Lelani turned and stared at Kendall with wide eyes. “Would you leave Killiki for Matthew?”
“No, of course not. I love Killiki and he loves me. And we are a match made in heaven.” Kendall sighed happily. “I just know that.”
“And yet …?”
“I guess it’s a little scary to think about. I mean, there was a time not that long ago when I thought I’d do anything to get Matthew Harmon.”
“But you’ve changed.”
“Yes. But still, wasn’t it hard for you last night? I mean, seeing Ben face-to-face and hearing him say those things?” She studied Lelani’s expression as she sat down in the chair next to Emma.
“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure.” Lelani spooned a bite into Emma’s wide-open mouth. “But in a way, it felt like … closure.”
“Like the end of a chapter.”
“More like the end of a book. A very unhappy book.”
“So you’re sure that it’s completely over between you and Ben?”
“Absolutely.” Lelani nodded firmly.
“But what about Emma?” Kendall rubbed her own belly now. “Did Ben want to be a part of her life?”
Lelani kind of laughed. But it sounded sad. “No, I don’t think so.”
“So, he’s really out of the picture?”
“He is for me. I guess I can’t predict whether he’ll ever want to be involved with Emma’s life, or if she might someday want to know him, or how I would handle that if she did.”
“Killiki says—actually I think it’s in the Bible—that each day has enough problems for itself and we shouldn’t go looking for more from the next day. Or something like that.”
“Yes. I agree. No one can predict the future. For me and for Emma, the best thing I can imagine is being with Gil. Even though the wedding is in less than two weeks, it feels like a long ways away.”
“I agree.” Kendall stood. “Today I am having a Nana Day.”
“Tell her hello for me.”
“I’ll do that. I think we’ll go to Maui today.” Kendall chuckled. She’d already told them about their France day.
“Then let me send a lei for her. It’s not made of real flowers, of course, but it might be fun.”
And so when Kendall went into Nana’s room, she tried to ignore the smell and the general feeling of bleakness as she said, “Aloha!” Then she placed the purple lei around her grandmother’s neck and kissed her on both cheeks.
“What is this?” Nana asked in a slightly cranky voice.
“It’s a lei.”
Nana’s old fingers felt of it. “Not real flowers, are they?”
“No. But maybe we can find some today.”
Nana peered up at Kendall. “Who are you anyway?”
Kendall just smiled. “I’m your granddaughter Kendall. And today we’re going to Maui.”
“Maui?” Nana’s brow creased. “What’s that?”
“An island in Hawaii.” Kendall frowned down at Nana’s pajamas. “But you’re not dressed yet.”
Nana just scowled and shook her frazzled looking head.
Kendall wasn’t sure what to do now. Should she help Nana get dressed or call someone to help? She noticed a tube coming out from Nana’s pajamas. She followed it to see that it was attached to bag half full of yellow liquid, but it took her a moment to realize it was a catheter. “Are you sick, Nana?” she asked.
“Sick and tired of this place,” Nana grumped. “Can’t you bust me out of here?”
“Well, I came to take you for an outing.” Kendall frowned down at the bag.
“Good morning, Mrs. Weis,” said a nurse’s aid, who had just let herself into the room. “How are we feeling this morning?”
“We are feeling terrible.”
“Alex said you need some help and I—”
“All I need is to get away from you people,” snapped Nana. “My granddaughter is going to bust me out of here. Aren’t you … uh? What’s your name again?”
Kendall sighed. “Kendall.”
“And my name is Glenda,” the nurse’s aid said.
Nana snickered. “Glenda the Good Witch.”
“If you can excuse us for a few minutes, I’ll help your grandmother to get cleaned up and ready for the day.”
“I … uh … I’ll wait outside.” So Kendall went out into the hall and waited. After a few minutes, she wandered down to the main desk and asked the receptionist about Nana. “It looks like she’s got a catheter, and I had hoped to take her out for—”
“Oh, Mrs. Weis is restricted to the facility,” the woman told her as she pointed to something in a notebook. “Looks like she’s got a UTI.”
“UTI?”
“Urinary tract infection. She’s on antibiotics and isn’t well enough to go out.”
“Oh.” Suddenly Kendall wanted to leave. She wanted out of this horrid place with its horrid smells. But she felt sorry for Nana. Kendall understood why her grandmother wanted out too.
“You can visit with her here,” the woman said cheerfully. “I’m sure she would enjoy that just as much.”
Kendall wasn’t so sure, but she figured it was worth a try. When she went back to the room, Nana was wearing clothes. Her hair was combed (badly), and the bag was emptied. Glenda (the Good Witch) was over by the sink, apparently washing her hands or something.
“They told me that you can’t go out today,” Kendall told Nana as she sat down on the loveseat adjacent to Nana’s recliner.
“What do you mean I can’t go out?”
“That’s right,” Glenda told her. “You need to stay in residence until you’re better, Mrs. Weis.”
“I am better,” Nana declared. “I’m clean and dressed and I’m ready to go.” She pushed herself up from her chair, and Kendall didn’t know whether to help or not. But as hard as Nana tried, she could not manage to stand. She was too weak.
“So, I’ll just stay here with you,” Kendall said pleasantly. “We can visit.”
“I don’t want to visit,” Nana proclaimed. “I want out of this place. Now!”
“But they said—”
“I don’t give a—”
“Now, now, Mrs. Weis,” Glenda said as she brought over a plastic cup of water and another small paper cup with some pills in it. “No need to get upset.”
“I’ll get upset if I want to.”
Glenda glanced at Kendall. “She had a rough day yesterday.” She held out the cup with the pills to Nana. “Just take these, and you’ll be getting better in no time.”
“In time to go to … to some island?” Nana’s brow wrinkled with confusion. “You said an island, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Kendall assured her. “Maui.”
“That sounds like fun,” Glenda said cheerfully. “Now just take these pills so you can feel good enough to go to Maui with your granddaughter.” She chuckled. “I wish I could go too.”
“You can’t go. You have to stay here and take care of old people.” Nana’s hand trembled slightly as she tipped the cup of pills into her mouth, then reached for the water and gulped it down.
“Good for you, Mrs. Weis.” Glenda took the cups and returned to the sink.
“Now I can go to … where was it?”
“Maui?”
“Yes.” Nana nodded. “Now I can go to Maui.”
“Not just yet,” Glenda said as she gathered her things.
“When?” demanded Nana.
“When you’re better.” Glenda had her hand on the door, but she was looking at Kendall like she wanted to say something. Kendall got up and stood between Glenda and Nana.
“She’ll be sleepy soon,” Glenda said quietly.
“Why?”
“Because the doctor is keeping
her sedated.”
“Why?”
“Because of the UTI.”
“But that shouldn’t—”
“She gets agitated and tries to remove the catheter. Besides being messy, it’s very painful and—”
“Okay,” Kendall said. “I get it.”
“Good-bye, Mrs. Weis.”
Kendall closed the door behind Glenda, then turned to see that Nana still had an expectant look in her eyes. “Perfect!” Nana clapped her hands. “You got rid of Glenda the Good Witch and now you can break me out of here.”
“But Nana—”
“Get my purse. And my sweater.” Nana tried to push herself up again but couldn’t.
Kendall didn’t know what to do. So she got Nana’s purse, which she set in her lap, and Nana’s sweater, which she draped over her shoulders.
“I need a suitcase,” Nana said.
Kendall made a pretense of looking around the room, taking her time and wondering how to deal with this. Mostly she didn’t want to hurt Nana’s feelings. “There doesn’t seem to be a suitcase,” she said finally.
Nana just nodded and sighed. Maybe the meds were working.
Kendall sat down on the loveseat again. “You’ll get better, Nana. And then we’ll go to Maui.” Kendall started chatting at her, explaining that she was getting married and that they still needed to find Nana a dress for the wedding and that Kendall and Killiki would live in Maui and maybe Nana could come visit them in Maui for real.
Nana seemed to be relaxing.
“Do you want to lean back and put your feet up?” Kendall asked.
Nana just nodded, and Kendall helped her to adjust the recliner.
“I can’t wait for you to meet Killiki,” Kendall continued to ramble. “He’s the one who helped me to realize how much I needed God in my life. Actually, we all need God. But Killiki made it seem so simple. You just tell God you’re sorry for making a mess of things, and then you ask for Jesus to come into your heart, and you get a whole new fresh start.”
“A fresh start,” Nana mumbled as she closed her eyes.
“Yeah. And, let me tell you, I sure did need one. I don’t think anyone is as good at making messes as I am. But Killiki loves me anyway. And he said that’s how God feels too. You can be a complete mess and he still loves you.”
Nana was starting to snore, and Kendall figured the sedatives had kicked in. She was disappointed that she couldn’t take Nana out for their Maui trip but thought maybe it was for the best. Nana could rest up and get better, and perhaps by the end of the week, they could go shop for a dress.
But as Kendall drove home, she felt sorry for Nana and the way she seemed trapped in that nursing home. She remembered the desperate look in Nana’s eyes as she begged Kendall to “bust” her out of there.
Kendall had an idea. Why couldn’t they move Nana out of the nursing home and back to her own house? In two weeks, both Lelani and Kendall would be gone, and then Anna and Megan had until the end of the month to find another place. But what if Anna and Megan were willing to remain in the house? And what if their rent money could be used to hire some assistance to care for Nana?
She was so excited about her idea that she decided to call and leave messages for both Anna and Megan, saying that this could be a way for both of them to remain in the house. Megan could move her room upstairs, and the caregiver and Nana could occupy the bedrooms on the first floor. Really, wouldn’t that make everyone happy?
Twenty-three
Anna
Anna didn’t know what to think when she listened to Kendall’s message about moving the elder Mrs. Weis back to Bloomberg Place. Her first response was to say, “No way.” But the more she thought about it, the more it seemed to make sense. It wasn’t as if Kendall was asking them to care for her grandmother, just to share the home with her and a full-time caregiver. This would alleviate Anna’s need to move out, and so far she hadn’t found anything that was both suitable and affordable. She most definitely did not want to move back home. It was bad enough to have lost Edmond, but to lose her independence as well? That was just more than she could bear.
Edmond had made small talk to her today. It was work related and Anna responded in a businesslike and professional manner. Decidedly grown-up. No small accomplishment, considering the fact that Lucy had been standing nearby. Lucy had been anxiously waiting for Edmond’s attention. She reminded Anna of the little lapdog that Kendall once had, but Lucy wasn’t even as cute as Tinkerbell.
“Rick wants to see you in his office,” Lucy had announced as if the summons were a matter of national security. “It’s urgent.” Then, like the faithful puppy, Lucy trotted behind Edmond toward the elevators, and Anna even thought she saw her tail wagging.
“How long do interns usually stay?” Anna asked Chelsea as they ate together during their lunch hour. Today Anna had ventured to the break room. So far, to her relief, she had seen no sign of Edmond or Lucy. She tried not to imagine the two of them behind closed doors, pawing each other in Edmond’s office.
“I’m not sure,” Chelsea admitted. “But Lucy seems to be well liked.”
Anna controlled herself from rolling her eyes.
“Felicia seems very fond of her.” Chelsea frowned down at her half-eaten sandwich now. “In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was considering offering Lucy my job.”
“Your job?” Anna was surprised.
“Everyone knows I make a mess of things.” Chelsea just shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll be getting my notice soon.”
“Then you need to try harder,” Anna said. “Unless you don’t want your job.”
“Of course I want it. But it seems like everything I do just goes wrong. And I’m pretty sure Felicia is fed up.”
Anna studied Chelsea for a moment. Her stringy light-brown hair and poorly chosen outfit of rumpled tan cords and a wrinkled blue T-shirt (which actually had a stain near the neckline) hardly inspired confidence. In fact, Anna wondered how Chelsea had even managed to land the job in the first place.
“Do you mind if I ask what your qualifications are, Chelsea? I mean, for being Felicia’s assistant.”
Chelsea rattled off a rather impressive list of marketing jobs, as well as her training and her college GPA, and Anna just shook her head. “You could’ve fooled me,” she said.
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry for being blunt,” Anna said, “but the way you look, and the way you act sometimes, well, I just never would’ve guessed that you’ve had so much experience.”
Chelsea looked perfectly dismal now. “I know.”
“Then why don’t you do something about it?”
Chelsea just shrugged. “What?”
“Change something.”
Chelsea looked hopefully at Anna now. “How?”
Anna held up her hands. “You know, improve your appearance. Dress more professionally. Get your hair done. Show some confidence.”
Chelsea got that hopeless expression again. “I don’t know how.”
“Oh, come on,” Anna urged her. “You work in marketing. You know that the way we sell things is all about the packaging. But look at you, Chelsea. What are you selling?”
Chelsea just shook her head. “I’ve tried changing my appearance, but it never works. I always end up looking like a clown or a hooker or something. For me, frumpy works.”
“Okay.” Anna stood and brushed crumbs off of her neat navy skirt. “If that’s working for you.”
“Wait,” Chelsea stood too, gathering up her uneaten sandwich.
Anna just stood there.
“Can you help me, Anna?”
Anna considered this. Really, the last thing she needed right now was another project. On the other hand, what if Felicia did decide to let Chelsea go and keep Lucy on as he
r replacement—permanently? Maybe it was a long shot, but maybe it was worth it.
“Here’s the deal,” she told Chelsea. “My hands are kind of full right now. I have two roommates getting married in less than two weeks, and I’m in both of their weddings. I have one bridal shower to help host. And I’m still trying to find a place to move into.”
“Wow, you are busy.”
“But if you’re serious, if you really want to change your image, I’ll give you one evening after work. But you’ll have to trust me and agree with whatever I suggest, or else I’m walking. I just don’t have time for games. Okay?”
“Okay!” Chelsea’s face brightened and for a moment, Anna thought there might actually be hope for the girl. Or maybe Anna had seen Pygmalion and My Fair Lady one too many times. Whatever the case, Anna figured she could afford one night. Besides, she still needed to get wedding gifts and could use some time at the mall.
“Fine,” Anna told her. “I’ll call my hairdresser and see if she can squeeze you in tonight. I’ll tell her it’s an emergency. You meet me at my car in the parking lot right after work.”
So it was that Anna booked an appointment with Vivian, dropped Chelsea off at the mall salon with instructions to make Chelsea look business-appropriate yet chic, then headed for Macy’s, where she would start lining up things for Chelsea to try on. “We have to move swiftly,” she’d told Chelsea. “As soon as Vivian’s done, call me and we’ll meet up.”
Anna had never considered herself a fashion expert, but she had learned a few things from her housemates, and her sense of style was far more evolved than poor Chelsea’s. She headed straight for the career section, found a salesgirl, and soon filled a fitting room with suit jackets, blouses, skirts, and trousers.
“You say she’s a size ten,” the girl said to Anna. “But is she a big ten or a small ten?”
Anna thought for a moment. “She’s taller than I am. But then everyone is. I guess she’s a big ten.”
“Then I’ll put some twelves in there too.”
“I need to go get some wedding presents,” Anna told her. “If you find anything else that seems to work, go ahead and put it in there. I’ll be back in about half an hour.”
Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah Page 20
