Chapter 43

"Where will you go?"

"My sixty-five dollars ought to get me to a dock in San Pedro. The casts ought to help me sink."

"That is not what you're going to do."

"Oh? What am I going to do? Use my sixty-five dollars to rent an apartment, buy food, and live off what's left for the next two months until the casts come off?" Her voice was strained.

"What about your real brother? Or your parents, friends, someone?"

"My parents haven't got anything more than twenty dollars and I can't ask them for anything. They tossed me out years ago. I don't have any other family and no friends. Mike didn't like the way men looked at me so we didn't go out. I worked in the office at his auto repair shop."

"Ok. Enough. I work hard at being positive and your story is bringing me down. I've got a better story."

"I really don't need your story."

"What I have is a story to replace yours. You were hit by a car this morning on your way to a new job. The owner of the car is going to buy you a new wardrobe and pay your hospital bills. The new job begins as soon as you are physically able to start and your new roommate will cover your rent and food until you get your first check."

"Great story. Too bad that's all it is."

"No, it's the truth. I have a business that needs someone to answer phones, do some light typing, the billings and filing. On your behalf I'll negotiate with the owner of the car so she gets you some clothes and pays the hospital bills. I live in a two bedroom condo so you can be my roommate until you start getting paid for working for me."

"I don't even know you."

"I don't know you either. Are you really so anxious to see the bottom of the harbor?"

"No." She closed her eyes and sat quietly for a long time. I stayed. I asked myself why I offered her so much. She was right, I didn't know her. What if she was one of those women who thought nothing of ripping off men for everything they could? If that was what she was, she had an odd way of getting suckers.

It just seemed like the right thing to do.

Doing the Right Thing

The next day she was discharged from the hospital and I took her to my place. Between offering her a job and getting her into my home I did some preparation so I reduced the risk of being ripped off. I put a limit on outgoing phone calls from my phone to calls within my area code only. I put all my credit card and checking information in the safe at my office. I put clean sheets on the bed in the spare bedroom and on my bed. I cleaned and vacuumed the entire place. I bought food and beverages to stock the kitchen. I bought a woman's robe and a nightgown that were pretty modest.

On the way home from the hospital Jennifer asked if I could stop and get her a couple of things. I asked what she needed, thinking I could tell her I had it at home. She said her period was due and she had nothing to use.

I stopped and got her what she asked for. I bought three boxes. I figured she was going to be off her feet for weeks, might as well be prepared.

At home I carried her into the house and got her comfortable on the couch. I made some tea and we talked. Not about much, just getting to know each other and logistical things about living together. Mobility was going to be a big issue for at least two weeks. Jennifer was to stay off her feet for the two weeks until her next appointment. That made getting to and from a bathroom difficult. We talked about possible solutions and some of the ideas we had were funny enough that we laughed. I said I would carry her to and from the bathroom. She blushed and said I could get a bucket and put kitty litter in it. I said I could move her bed next to the window and she could hang her butt out the window. We laughed at those ideas.

An hour later it was no longer a discussion, it was a need. I picked her up and took her into the bathroom. As I lowered her onto the commode she pulled the hospital gown out of the way. I left her for a couple of minutes until I heard the commode flush. When I came back I brought the nightgown and the robe. I had left the tags on the robe, in case I needed to take it back.

When Jennifer saw the robe she started to cry.

"Jennifer, why are you crying? Have I offended you?"

"I lived with Mike three months and he never bought me anything. He never asked if I needed anything. I've known you three days and you bought me a robe, a nightgown and Tampax."

"So, I did good?"

"Yes! You did good. Now turn around and let me change."

I turned and noticed that I was at the right angle to look in the mirror and watch without her seeing me do it. I could see her body but not her face. She took off the two hospital gowns they let her come home in and I saw lots of bruises and scrapes. I also saw two beautiful breasts. Jennifer was pale and slim with slightly-larger-than-handful sized breasts. What really got me were her nipples. They looked puffy, swollen, and were a beautiful dark pink. My reaction was to begin to harden. I looked away. It wouldn't be right hitting on her when she was pretty defenseless.

I carried her to the couch and we watched TV for a while. She put up with my programs, I think. When I shut it off she said, "Mike didn't have a TV. I heard him say TV was for people who didn't like to fuck."

chapter 45

The memory image of her bruises told me we would have TV for weeks. The bed closest to a bathroom was my bed. I carried her in and put her in it. I told her that if she needed the bathroom to call me. When I got to the door she said, "Nick, can I ask a favor?"

"You can ask."

"If you slept in your own bed you would sleep better and be closer if I needed your help."

"That's true, but what's the favor?" I was smiling. I wanted her to say it.

"It would be a favor to me, if you slept here with me."

"Oh. That. Well, OK. But I have rules. Rule number one, no jumping on the bed."

We both laughed.

"And rule number two?"

"No getting out of bed alone."

"And number three?"

"No secrets."

"OK. I accept."

My clothes came off, except for my underwear, and I got into my bed. My memory went back to the last time someone else had been in my bed. It was a fading memory but still strong enough to provoke a smile. Jennifer reached over and shut off the lamp and we settled in.

I was almost asleep when she spoke. Her voice was barely even a whisper. What she said had me believe she was talking more to herself than to me.

"I am so lost. I can't even get up to pee by myself. This guy offers me a job, a room, and now we're in bed together. My Mother would freak." Her breathing slowed and she twitched twice. She was asleep.

I woke to the soft sound of my name being called.

"Nick. Nick, I need to go."

"OK. Give me a sec." I got up. She turned on the lamp and I picked her up. In the bathroom I helped her sit and she let it go before I could even turn to leave.

"Sorry. I couldn't wait another second."

"I wonder why people think peeing is so private. We all do it. It sounds about the same from men and women."

"Probably because of where it comes out."

"Hmmmm. Done?"

She lifted her arms and I picked her up. I was glad she was so small and light. I put her back in bed and walked around to the other side. I got back in and could feel that the bed was still warm. Jennifer shut off the light and I heard the rustle of cloth. I opened my eyes and saw her drop the nightgown on the floor.

"It doesn't fit?"

"It fits fine for sitting on the couch or lounging in a chair. I've slept better nude since I was eleven and got these." She held her tits in her hands. I wished the light was still on.

"OK. I don't need to take the nightgown back?"

"Nope. I like it. What I like best is that you bought it without me asking for it."

"For a six to eight week convalescence I will need to get a few more. Now that I know what size to get it won't be difficult."

"Please, no more nightgowns. If it's Ok with you, I'd rather wear your t-shirts and be more comfortable."

"Sure?"

"Yes! Now let's sleep." She turned away from me and we both went to sleep.

The next time I woke up the phone was ringing. I sat up and Jennifer picked up the phone and handed it to me. It was my mother.

"You're not at work?" Sometimes my mother is more New York Jew in the way she speaks that anyone I've ever known. The voice tone and inflection are practiced and perfect. That four word sentence is at least a hundred words long.

"After my car was wrecked I needed a couple days."

"And?"

"And I've hired a new woman for the office. She can do the filing, answer the phone, typing and billing."

"What's her name?"

"Jennifer Olson."

"So. A goy."

"It's business, Ma."

"When does she start?"

"It might be a little while."

"You need help now."

"Yes, Ma. She will be in the office as soon as she's able."

"She's sick?"