Chapter 14
Barry and Bess soon fell into a routine. He would take her to therapy appointments in the mornings and the afternoons would be spent in the kitchen cooking. Bess was able to do small jobs—albeit slowly—which helped with her occupational therapy. Her speech was coming along, too.
They managed to co-exist in the kitchen. It wasn’t easy as neither was used to sharing. Things were also somewhat tense in the rest of the house. The hands walked on egg shells around Bess, treating her like delicate china.
While Jimmy was delighted to have his mother living with them, he and Jake were less openly affectionate with Barry and each other in her presence.
Barry was sure Bess felt this, so she would often retire early to her…Cookie’s former room.
Bess’s presence had had one important
