Chapter 2
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn’t be able to run into the surf after him, that’s why. Did you forget this ugly bag I have hanging from my belly?”
“You’re a nurse, Chris. Surely, there are ways to swim while wearing an ostomy bag.”
“Yeah. Now that you mention it, I think there are.”
“Then do a little research and find out,” Mickey said. “Why don’t we take him to the beach this weekend.”
“Whatever,” Chris said, clearly anxious to end the conversation. “It’s been a long and exhausting day, Mickey, can we go to bed now?”
“No argument there. Let’s.”
They undressed for bed and settled into their favorite position for sleep, too tired to consider other possibilities. They were awakened the next morning when Teddy wandered into their bedroom.
“I’m hungry,” he said.
“Go down to the kitchen,” Chris said. “I’ll be there in a minute. Do you like cereal?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Okay. There are two or three kinds of cereal in one of the cupboards and milk in the fridge. As soon as I’m through in the bathroom, I’ll be down.”
“I’ll go downstairs with him now,” Mickey said, then pulled the covers back on his side of the bed and stood up.
Teddy’s eyes widened just a bit at that.
“What’s the matter, kiddo?” Mickey said. “Haven’t you ever seen anybody sleep naked before?”
“Yes, Sir. Most of Ma’s boyfriends did that, but I wasn’t allowed in the bedroom.”
“If you weren’t allowed in the bedroom, how do you know they slept naked?” Chris said.
“They weren’t very careful about closing the door.”
Oh fuck!Chris thought. I wonder what else they weren’t careful about?
Mickey retrieved a robe from their closet, donned it, and tied it around his waist. “Come on, Teddy,” he said. “Let’s go see about breakfast.”
When he heard Mickey and Teddy’s feet on the stairs, Chris got out of bed, grabbed a robe, and went to the bathroom to deal with his bodily needs. It took a while to first catheterize himself, then deal with the ostomy bag, but he eventually hurried down the stairs and found Mickey and Teddy at the kitchen table. Mickey had orange juice and coffee in front of him and was eating an apple. Teddy was happily dealing with orange juice and cereal.
“We were hungry, so we didn’t wait for you,” Mickey said.
“I didn’t expect you to,” Chris said.
“Pour yourself a cup and have a seat,” Mickey said.
Chris rounded up the same things Mickey had at his place and settled down at the table.
“I was ready for this,” he said between sips of coffee.
“What’s on your agenda for this morning?” Mickey said.
“First things first—get Teddy enrolled in school.”
“Which school?”
“St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School, of course.”
“Why that school, and why ‘of course’?”
“Because it’s arguably one of the best in the city; because it’s right down the street in Ortega; and because the kids of all our friends go there.”
“Sounds good to me. What if they don’t have an opening?”
“Then we’ll come up with plan B.”
“Since you’ve got things under control, I’m going to go get dressed for work.”
“Have at it, and don’t forget to inquire about day care.”
“Will do,” Mickey said, and headed for the stairs.
2
Jacksonville, FL
CHRIS SAT FOR a few minutes finishing his breakfast, while Teddy sat across the table looking expectantly at him.
“See that yellow pad and pen over there on the counter, Teddy?” Chris said.
“Sure.”
“Why don’t you bring it to me, and we’ll make a shopping list.”
“Okay.”
Teddy retrieved the pad and pen and handed them to Chris.
“All right, then,” Chris said. “Let’s start with what you like for breakfast and go from there.”
Chris quickly learned that Teddy had several food likes but no particular dislikes other than liver, which he despised.
“Guess what?” Chris said when he heard that.
“What?”
“I don’t like liver either. It looks so nasty and slimy sitting there in the meat counter.”
Teddy giggled at the image. “Grandma says it’s good for you.”
“And she’s correct, but that doesn’t mean we have to like it.”
“Are you going to buy some when we go to the store?”
“Absolutely not. There are a lot of other foods that are just as good for you.”
“Good,” Teddy said.
Chris completed his shopping list. “Teddy, why don’t you watch TV in the library while I go upstairs and get ready?”
“Okay.”
“We don’t have all of the channels that are available, but there are a couple of them that have cartoons.”
“What about the Cartoon Network? Do we have it?”
“I think so. Let’s go have a look at the TV guide.”
Chris went into the library and turned on the television. He called up the online guide and said, “There’s what we have available, and the Cartoon Network is one of the channels we get.”
“What about Paula Deen? Do we have the Food Network?”
“We sure do, kiddo. Do you like her program?”
“Yes, Sir. I love to listen to her talk and watch her cook.”
“Good for you.”
With Teddy settled down in the library watching television, Chris went upstairs to dress for the day.I showered last night, so I’ll bypass my morning shower, but I do need a shave, he thought. That taken care of, he dressed in shorts and a polo shirt, slipped into a pair of deck shoes and started to head downstairs, then remembered something that he needed to do, so he went into the upstairs den and made a phone call.