Twenty-Three
ABOUT A HALF-AN-HOUR later, after the nurse had left and I’d had a chance to survey the damage down below, Helen returns with two cups of coffee and a bag. Thankfully, Mom’s not with her.
“I persuaded her to go home,” she says in response to my look. “I had Gladys take her.”
I sigh. “That was a true act of mercy,” I say as she hands me one of the coffees. I take a sip. It’s hot, sweet, and creamy.
“That really hits the spot,” I say, shifting on the bed to get comfortable. “Thank you, Mrs. Greer.”
Helen’s cup stops at her lips. She smiles sheepishly, saying, “Oh, the nurse told you that, huh?” She shrugs. “It was the only way they would let me stay. Fortunately, they didn’t ask for my identification. I guess they didn’t want to push a hysterical wife.”
“You were hysterica
