"AS THE WIND BLOWS"
© Copyright 2009 by Kathy Priebe
Part 10

(Continued)

Mira stopped at the bank and confirmed her nightmare. She might be able to keep her mom at a cheap hotel for a while, but she would have to find a place for herself. She sat in her car and thought for a minute: what about that stone shed on her property. There was electric to it. She didn't need much, just a starting point. She could do this. Now all she had to do, was get it past her mother. Somehow, she didn't think her mom would feel the same way.

***

"Hey Mom?" Mira pushed open the door to the room her and her mother were sharing. "I got an idea, you can stay at…,"

"My place." Brad walked up to Mira and took her hands in his, "You can stay at my place. I have four big bedrooms sitting empty, there's plenty of room. Please, it's the lease I can do until we figure out what's going on with your policy."

Her first inclination was to decline, but she had her mother to think about. "Mom?"

"I think it's a grand idea." Her mother was grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

Good old match-making mom. "Okay."

"Great, it's settled then." He walked over to the door. "You get your stuff together, and I'll pull the car around."

"Wait. You just can't expect us to move now? There're things that have to be taken care of first; like contacting the medical supply company to set something up at your house for my mom. We have to have that done before we even get there. She needs that oxygen."

"Everything is already set up."

"Pretty sure of yourself, ah?"

"No. I had the equipment from when my dad was ill. We brought it outright, and I have never found the time to sell it." Brad spoke quietly, as if the memories were still close to the surface.

"I'm sorry."

He waved off her apology. "It's been about a year." He smiled, "I'm glad now, I didn't get rid of the equipment."

Mira smiled at him, "Me too."

Daffodil cleared her throat, "I hate to break you two up, but check out time is approaching fast, so my child, unless you want to be charged for another day, we'd better get a move on."

***

Daffodil knew her time was short. She inwardly winched as a small pain knifed through her chest. She wasn't going to tell her daughter. Mira had enough to worry about right now. She smiled at the thought of the envelope containing the insurance information in her purse. She thought they made a good couple. Her daughter has spent so much time taking care of her, that she never went out and had fun herself. She wanted to know that her daughter would be taken care off when she was gone, and Brad fitted the bill nicely.

***

"Well, you ladies ready?" Brad walked over and took hold of Daffordil's luggage and the oxygen concentrator leaving Mira to get her own things. The medical supplier would pick up the concentrator at the main desk.

Daffodil hugged her purse to her and Mira took one last look around the room. "We're good to go." Mira bit her lip in apprehension. Was this the right decision?

"Are you okay?"

"Just so you know, I don't normally move in with unknown men." Mira watched Brad smile.

"Just so You know, I don't normally ask unknown women to move in with me."

Daffodil just smiled.

As The Wind Blows …part 9

"AS THE WIND BLOWS"
© Copyright 2009 by Kathy Priebe
Part 9

(Continued)

"We'll figure out a way Honey."

Mira allowed herself a small smile. Her mother – always the epitome of optimism, and that is where she got it from. "You know Mom, you're right. Starting tomorrow, I'll start looking for somewhere cheaper to stay until this mess gets cleared up.

****

"What is wrong with you?" Justin stabbed a piece of meat from his plate and shoved it in his mouth. "You have been moping around all day. Is it that file you've been muttering about? You never let clients bother you."

"This one is different." Brad put his fork down. He really didn't have much of an appetite.

"You fell for the woman, didn't you?"

"I don't know, maybe."

"You know, she could be playing you?" Justin pointed to the untouched roll on Brad's plate. "You gonna eat that?"

Brad shook his head no.

"She may not really have a policy." Justin reached over and nabbed the roll off of Brad's plate.

"She's not that type of…"

"But you don't know that for sure, do you?"

Brad stopped to ponder what his friend and co-worker said. "Yes, I'm sure."

"For goodness sakes, then have her move in with you until her paperwork is found."

"That's it! That's exactly what I'll do." Brad felt an inner piece. This felt right.

"Jeez, I was only kidding Brad. That may not be a good idea."

Brad stood up and threw a ten on the table to cover his part of the bill. "It feels right Justin, and first thing tomorrow, I'm going to ask her and her mother."

"Her mother too?"

"Yup."

"Oh jeez." Justin rolled his eyes.

As The Wind Blows...Part 8

“AS THE WIND BLOWS”
© Copyright 2008 by Kathy Priebe
Part 8

(Continued)


“Sorry about that Brad. I didn’t know you were coming by so soon.” She noticed he sat in the chair that she just plucked her clothes off of. The only other place left to sit, was the bed, Mira opted to stand. "What brings you here? Did you find our policy? There isn't a problem, is there?"

"Actually, that's what I'm here for."

A feeling of dread started in the pit of her stomach. "What 's going on?"

Brad sighed, "We can't find your policy."

"That can't be." Mira sank down onto the bed.

"Are you positive you have a policy with us?"

"If my daughter said we have a policy, we have a policy!"

"Mom!" She looked back a Brad, "Yes."

"Do you have your policy with you?"

Mira watched as he started to fidget. "Mom, what did you do with that envelope I asked you to grab out of the strong box in the hallway?"

"You didn't ask me to grab no envelop child."

Mira rested her head in her hands, "Oh no," she whispered as tears started to build up behind her eyes.

Brad stood up and walked to the door. "I'll see what I can do. It's going to be awhile with all the claims we have to process."

She looked up at him. It looked as if he wanted to say more.

"I'm sorry Mira." He opened the door and was gone.

Mira put her head back into her hands. "Now what Mom? We can't afford to stay here indefinitely." Tears were falling freely now.

*****

Brad rested his head against their door. He felt like the ax that took off the head of the chicken. He stilled as her choked out words to her mother reached him through the thin hotel door. He never let the customers get to him before, but her words just tore through his heart. He didn't know why she was different, why she affected him this way, but she did. He wanted to put that smile back on her face. He'd find a way to help her, and he would find a way to work this out.

....To be continued...