Groundskeeping by Lee Cole

Author:Lee Cole [Cole, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2022-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Part 2

When I got the call, I was at Alma’s, making supper. The windows in the kitchen were steamed, my eyes still watering from the onion I’d cut a few minutes earlier. Pop fell, Cort said when I answered.

I stepped over to the stereo and dialed back the volume. Alma opened the oven to check on the brussels sprouts, poking them gently with a fork. How are we, little ones?

You need to come home and help me, he said.

Fell where?

Backyard. He was burning the trash and some old limbs.

Why weren’t you doing it?

You know about my back.

Could you call the neighbor?

Neighbor’s not home.

Well, how bad is it? Is he hurt? What about the fire department?

He’s all right. I didn’t think it was hardly worth it to call the fire department.

But you thought it was worth it to call me? I’m thirty minutes away.

He’ll be fine till then.

It’s twenty degrees outside, Cort.

I got him piled up with quilts.

A smoke detector went off—the keening of the alarm accompanied by an automated voice. Fire—emergency—fire—emergency. I plugged my free ear with my finger. Cringing, Alma raced to the sofa, stood on the arm, and pulled down the detector. She fiddled with it, unsuccessfully, finally just removing the batteries. Sorry! she mouthed.

I waved my hand to show that it was fine, but I guess she got a look at my face and knew that everything was not fine. I looked worried. I was worried. She stood there, dish towel draped over her shoulder, waiting to hear what had happened.

Sorry, Cort, I said.

What the hell was that?

Smoke detector.

Well, I’m real sorry to interrupt. I know you’re out there playing house and all, but if you could stop by we sure would appreciate it.

I’ll be there, I told him, and hung up before I said something irrevocable.

I sat on the edge of the couch with a sigh and dragged my boots over. Alma was still waiting with her arms folded. I hate to do this, I said, but I gotta go. My granddad fell.

Oh my God, she said. Something about her response seemed slightly perfunctory, but what did I expect? She still hadn’t met him. It’d been about a month since we got together in earnest, without Casey in the picture, and she hadn’t yet seen Pop’s house or the basement where I lived. I’d been spending three or four nights out of the week with her, in the guesthouse apartment, and this arrangement had worked well enough.

He’s fine, I think, I said. But it’s cold, and Cort can’t lift him, so I need to do it. Go ahead and eat without me.

She took the dish towel from her shoulder and twisted it nervously. Are you sure?

Unless you wanna come with me.

Do you want me to come with you?

I want you to come with me if you want to.

Do you think you’ll need help?

Possibly, I said. But don’t feel obligated, I can manage alone. Stay and eat if you want.

She gnawed on her lip, thinking. No, I’ll go, she said.

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