Grace by T. Greenwood

Author:T. Greenwood [Greenwood, T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781410450098
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2012-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

LAST FALL

The call came just as Kurt was getting ready to clock out at the 76 station. It was Labor Day, and he’d been there since dawn. It had been busier than usual, lots and lots of folks gassing up after a weekend on the road. Grumpy families who’d been stuck inside SUVs and RVs and station wagons for several days staggered in for energy drinks and Cheetos, road weary and miserable. He kept thinking about Elsbeth’s suggestion that they drive to Florida. From the looks of these people, he was not convinced that loading his family, any family, into a car for three days was such a good idea. He was exhausted and just wanted to go home, have some supper, and go to bed, though he knew between Pop and Elsbeth and the kids this would be nearly impossible. School was starting tomorrow. There would be lunches to pack, school supplies to organize, Trevor to contend with. He knew that the end of summer meant the beginning of trouble.

His phone rang, and Jessica, the second-shift cashier, scootched in behind the counter, shooing him away as a customer came up with a six-pack of beer. “I got it.”

He flipped open his phone and headed to the stockroom.

“Hello, Mr. Kennedy? This is Gladys Rivers over at Plum’s Retirement Community. I’m just calling to let you know that a room will be opening up here soon, and your father is at the top of our list.”

“That’s great!” he said, his whole mood lifting. He had begun to think that Pop might live in the backyard forever. “That’s terrific. When can he move in?”

“Well, the resident is actually moving to another facility, so it won’t be until December first, but if you get the paperwork in now, we’ll have everything ready.”

Kurt punched his card in the stockroom and grabbed a PayDay from the rack by the register, fishing into his pocket for some change. Jessica scooped the change into her hand and smacked her gum. “Have a good one,” she said.

Kurt felt light, happy. Even his legs felt free. He couldn’t wait to tell Elsbeth that Pop would be leaving. That he could get the trailer and all of Pop’s stuff cleared out in a matter of hours. That she could have her house back. Her life back. December first. Just another couple of months. They could do this.

Once Pop was finally out, they’d have their home back. They’d be a family again. Pop’s Medicare would cover the expenses of the home, and if they could convince Pop to rent out his house, or maybe even sell it, that would mean some income. He could quit the station. Focus on the yard. Get Beal to come back full-time. Get it all together again. Maybe even take El on that vacation she wanted. He knew all of this had been temporary. It was just a matter of sucking it up and weathering the storm, which now finally seemed to be receding.

As he was

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