Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

AJ hobbled out to the sofa for dinner. As promised, Grandpa had a pizza delivered. They watched the evening news as they ate. The reporter had called it correctly. The six o’clock edition closed without any mention of AJ’s release from the hospital, and said nothing further about Chaz.

Until any new details surfaced about Chaz, the story was old news.

“More milk?” Grandpa asked as he stood.

AJ grinned. “Sure I can’t have a beer?”

Grandpa rested his hand on the sofa. “Doctor’s orders. For now.”

“Nah, I’m fine, then.”

In the kitchen, Grandpa pulled a beer and popped the top. “I spoke with your mother last night.”

Ugh. AJ didn’t want to hear any more about the wedding. Not now.

Grandpa walked back to the sofa. “She’s coming this weekend.”

“No.” AJ dropped his head against the back of the sofa.

“AJ. She is your mother. She became frantic to hear you’d been shot.” Grandpa’s voice softened. “She loves you, and deserves your respect.”

AJ pushed himself up. “Yeah. You’re right.” He picked up his pizza crust, set it back down. “Is she bringing… him?” He didn’t even know the guy’s name.

“Not this time.” Grandpa sounded as relieved as AJ felt.

If he had to deal with her, better to do it alone at first. It wasn’t like her not to hide behind some guy, though. Maybe he couldn’t make the trip. “When does she get in?”

“Friday evening. She’ll leave Sunday evening. She has a job.” Grandpa reported this last news with some wariness.

“Oh.” A job was nothing new. Staying at the job was another matter.

Grandpa arched his brows. “Two, in fact.” He chugged his beer.

AJ feigned delight. His mother had had a succession of jobs, just like AJ. Always taking classes, then switching to something else. Painting. Bookkeeping. Pottery. Massage therapy. You name it, his mother knew it. But she couldn’t stick with any of them. “What two jobs does she have now?”

“She works in a bead shop, and teaches jewelry-making classes. In addition, she sells the jewelry she makes online.” Resting a hand on his knee, Grandpa turned to him. “So, in fact, she has three jobs.”

AJ nodded. “Three. That’s a record.”

Grandpa reached for his paper plate and headed back to the kitchen.

“Did Tobias mention anything about my job?” AJ called over his shoulder.

Tobias had lost two employees in one day, with Chaz in jail and AJ in the hospital. How long could he hold the cruise job open? AJ guessed not long.

Grandpa threw the plates into the trash. “Tobias was very impressed with you. Not only the other day, but after the alligator incident as well. He’s hoping you’ll return after you recover.”

Stunned, AJ asked, “He’ll hold my job?”

Standing by the sofa, Grandpa folded his arms. “Bob agreed to put off his semi-retirement and fill in for you. He’s better off. He’d gamble his 401k away in all that spare time.”

Wow. AJ had lucked out. “Tobias is a good guy.”

“Yes, he is. He’s a good friend.” Grandpa asked, “Would you like to sit on the patio awhile? Get some fresh air?”

AJ sighed. “I hate to admit it, but I’m wiped. I think I’ll go back to bed.” He stood, waving off his grandfather’s attempts to help.

Grandpa walked him down the hallway. “Good. You lost a lot of blood. You need all the rest you can get.”

AJ eased onto his bed with a groan.

Rest, and a few more painkillers.