care of your mother. As soon as they know anything they’ll come out and give you an update.”

  “When will we be able to see her?” Darius asked.

  “The doctor will give you the information you need to know.” Pam had to give Rachel credit. Her facial expression never changed.

  Darius turned to Pam to translate. “What does that mean?” Pam noticed he had his mother's dark brown eyes. They conveyed every thought that passed through his mind. At the moment, worry mixed with fear shaded them.

  “It means she isn’t working directly with your mother. Rather than give misinformation, she’d rather wait for someone who is more involved to speak with the family.” She wished there was more to say to assuage his concerns.

  Darius shook his head. “Why did we believe her when she said she could live alone over the winter?”

  Noah came out through the doors that separated the patient’s rooms from the waiting room. “I’m here to see Claire Gibson’s family.”

  Darius stood. Madison took hold of his arm, and his daughter took a position on the other side of him. Randy went to his mother’s other side.

  Pam remained in the back to give Noah the freedom to do his job. She noticed the moisture at his hairline. Whatever had happened had taxed him.

  “I’m here to say that for now, your mother is fine. On the ride, her heart gave her some trouble, and we had to treat her for a heart attack. We have her stabilized, but she is not out of the woods completely.”

  Darius exhaled a sigh of relief and wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulder, and she fell into his hold. “When can we see her?”

  Their son Randy placed his phone in his pocket and straightened his posture. His sister joined him. She spoke softly into her brother's ear, "Gram's going to be okay." Randy raised his brow in acknowledgment and made eye contact with his father. His lips formed a thin line of determination.

  Noah, who had been observing the interaction between the family, said, “If you like, we can take you back now.”

  “We’d like that.” Darius nodded his goodbye to Pam, “Thank you for talking with us.” They headed through the doors with Noah leaving Pam and Jorgen alone in the waiting room.

  Jorgen pushed his right hand into his front pocket. “That was kind of you to come out here and be with them.”

  Until Jorgen mentioned it, Pam didn’t think of it as being kind. She replied, “Claire would do the same for me.” And, it was true. Claire was outside the door ready to greet Pam when she pulled up to the house. “I hope she’s going to be okay. I like her spunky personality.”

  “We should get you back to the room.” Jorgen tilted his head to signal that they should go. “Your brother is waiting for you.”

  At the mentioning of his name, Curtis appeared in the hall. He did not look happy. Pam was trying to decide if it was because she ran over him when she left to meet Claire’s family or if it was because Jorgen was there. “I’m going to the hotel to make some calls. I’ll be back in a bit to pick you up.”

  Pam opened her mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance to say anything because her brother cut her off. “We can talk about this later. Now that I know you’re strong enough to break my toe, I can tell mom what to expect. Come give me a hug.”

  He pulled his classic older brother move. When
they were younger, Curtis asserted that he was acting on Pam’s best interest by delivering an edict and asking for a hug. It was his way of saying I’m doing this because I love you. In the past, she relented and gave in to whatever he said.

  “I’ll hug you, but I’m not moving home.” She slowly wheeled the scooter in his direction.

  Curtis chuckled and wrapped his arms around her to give her a hug. “We’ll see about that.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket and made his way to the door.

  He hadn’t reached the door when Jorgen said, “We may want to make our way to your room.”

  A tone of urgency mixed with a hint of humor made Pam pause. Something was up. She grinned. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.” Jorgen walked a couple of steps ahead of her and encouraged her to follow him.

  They weren’t halfway down the hall when they heard the doors open followed by Curtis’s angry accusation. “Did you do that?”

  Jorgen grinned at Pam. “We almost made a clean getaway.”

  She couldn’t imagine what he did. If his grin was any indication, she couldn’t wait to find out.

  Aunt Sunny’s Rock Pile

  “For the record, it isn’t anything that’ll cause permanent damage,” Jorgen said through his hands that covered his mouth. “I don’t want him holding anything like that over my head for eternity.”

  Curtis had caught up to them just as they reached the door to her room. Jorgen ushered Pam into the room and followed behind her. She looked behind her to see a broad smile on his face. There was no remorse for whatever it was that he had done.

  Her brother Curtis, on the other hand, was red faced angry. He gestured toward Jorgen, “This guy is worse than Mark!”

  From the first time she brought Mark home, Curtis declared him unworthy of Pam’s time. For Jorgen to be worse than him, it had to be bad. “What did you do to my brother?”