by S S Bazinet
Arel’s smile faded into a determined grimace. “I’ve dropped a hundred balls. But don’t do what I did. I nearly destroyed myself before I had any faith in who I am.”
“I hope you never feel that bad again. You were really hurting, but Michael is right. You’ve got guts.”
“The same thing goes for you.”
“Please,” Kevin sneered.
Arel’s eyes flared. He wanted to argue, to insist that Kevin listen to what he was being told. That’s when he realized how hard Michael’s job was. Kevin was being just a stubborn as he’d been. For a moment, they stood staring at each other with nothing left to say. The moment was interrupted by Tim. He was walking down the hall towards them.
“Hey, you two,” Tim called out. “I’ve been looking for you. Great news! Carol hasn’t lost the baby!”
Kevin reacted instantly, practically tossing Arel aside as he moved forward. “Can I see her?” he asked as he began racing down the hall.
Arel breathed a sigh of relief. He was being given another chance in the fix-it business.
Seventy-Six
KEVIN SAT NEXT to Carol in their queen size bed. Happily, Carol didn’t have to stay very long in the hospital, but she had orders to take it very easy. Now, as Kevin held her hand, he was focused on their visitor. Arel was pacing back and forth in front of them. He was excited about a plan he had just presented.
“I think this will work, don’t you?” Arel insisted as he paused to check out their reaction.
Kevin stared back, slightly mesmerized by Arel’s sales pitch. “You want us to move in with you until the baby is out of danger.”
Arel’s eyes flashed with enthusiasm. “It'll be the perfect arrangement. I can take care of Carol while you’re working. When you get home, I’ll have dinner waiting. Hell, I could learn to iron your shirts.”
“Arel, my shirts are wash-and-wear.”
“Whatever, you can call it payback for all that you did for me.”
Kevin looked at his hands. Were they still chapped after his stint in Arel’s kitchen? Next he turned to Carol, wanting her input. “He does have a point.”
Carol shrugged back. “We can’t impose on Arel,” she said hesitantly. Her voice was tired, and her eyes were still overcast with fear after her trip to the hospital.
Arel crossed his arms. “I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Carol bit her lip. “It sounds very nice, but—” She glanced at Kevin again.
Kevin squeezed her hand. “Honey, we both know Arel has more willpower than either of us. Maybe we should think about it.”
Arel smiled triumphantly. “And you’ll have your privacy. I’m moving back to my quarters downstairs.”
“So let me get this straight,” Kevin said in a firm tone. “You’re going to cook and clean and do everything. We just sit back and relax.”
Arel shrugged this time. “How hard could it be? I have lots of energy. I’m up to jogging almost three miles a day.”
Carol’s face finally brightened. “Maybe we could try it for a little while.”
Kevin climbed out of bed and extended his hand to Arel. “You drive a hard bargain, but I guess we’re up for it.” As he stood waiting to shake hands, Arel looked hesitant. “Is there a problem?”
“No, of course not,” Arel said stepping forward.
As Kevin sealed the deal with a hearty shake, the tightness in his muscles relaxed a little. “This is quite a surprise.”
Kevin really did appreciate the generous offer, but Arel suddenly looked a bit taken aback when Kevin released him. The smaller man’s brows were narrowed, and he worked his hand as if he needed to check for breakage.
“Sorry, I keep forgetting,” Kevin said, feeling instant remorse.
Carol’s concern was directed at Arel too. “Sweetie, are you sure that you’re up to this?”
Arel glanced up at once. “No problem. Just relax and let me take care of everything.”
Seventy-Seven
AREL DEPOSITED THE two, weighty suitcases in the foyer and tried to straighten his bent frame as quickly as possible. After he gave himself a short moment to recover, he turned to his house guests. “Welcome to your new home away from home, my friends. Just go straight on back to the master bedroom where you’ll be staying.”
“Thank you,” Carol said as she and Kevin trooped past him. “But are you sure that you want to give us your bedroom?”
“She’s right, Arel,” Kevin said. “We could use the spare bedroom.”
“Absolutely not. Everything is ready for you two. I even did a little redecorating to make things special.” Arel had bought new drapes, new bedding, and new accessories for the bath.
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you,” Carol called back as she walked down the hall.
Arel waited until Carol and Kevin were out of view before he took a deep breath and picked up the suitcases again. They belonged to Carol, but they were surprisingly heavy. Judging from the weight, he was sure that they contained iron ingots, not fluffy women’s apparel. The laborious chore of toting them the last twenty feet to the bedroom was a reminder that he’d clearly neglected his arm strength. When he deposited the cases next to the bedroom closet, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“My goodness, Arel,” Carol said fretfully. “I think you got the cases with all my books, my old laptop and all my toiletries. I usually buy the extra large sizes of shampoo and conditioner. It’s so much cheaper that way.”
“Smart thinking,” Arel wheezed. “I’ll have to remember that when I’m shopping.”
“Carol is a whiz at saving money,” Kevin added.
“Thanks, sweetie.” Carol’s eyes brightened as she glanced around the room. “Everything is gorgeous.”
Arel smiled back with pride. The room was a very comfortable place for anyone who needed serenity. Three sets of paned windows took up most of the exterior wall. Their wide expanse welcomed in the afternoon’s soft rays of sunlight, making the room warm and inviting. French vanilla walls and creamy white, linen curtains contrasted beautifully with the furniture’s dark, rich woods. The sleigh bed stood out as the focal point. It was elegantly dressed in a snowy white comforter with gold trim. A half dozen high loft pillows completed the look. Arel had also put two long stemmed, red roses on a central pillow. The accent added the only vibrant color in the room.
As Carol tried out the bed, Kevin inspected the master bath and reported his findings. “Wow, Arel, I never paid any attention to this part of the house. The bathroom is really something,” he said. “I like the gold fixtures, very fancy. And the garden tub and separate shower are great, especially with the floor-to-ceiling tile.”
“Good, I’m glad you like it.” Arel remembered when he’d first redone the bathrooms in the house. He’d been very pleased with the imported Rosa aurora marble tile from Portugal. “Now, I’ll let you two get settled. If you want anything I’ll be in the kitchen, working on dinner.”
“Is Michael going to help you or do you want one of us to pitch in?” Carol asked.
Arel started for the hall. “Michael’s been called away. It’s just the three of us.” What he didn’t explain is that he’d asked Michael to stay out of the picture. He wanted to prove himself. He didn’t know about babies, but how hard could it be to take care of two, young adults?
Kevin called after him as Arel started to leave. “Are you sure you don’t need a hand in the kitchen? After I’m finished unpacking, I’ll be happy to—”
“Rule number one, no helping,” Arel called from the hall. “You two are here to rest and enjoy some time together.” He paused with a contented smile and went back to the bedroom and peeked in. “And if you need me at night for any reason, there’s an intercom by the bed. Just give me a buzz.”
Seventy-Eight
WHEN THE ALARM went off early the next morning, Arel was totally prepared and eager to begin his caretaking duties. He was armed with a detailed schedule to keep him on track. For starters, he had moved hi
s normal waking time back three hours.
So this is what service is all about.
He did a few stretches, letting the idea sink in. As he did, he understood what motivated Michael. No wonder the angel always looks strong and resilient. Being there for people that he cared about put a spring in his step.
As he dressed, he went over his new routine. He’d take his three mile jog, come home and fix breakfast for Kevin, and get the young man off to work by seven. Next, he’d take a shower and spend some time relaxing on his computer. Refreshed, he’d be ready to fix breakfast for Carol when she woke up.
“And I’ll have accomplished all of that before I normally get out of bed.” It was a happy thought that buoyed his spirit even higher. He’d wasted so much time in his life. Now, all that was changing.
By five thirty, he was out the door, breathing deep, and running down the street. Fortunately, his three mile trek was getting easier every day. He even got back home before the scheduled time. He was able to work on Kevin’s breakfast at a leisurely pace. It wasn’t until seven o’clock, that he felt the first sting of frustration. He was on schedule, but Kevin wasn’t.
He let out a sigh of impatience as he went to check on his guest. “Where is he? He’s supposed to leave by now.”
He gave the master bedroom door a couple of light raps, trying not to wake Carol. He waited for an answer and finally knocked again.
“Is that you, Arel?” Carol called back.
“Yes, I was just checking—”
“Come in, please.”
He hesitated for a brief moment, wondering why Carol’s voice sounded so anxious. “Is everything okay?” he asked as he opened the door. He did a quick survey of the room’s occupants. “Kevin, what’s wrong? Why do you have a pillow over your face?”
Kevin let out a loud, muffled moan. “Just shoot me. It’s the kindest thing you can do.”
Arel quickly walked over to Kevin’s bedside. “What’s going on? Are you sick?”
Carol was sitting up in bed, wearing flannel pajamas that featured little rosebuds and hearts. When Kevin didn’t respond to Arel’s questions, she offered some answers. “Kevin has a stomach bug and an awful headache. He was fine when we went to sleep, but this morning he feels terrible.”
As Carol was giving Arel an explanation, Kevin tossed off the pillow and jerkily managed to sit up. Groaning again, he got to his feet and pushed Arel aside. “Watch out!”
Arel observed Kevin’s mad dash to the bathroom with blinky, questioning eyes. He hadn’t been down with a cold or flu in a very long time. Sure, he’d had the heart problem, but that was different. As he sucked in a compassionate breath, he heard horrible, retching sounds coming from the bathroom. The miserable noises made him appreciate how lucky he’d been. He glanced at Carol for directions. “What should I do?”
Carol threw back her cover. “I’ll go check on him.”
“No, no, no! You need to rest!” he ordered. As he gestured for Carol to stay put, he hurried towards the sound of Kevin getting sick again. “Leave this to me. I’ll take care of everything.”
He felt quite confident until he saw Kevin. The poor man was draped over the toilet, gripping it with white knuckles as he continued to vomit. Arel’s first impulse was to gag too, but he swallowed hard instead. That was the moment when he realized that all his plans and scheduling were a farce. But even the ‘plans of mice and men’ moment was forgotten when Kevin finally got to his feet.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this bad,” Kevin gasped. As he swayed to and fro with dizziness, his eyes met Arel’s for just an instant. The next moment, Kevin was in motion again. “Oh geez,” he cried out as he turned back to the toilet. In a violent gush he vomited again, but this time he missed his mark. When he came up for air, he groaned out an apology to Arel. “I’m really sorry, old buddy. I made a mess of your floor.”
Arel steadied a hand against the cool, marble tile. He knew his face was probably as pale as Kevin’s as he contemplated the chore in front of him. “Don’t worry about it,” he managed. “I’ll clean it up.”
As he went to get a mop and bucket, Carol was getting out of bed.
“I’m a little nauseous myself,” she said as she held a hand to her stomach.
Arel felt a twinge of panic as he rushed over to her. “Do you think you have this bug too?”
“No, it’s morning sickness. Can you get me some crackers? They might help soothe my stomach.”
Kevin let out another groan as he put himself back to bed. “Can you bring me something like Gatorade? I’m sure my electrolytes will be low if I keep throwing up like this. And maybe something to help my stomach.”
Arel nodded to each of them as a new schedule began to take shape. He’d get Carol her crackers, clean up the bathroom, and then run to the store for Kevin’s supplies. It was an excellent plan for starters. He didn’t anticipate what his actual agenda would entail. As the day proceeded, numerous other duties were added to his list. Since Carol couldn’t abide the fancy rosemary crackers that he had on hand, he had to make a second trip to the store for plain saltines. Afterwards there was the eventual breakfast for Carol, then snacks. In between, he was trying to take care of Kevin who had turned into a small nightmare. He drank the Gatorade too quickly and just as quickly he’d thrown it up. Unfortunately, he was dizzy and missed the commode a second time.
As the hours dragged by, Arel was amazed and horrified by how much could be packed into a morning. By noon, he’d run out of paper towels and his previous ideas about caregiving. Why had he sent Michael away? Why had he been so full of himself to think he could take care of Carol and Kevin alone? Still, he was resolved and determined to demonstrate his abilities, no matter what. It became a matter of pride.
* * * * *
It was evening time, and Abrigail, Michael, Grace and Fred were still in their invisible, observation mode. They were all fascinated by the ongoing saga that they had named, Arel’s Adventures with the Houseguests. The drama was getting louder and more intense as patient and caregiver continued a day long battle of wills.
“I’m not going to say it again, eat some of this consommé,” Arel insisted as he hovered over Kevin with a spoon. “You’ve had enough of that damn Gatorade.”
“I just need some rest. I’m not hungry,” Kevin argued. “Go away.”
Arel’s voice went up in volume every time Kevin refused his efforts. “Do it for Carol. She needs you to get well!”
Fred shook his head as he watched the interaction between the two men. “Arel is wasting his time. When Kevin doesn’t want to eat something, nobody can change his mind.”
“That’s too bad,” Abrigail replied, “It took Arel a long time to make that soup. I couldn’t believe how many steps there were in the recipe.”
“I’m sure that Arel couldn’t believe it either,” Michael added.
Grace agreed. “I think Kevin needs to try a spoonful for Arel’s sake. The poor soul can’t take too much more without losing all his patience.”
Fred laughed good-humoredly. “Patience? That virtue was gone around noon from what I could observe. Arel is running on raw willpower.”
“The last ten hours have been pretty intense,” Abrigail said. Her remark was punctuated by a shout of exasperation from Arel.
“Fine! Have it your way!” he yelled as he slammed the bowl of broth down on the night stand. “I’m going to bed.”
Abrigail smiled broadly at Michael. “I think he’s going to reevaluate his idea of service being fortifying, don’t you think?”
There was a glimmer of mischief in Michael’s eyes. “Yes, I’m sure he will.”
The angelic group watched as Arel pushed his fatigued body towards the door. His face was gray and grim, looking as if he was coming off of a battlefield instead of nursing duty. Pausing, he glanced back at the intercom on the night table and practically sneered when he delivered his last message to Kevin. “If there’s an emergency, buzz me.”
Gra
ce looked at Michael. “Maybe you should make an appearance, my friend.”
Michael shrugged helplessly. “So far, Arel is adamant. He wants to do this on his own.”
“You have to admire him,” Fred said. “When he makes up his mind, he’s amazing.”
“Amazing or not, I hope he doesn’t snap,” Abrigail said as she watched Arel leave the room. “His day isn’t over yet.”
* * * * *
Arel covered his mouth and yawned. With effort, he put one foot in front of the other as he made his way through the living room.
Sleep, oh how I long for you, to lose myself in sweet slumber.
“Going to bed?” a small, feminine voice called out.
The sound startled him, making him glance around uneasily. He’d forgotten about Carol. Now she sat curled up like a small, contented cat on the sofa, reading a book. He tried to smile, but those muscles didn’t seem to be working anymore. “Are you okay? Can I get you something?”
“You’ve already done too much,” she said, stretching out her tiny feet.
She was wearing pink slippers. Normally, Arel would have found them quite adorable, but one slipper had a dark smear of jelly on it. He made a mental note to put it in the next day’s laundry.
He let out a sigh as he looked back at Carol. “Don’t worry about me. The important thing is that you’ve had several naps today and look rested. That’s so important.”
Carol stretched out the messy slipper again, pointing a toe in his direction. “Thank you for insisting on taking care of Kevin by yourself. He sounds like he can be a little difficult. But I feel wonderful.”
“Excellent,” Arel managed. He felt like he was caught up in an exhausted daze and was about to continue off to bed when Carol put her book aside and stood up. “What are you doing?” he asked.
“I know I just ate a couple of hours ago, but I’m starving again,” Carol said as she walked past him. “Are there any leftovers?”
As Arel watched her heading for the kitchen, all thoughts of rest slipped away like the last drops of water on a dying man’s parched lips. “What about an omelet?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. “I could fix one for you while you read a little more.”
