Recovery 3
Going home?
Eddie was excited about heading home on Tuesday. He was now in a room with a roommate. An older man with a wife who reminded him of Janet. She catered to his every need. If the nurse wasn't quick enough she'd do for him. She even took care of Eddie. None of the guys had come by much since Saturday. Each popped in and out but no one stayed for long. Even Phil stayed away from the computer. He was really surprised when Nick came by for the second time that day but his jaw dropped when he saw Rory and Janet had come with him.
"Shit" Eddie said unable to escape what he knew would be ugly.
Janet hung back and let Nick and Rory handle it. She was just there to hear it all first hand and to defend herself if necessary. She looked sympathetically at Eddie's roommates.
"Ok Eddie here's the deal. You're going home tomorrow. Your house won't work, you can't do stairs. Neither will Ikey's because of his stairs. Owen and Alison are working on their relationship AND they have the kids and my dad is starting treatments. That leaves Janet's house. I'm sorry, I know Janet said you two were having problems but this is how it's gonna be. You're staying at Janet's. She'll be working night shifts and one of us will come by when she's at work but that's the gist of it." Nick got it all out without Eddie interrupting. He just glared at Janet as if it were all her doing.
Nick, noticing his friend was about to pounce, tried to defuse the situation. "It was our idea, mine and the guys. She's insisting you won't go for it but there is no other way. I was going to wait till we pulled up to her drive way but Janet said you needed to know now."
"And why is she here?" he said glaring at Janet but motioning to Rory.
"Janet called me. I visited her Saturday after I spoke with you. She knows what I said and wanted some back up." Rory started.
"It's ok. I can handle this." Janet said interrupting. "The guys don't know much. Phil saw you two kissing, Nick knows Rory was at the shop. As far as I know that's all anyone knows. They all think we're fighting because you two were kissing. if you were going to use what happened to get out of coming to my house I figured almost everyone involved should be here."
"What the hell are you all talking about?" Nick asked.
Eddie sat there shaking his head. "This is dirty pool. You know we're over and you know why. What the hell were you thinking saying I could stay at your place?"
"Stop being an ASS Latekka." Rory said.
Standing taller Janet began quietly, "I said yes because I would have done it for you before we started dating. When we were "just friends". That's what friends do. If you don't want to come to my house that's fine but you should know the guys have built ramps, reinstalled the handrails in the bathroom and set up a hospital bed in my living room. They have been working non stop to make YOU as comfortable as possible in MY house. They have scheduled their free time to make sure you have someone with you at all times. Sully has changed my schedule and is planning on taking one visit a week so I can get grocery shopping done."
"Again I ask what you are talking about." Nick said.
"SHE CHEATED ON ME!" Eddie said.
"Back up cowboy" Rory started. "we cheated first."
"No we didn't. kissing isn't cheating. And I told her about it and I didn't sleep with you."
Nick stood more confused than ever. The older couple tried to melt into the wood work. Janet just shifted her feet.
Rory fired back, "and she told you. She could have kept her mouth shut. She knew the risk she was taking but rather than you find out years from now she told you immediately. And it wasn't some stranger it was someone she trusted and there was a lot of alcohol and that's not an excuse but suck it up, swallow your pride and get better. Once you're able to walk you can walk away. Until then let the woman try to make it up to you. OH and while you're at it you can make it up to her by being nice. After all you and I cheated first. YOU should have told her about me on that first phone call. If you really cared about her you would have."
Janet had a light bulb moment. Moving forward she looked directly at Eddie and began in a whisper, "She's right." Every one just looked at Janet. "YOU said I should have come and talked to you about Rory. I did. And I found you kissing her. If you had really cared about me, had I been the most important woman in your life, you would have told me and her at that first meeting. You wouldn't have continued to lie to me. You turned your back on me several times that day. I have apologized enough for hurting you. I made a mistake, admitted it, and asked for forgiveness, begged for your love. You have yet to apologize to me. You can sit there in your self righteousness but I am done. This is now history. Unchangeable history. Tomorrow is a new day, a new start. As a friend I am offering you my house and my time until you able to get into your own home. It is your decision." Turning to Nick she continued. "if he chooses not to stay with me would you and the guys please come and return my house back the way it was?" a shocked Nick nodded. Janet hugged Rory. "thank you. I mean it. I would like to consider you a girlfriend. Is that ok?" Rory nodded. "then you will be at the next 'girl's night out'." Turning to the older couple she said apologetically. "I'm sorry you got involved in all this drama, I really am." Finally she turned to Eddie, who though still angry, couldn't believe she was walking away from him. "Good bye Eddie." And a moment later she was gone.
"again let me say, you're an ASS." Rory said turning back to Eddie. This time Nick and the older couple nodded in agreement.