No Place Like Home Ch 9 pt 2

1

After the disappointing conversation with Cassie, Rose called her mother and asked if she could bring her dirty clothes over to wash.2

“I’ve really missed you. Will you be staying for dinner?” her mom asked, and invited David to have supper with them. Rose told her she’d be showing up by herself and when her mother asked why, she replied with a partial truth. Out of necessary subterfuge she said that David was having some trouble with a patient. When her father heard that David wasn’t coming he asked Rose’s mother to invite Charlie. 3

“I don’t think David would appreciate that, Richard.” she replied. 4

“Oh, come on Kate, they’re just friends.” Richard said, and Rose knew her father was on the receiving end of a dirty look.5

“I’m sure Charlie would be happy to come, Mother.” Rose said. “I’ll give him a call later.”6

After throwing on some sweats, and laying down on the couch Rose called Charlie. Charlie didn’t have much to say, but Rose was happy to do all the talking. She told him she hadn’t been feeling well and they discussed her ordeal with the cops and her impounded van. She felt oddly comfortable around him and found herself opening up in ways that surprised even her. She explained the strange dreams she’d been having and how tired she was. 7

“What’s wrong with me Charlie?” Rose asked. “Do you think I’m losing my mind?”8

“There is probably a good explanation.” Charlie said. “You’re the psychologist. Don’t dreams usually have meanings that have absolutely nothing to do with reality. For instance, I read somewhere that a feeling of falling can represent insecurity, and losing your teeth can mean your under a lot of stress. Maybe you’re burning the candle at both ends. In the last couple months you’ve been evicted, broken up with “Golden Boy”, helped find a kidnapped child and you’ve clearly expressed concern for Gilbert. Perhaps all you need is a break from your everyday routine. Christmas is coming up in a few, did you take any time off?”9

“I have two weeks vacation left, in fact, I’ve been saving up all year. Exhaustion could be to blame for my physical condition but that still doesn’t explain the dreams. They seem so real Charlie, you don’t understand. I need to find Gilbert, maybe he can help me make a connection. You know him pretty well don’t you?”10

Charlie shrugged, “I see him at least once a week for coordination training and physical therapy. Other than that, I really don’t know what he does in his spare time. A friend of mine over in social work told me that he used to live with his mother, but she was unfit. About a year ago Gilbert called 911 after catching a glimpse of the pilot light under the gas stove and when the fire department broke down the door they found him huddled in the corner. The place was unlivable. Trash nearly piled to the ceiling and there were so many cockroaches that they would literally drop off the ceiling and onto your head. Unable to contact his mother, the state had no choice but to temporarily put him in the State hospital. When it closed this year, Gilbert went into an independent living program, but had some difficulty keeping a job. After that I believe he took up residence at the Topeka Rescue Mission. Isn’t that sad?”11

She didn’t answer immediately.12

Are you alright?” 13

“No, I’m not.” she paused, shaking her head. “It’s just not fair. These people need help and they aren’t getting it. I my opinion, closing those hospitals was like a dumping a batch of baby birds out of the nest. Sure, some of them will figure it out and spread their wings before they hit the ground, but what about those who don’t. Are their lives really that dispensable? It breaks my heart Charlie. It just breaks my heart.”14

Charlie wished he could wrap his arms around Rose and comfort her. Feeling her pain caused his stomach to tighten and he recovered with a sniffle, quickly changing the subject. “Your dreams are probably caused by stress. I know you are going through a rough time, but things will get better, I promise.”15

Rose wondered how he could possibly promise such things, but just hearing him say it made her feel better. “Thanks,” she said. 16

They spend the next hour talking on the phone as if they’d known each other forever, he even volunteered to pick her up and take her to the impound lot. Rose felt bad about needing Charlie’s help so often. It seemed like she’d already asked quite a bit of him and she hoped it wouldn’t destroy their budding friendship. She got dressed and found her cigarettes, pulled her hair back in a ponytail and looked in the mirror. She thought her face looked fat and she noticed dark circles under her eyes. Fearing that something might be seriously wrong she decided to call her doctor.17

Rose spent the next hour packing boxes and stacking them up neatly against the wall. She was taping up the last one when Charlie knocked on her door. Sturgis whimpered but refused to move from his sunny spot on the floor. She knew it was Charlie because his knock sounded like a soft, almost timid melody and she got up to answer it.18

“R-r-r-ready to go?” he said.19

Rose nodded and grabbed her purse and jacket. “Can I bring him?” she asked, pointing at Sturgis.20

“Sure.” Charlie replied, patting his leg. “C-come here, boy.”21

Sturgis got up and jumped on Charlie. Standing upright they were almost the same height and Sturgis began smothering his face in dog kisses. Charlie pulled away long enough to catch his breath and wipe his face with his sleeve. He looked at the dog and said under his breath. “I’d m-much rather have her t-tongue in my mouth.”22

“What?” Rose asked, wondering if she’d heard him right.23

“N-nothing.” Charlie, said smiled. Rose thought the look was a bit flirtatious and she was surprised by the little thrill it gave her. They picked up her van at the impound lot and Charlie followed her over to her parents house. 24

“Charlie could you do me a favor?” Rose asked, she seemed to be doing that a lot lately.25

Charlie nodded his head and Rose continued, “Please, don’t tell my parents about everything that has happened with the Police and the kidnapping.”26

“It’s going to be all over the news, don’t you think they’ll find out, anyway?”27

“Perhaps, but I just don’t feel like talking about it anymore.” she said. “Wait until you meet my mother, you’ll understand.”28

When they arrived at Rose’s parent’s house Charlie took off his coat and Rose realized in horror that he was wearing a Grateful Dead T-shirt, baggy army pants and tennis shoes. She prayed that her mother would keep her mouth shut as they went into the kitchen. 29

“Howdy Partner!” Richard said, shaking Charlie’s hand. “Got something out in the garage I want you to look at.” 30

Rose felt relieved that Charlie had made it to the safety of the garage before her mother came out of her bedroom. “Where’s that young man your father’s told me so much about?” she asked.31

“They went out to the garage.” Rose replied.32

“Before dinner?” her mother said, looking obviously disturbed. 33

“Dad’s probably showing him the hot rod, Ma. I heard them talking about it the other day. What’s cooking?”34

“Ham and beans. Honey, can you grab me an oven mit, I’ve got to get this gingerbread out of the oven?”35

Rose helped her mother in the kitchen for a while before settling down on the couch with Sturgis. The smell of ham was making her sick and causing the dog to drool uncontrollably. Attempting to keep her jeans from becoming drenched in dog spit Rose kept pushing his head off her lap. There was nothing on television and she was bored, so she decided to check her voice mail, hoping that maybe Cassie had called her again.36