Chapter 33
After the Fall
Mike sat eating his pudding and listening to Celia and Roger talk. Nothing was better medicine for a broken body or a broken heart than reminiscing about old times. The more stories they told, the more Mike could see into the real Celia. He realized that she’d changed a lot in the years she had been away from her home. He wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
The brief glimpse into the past had shown Mike that he probably would have enjoyed spending time with the old Celia. A smile crossed his lips at the phrase, ‘the old Celia’. She wouldn’t like that.
The pudding was gone, the milk glasses rinsed, and from the look on Celia’s face, Mike could tell she was very tired. Roger also noticed because he found a lull in the laughter and old stories, and spoke.
“I think it’s time I look around this huge house and find a bed to crawl into. I have a few errands to do tomorrow and a bell to buy.”
“You better make that a two-way radio. This house is huge, and if I know you, the better part of your time will be spent around the pool.”
Roger leaned over and kissed Celia on the cheek and replied, “I may take you up on that. I think we’ve both heard enough ringing bells to do us a lifetime.”
Mike and Roger exchanged a nod, and Roger walked out of the room and went up the stairs. He hadn’t been gone very long when Celia spoke, “He can always make me forget my troubles, at least for a while.”
“The two of you seem to get along well.”
“We do. We fought some when we were kids, but most of the time, we got along well. We loved irritating each other, but it was all in fun.”
“I think you almost had too much fun tonight.” Mike stood up and asked, “Is there anything I can get for you before I turn in?”
“I didn’t mean to keep you up. I’m sorry. I’m guessing you have to work tomorrow and I caused you to miss work today, too.”
“I do need to go in tomorrow, but today was okay.”
“Don’t let me keep you. I can manage.”
“Manage what?”
Celia looked up, and bit on her bottom lip for a second. “I did have a pretty big glass of milk. That might have been a mistake.”
“Oh, OH!” Mike felt the blush slipping up his face and he turned, glancing over his shoulder. What had he gotten himself into?
“It’s not that big of a deal, but it is something I didn’t think of when I chose this room.”
Mike didn’t turn and look at Celia yet, but an idea was forming in the back of his mind. She wasn’t going to like it, but he was pretty sure she didn’t have much of a choice. He wasn’t sure what bothered him most, having to help her to the bathroom or having to look her in the eye and tell her she needed to sleep in the same room that Randi Sanders had slept in.
She must have noticed he seemed unsure about something for her voice raised in pitch somewhat as she spoke, “Really, it’s not a problem. It’s just a couple of steps. Go on to bed. I can manage. I’m going to have to get used to doing things on my own anyway, so, no time like the present.”
“No. You can’t,” he said, turning to look at her. “I don’t mind helping.” He lied. He didn’t mind helping her in some ways, but taking any woman to the bathroom was not high on his list of priorities.
“I managed just fine in the hospital. I can do this.”
“Yes, but you didn’t have steps to deal with. You need to be on level floor, somewhere that you can get from the bed to the bathroom with ease.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to be way in the back of the house.” Celia started moving her pillows and cover so she could get up.
“Well, I think I have a solution to your problem. You’re just not going to like it.”
Celia gestured to her leg. “It seems to be my month for things that I’m not going to like. Feel free to add your idea to the list of many.”
Mike moved over and sat down on the arm of the couch. He inhaled a deep breath, looked down at his shoes for a second and then ripped off the band-aid. “I think you should stay in the back bedroom where I’m staying.”
Celia had the very reaction that he thought she would. She raised her pretty eyes at him, and if she could have thrown daggers in his direction, she would have.
“You’ve got to be joking. I do not want to stay in that room. Not the same room that— no, no, no, no, no!!!”
“Celia, it’s just a room and there are no stairs. Even after you get some crutches, stairs are not going to be easy.”
“I know, but it’s not fair.”
“I know it’s not but it has a bathroom and a nice soft bed. It’s the perfect solution.”
“But, I don’t want to,” she insisted.
“Celia, please do me a favor and just come on. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight. If you want to figure out something better tomorrow, I’ll help you rearrange the whole house. It’s late and I’m tired and I need to get some sleep.” He didn’t think it would work, but it did. She nodded and held out her hand for him to help her up.
They didn’t speak at all but he did hear a whimper as she made her way up the steps and a soft sigh when she sat back down in the wheelchair. He pushed her into the bedroom then into the bathroom. For a moment his gaze met hers in the mirror. He wanted to ask if she needed any help but he wasn’t sure what to say.
“Set the brake on this silly chair and grab my pillows from the couch, please.”
“Sure. Will do.” He was happy to have anything else to do other than help her in the bathroom. It felt rather strange to even be in the same room with her. And, he promised himself that tomorrow he would not bring Celia a tall glass of milk at midnight.