Once Shattered, Twice Shy by Benjamin Dahlbeck

Author:Benjamin Dahlbeck [Dahlbeck, Benjamin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE VISIT to Dr. Black went well. Wade appreciated Joe’s help in getting his mother to the new doctor. Lorraine was nervous when Dr. Black wanted to do some tests. Joe clarified that the tests were simply so that Dr. Black could have fresh information with which to more accurately diagnose what was going on.

For the next two weeks, Joe went to Wade’s house three times a week. One day was errands and the other two days were for Lorraine’s and Wade’s respective doctor appointments and tests. When all three of them were on the way to see Dr. Black, Joe reassured Lorraine that she would be fine. Sure enough, when all her tests came back, Dr. Black said Lorraine had been on the wrong medications as well as having an untreated thyroid condition, which could be easily controlled with a pill.

Wade was so relieved at the news that he impulsively grabbed Joe’s hand and held it very tightly. He snapped it back as soon as he realized what he had done, but Joe showed no sign of minding.

During the drives when they were alone together, Wade began to open up to Joe about his anxieties regarding his mother, his frustrations about his accident, and random things. Joe listened with interest and began to share about himself. As it turned out, Joe grew up in a Dunwoody neighborhood close to where Wade’s Aunt Susan had lived until she moved to South Carolina. Joe was in the same graduating class as Wade’s cousin Perry. Wade wondered aloud if they had seen each other at Perry’s graduation. The possibility amused both men.

“Not that I would expect a graduating senior to notice a sophomore,” joked Wade.

“I think I would have noticed you,” said Joe.

Joe had started taking back roads to get to the orthopedist’s office, partly because it took about the same amount of time as the highway, but also because it allowed him to focus more on their conversations. Wade enjoyed the ride since he could look at all the old houses as they talked. He pointed out where his mother had grown up, near Peachtree Battle, and talked about his late grandparents and how he still missed them.

Wade felt so comfortable talking with Joe. It was not just polite talk, but real conversation. He shared about his last boyfriend back in Chicago—Vernon, a smooth talker whose actions never matched his words. Wade had been single awhile and on a night out with friends, let himself be chatted up by a guy he watched line dancing at a country bar.

“I agreed to go out with him.”

“And?” prompted Joe.

“And it was a fun date. He’s a very good showman. But then, he’s an alcoholic, and they’re all good showmen. Maybe it’s because my dad worked for a car company, but to me, all people who can do that carnival-barker act come across as drunks.”

“So why did you keep going out with him?”

“Because I was lonely. Because I got worried that I was being too picky and too judgmental and all that crap,” said Wade.

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