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I start the bike and off we go. The miles go by fast, and by the time we reached our destination, I realize that my plan is flimsy at best. But this is all I got for now.
“What is this?” She looks around in confusion when I park us, and we are off the bike.
I try to see everything through her eyes, amusement shaking my body with the need to laugh. The sign at the road proclaimed this the place where you found happiness. I’m not sure about that. Most patients have no idea who they are or where they are. But maybe that’s what makes them happy.
“My mother lives here,” I explain. “And they called me for an emergency meeting about her.”
“Who are they?”
“The people running this joint,” I explain.
I wait for her to take the helmet off her head and shake her hair out.
“I’m getting hot in the hoodie.”
She pulls at it, trying to create a breeze against her skin.
“Do you mind if I take it off?”
I watch her for a minute, thinking that I might never see her again in my clothes. I should take a picture so I remember her.
When we left the motel, I didn’t have a clear plan in my head about what I would do with her. I thought I was saving her. However, as I thought about it during the hours it took us to get here, I realized that my efforts were for nothing. The easiest thing would be for me to turn her in to my president. I plan to do that as soon as we are done at the home.
Now, as I watch her taking my hoodie off, I have second thoughts about it again. What the fuck did I do? Not to mention that after this meeting, I have to turn around and ride to Austin where I am supposed to meet with Devereaux and set the wheels in motion for his fucked-up plan.
“Let’s go in,” I jut my chin toward the building as I grab her by the arm. The tight tank top she has over her bra is pushing her tits up, and it is quite the sight.
As soon as we walk inside, the receptionist watches us with apprehension.
“Good afternoon, sir.” She remembers me from before. In fact, she got flirty with me once or twice. Now though, her eyes go over Ruby in disdain.
“Mrs. Clarence called for an emergency meeting about my mother.” I get straight to the point because I am running out of time.
“Mrs. Clarence is in a meeting at the moment. If you would like to wait…”
“That won’t do, sweetheart.” I feel Ruby’s body tensing next to me when I lean over the counter to talk to the receptionist. “I need to see her now.”
I can tell the girl is dead set on giving me a hard time, and I’m ready to raise hell. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, and I want to make sure my mother is well taken care of before then.
Just then, a door opens to the side, and none other than Mrs. Clarence steps out. She is an older woman with the kindest eyes. She is probably the only person in this joint who didn’t take a look at me and judged me based on my appearance. That is why I trust her word when we discuss my mother’s condition.
“Mr. Paulson,” she calls out to me. “It is very good to see you.” She then turns to look at the receptionist. “Missy, please block the next hour on my calendar.”
“What about the meeting with the investors?”
Mrs. Clarence gives her a stern look. “Our patients are just as important as our investors, Missy.”
She then points toward the door she just came out of. I grab Ruby’s hand and pull her with me when I see she’s frozen in her spot. When we are in the office, Mrs. Clarence directs us toward a more informal area, with a small couch and two chairs.
“Can I get you two anything to drink?” she asks before sitting down. Then, she looks at Ruby, who is prepared for her judgement if the stiff way she’s sitting is anything to go by.
“I am Mrs. Clarence,” she tells Ruby in a kind tone, just like she always does. “I presume you are a friend of Mr. Paulson’s?”
“I’m Ruby,” she nods at Mrs. Clarence, avoiding giving her last name.
“Mrs. Clarence,” I cut her off when I see she wants to do more small talk. “I need to be somewhere else in the next three hours. I can’t be here all day. What is happening with my mother?”
Sadness takes over her features.
