Chapter Nine: Good News
In the hallway outside of Ben's room I remembered the piece of paper that Sandra had handed me. I pulled it out of my pocket, and much to my surprise found it to be a check for $5,000. Now I was really curious about the nature of their disagreement.
She was sitting at the same table that Cecil and I had used earlier, nursing a cup of coffee and taking in the view. An empty sandwich wrapper and a dirty plate bore witness to her late lunch. I placed the check on the table in front of her and asked, “What's this for?”
“Ben was so angry when I told him.” She took another sip and looked at me with concern. “But his father and I discussed it and it seems to be the only way we can help.”
“I don't understand.”
“After I talked to you this morning, I gave it some thought, and it seemed logical that you were going to have to rent a place for the next few months while Ben recovers. I don't know what rental rates are around here, but that would be enough to cover a couple month's rent back home. I know it won't cover everything, but...”
“No, it's very generous, but I can't ask you to...”
“You don't have to. Besides, I've been staying at your place for free. Think of it as a kind of repayment for your hospitality.” She offered a weak smile as if this reasoning would make any kind of difference.
“But you're family, of course you are staying with us. I would never think of charging...”
“And you're family,” she interrupted. “Where else should we spend our money? Please let us do this for you. I'm going to have to head home soon, and it would give us a little comfort to know we have helped.”
I had to admit that it would be helpful now that we were reduced to a single income and our expenses were about to double. “I...umm, thank you.” The look of relief in her eyes spoke volumes.
“Ben is so proud of his independence. You don't have to tell him about this if...”
“He needs to know,” I stated flatly. “We don't keep secrets from each other, and I think it is important to his emotional well being for him to understand how much he means to the people around him.”
“I understand,” she agreed. “But I'll let you tell him. He's so mad at me right now.”
“No he's not,” I offered. He sent his apology with me, and I think he's beginning to turn a corner. I have a place in mind that is within sight of the rehab facility and right on the ocean. I'm going to discuss it with him when I get back to his room. Would you like to come with me to look at it. I'll probably call the owner tonight and try to see it tomorrow.”
“That would be lovely.”
When I returned to his room, Ben was surrounded by technicians and nurses. His brace had arrived and they were doing the final fitting, tweaking it here and there to get a perfect fit. “I asked for chartreuse, but they only had white!” he shouted when he caught sight of me behind the mob. “Much too virginal. Wait, aren't you supposed to become a virgin again after going so long without sex? I mean, it's been quite a while, maybe they're trying to tell me something.”
“I think the tradition is seven years,” I informed him. “You've got a ways to go yet, you big slut!” A couple of the technicians who didn't know us seemed shocked at this exchange, but those who did snickered, and Ben roared with laughter.
“Well then, get over here and make an honest man of me.” He was playing to the crowd and enjoying every minute of it.
“You learn something new every day,” I retorted. “ I didn't realize you liked an audience.” At this point everyone was laughing and the work on his brace came to a halt. “Behave yourself!” I chided. “They need to concentrate. You want to get out of here, don't you?”
“Aye aye, sir,” he responded, offering a mock salute. Then to one of the nurses as if in confidence he whispered just a little too loud, “He can be such a bitch sometimes.”
The laughter erupted again and I shouted, “I heard that!” I stayed out of the way as they manipulated his lower limbs, lifting and moving him into the necessary positions. Finally the brace was finished and they positioned him in the chair, giving him the ability to sit upright for the first time since his accident.
As they were settling him into position one of the technicians caught his foot behind hers and unexpectedly twisted his leg a little. “Ow! Be careful there, that's my...” His eyes grew wide, and he softly continued, “That's my foot. I felt that.” He instantly had my attention and repeated, “I felt that!”
The technician apologized, but he was too excited to notice. “Do it again!” he insisted. “Do it again!”
The technician was taken aback, but the nurse understood immediately. She knelt in front of him and began poking at his foot with a pen. “Can you feel that? What about that?” She prodded him a few more times without a response, then she tried gently twisting his leg.
He winced immediately. “That was it,” He laughed. “I've never been so happy to feel pain in my life.”
“I'll let the doctor know.” and she hurried out of the room.
Meanwhile the technicians were packing up their tools and getting ready to leave. “You should be all set for now,” the manager said, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. “At least you can get out of bed now if you want, with a little help of course, and maybe this fellow here can take you for wheelchair rides around the floor.”
“Thank you so much!” His enthusiasm was both for the new mobility he had been given, and the sudden hope that he was beginning to regain some of his sensation. They left and we suddenly found ourselves alone. “Joey, I felt that. It hurt like hell, but I felt it!”
“I heard. Shall I call your mom? She'll want to know.”
“Wait until after the doctor has taken a look, she's still doing her afternoon rounds and should be here soon.” While we waited I told him about the seaside cottage and how renting it might help him get out of rehab sooner. “I'm all for that,” he enthused, “But can we afford it?”
“I think we can, especially since your parents have offered to help out financially.”
He stiffened at this, but before he could protest I pointed out, “It's just like Chad's hat. This is how they can show how much they love you. Besides, they are suffering too. Do you have any idea how helpless your mom feels just sitting here watching and unable to do anything? They need you to accept this for their peace of mind.”
He sighed. “I know, I just don't want to be a burden.”
“You're not. Are the kids at home a burden? No, we love them and would do anything for them without hesitation. Your mom is just being a mom. Let her. After all, we all need help sometimes, no matter how mature or independent we are. Besides, we can always repay them later if the opportunity arises.”
“True. I hadn't thought of that.”
Just then the doctor arrived energized by the news of Ben's new sensation and proceeded to examine him and test the limits of what he could feel. It was limited to pain, but it was reliable sensation, a good sign. “The pain will probably get worse before other sensations manifest themselves,” she cautioned, “So while this is good news, it may also cause a good deal of discomfort over the next few days or weeks.”
After the doctor left I called Sandra and she immediately set out for the hospital. When she arrived I left them alone together for a few minutes so they could reconcile properly, taking the opportunity to call about the summer rental. The owner was happy to have interest in the property, and we set up a time to look at it the next morning.
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