Chapter 20 - Relaxers
Edward's phone chimed with a text, and he grimaced when he read it. "She's here."
"Who's here?" I asked.
"Alice, she was the only one available to bring Grandpa Jerry in." He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself. "I need to go help him get out of the car. Will you be alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine," I shooed him off. I was pretty sure Rose and Tanya would leave me alone for the moment.
He gave my hand a supportive squeeze, before he hurried out the front door.
"So, I'll get to meet the in-laws," Billy said with a smile, and my body sagged.
"Jerry is a bit of a…"
"What?" Billy asked.
"Challenge?" I offered.
"Quit your fussing over me!" we heard Jerry gripe as he entered.
"Why didn't you call me?" Edward sounded distressed.
"We didn't think you'd come," I heard Alice defend weakly.
I walked out front to see what all the commotion was about. Jerry had a dark bruise on the side of his face. "I'm fine. I've had worse and lived through it. I've got the bullet wounds to prove it, so quit your yapping and get out of my way," he said, knocking his walker into Edward's legs, making him jump back.
"Hello, Jerry, I'm glad you could make it in." His eyes locked on mine, and I might have been mistaken, but they looked like they softened a little.
"Here you are," he waved Alice forward, "I brought my medical records like you requested."
I perked right up, as I took them from her. "Wonderful, come on back and have Edward get you settled on my table face up. I'm going to go over these, while you're getting ready for me."
He nodded in agreement and pushed forward, ignoring everyone around him. I took his file to the kitchen table in the back, so I could hold the films from the x-rays up to the florescent lights.
Billy chuckled behind me, as I went through the films. "I see what you mean by a challenge. I can relate to him a bit. I don't like being fussed over, either."
I looked over my shoulder at him. "If you eat healthy, you probably won't have to worry about it for a long time. Jerry is actually in really good health, though. By the looks of things, I think I can get him walking on his own again."
"That's my girl. I've got to get going. I was just in town and wanted to see how you're doing. Call me when you and Romeo are free for dinner."
"I will." I kissed his cheek and waved goodbye. I noticed Alice was nowhere to be seen. I didn't blame her. I didn't want to be around the cold atmosphere in here, either.
Edward let me know Jerry was ready, and I entered the room smiling. "I've got good news. It looks like it's just strained muscles. They can be hard to loosen up and get back into play, especially when your activity is limited, but because there are no broken bones, torn ligaments or tendons, I should be able to get you moving without your walker again. Am I right to assume the pain in your hip has affected your balance? I didn't see anything about vertigo or ear conditions that might interfere with it. Has anything developed since your last doctor's visit?"
He let out a huff. "No, I don't have any balance problems, but that blasted granddaughter of mine has left her crap strewn all over the house since she's moved back in. I caught my contraption on it and fell," he waved toward his walker. "I'm lucky I didn't break a hip."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it wasn't your body that caused the accident. Now, let's get to work." I put on the music, ending our conversation. He groaned in pain at first, as I worked his shoulder. I could tell by his stance when he came in that he had knocked it out of place a bit, and I was sure it was painful for him to use his walker to get around. I worked on his head a while, being mindful of his bruise, and his whole body seemed to loosen up. I finally moved to the hardest area of all and worked on his hip. He grunted, but didn't complain. I was careful not to push him too far and rubbed it down once we were done. "I'm going to help you roll over, so I can work on your back a bit."
I was surprised, when he didn't argue with me, but he let me take his hand and help him shift into position. I had him turn his head slightly, so his bruise wasn't pressed into the cushion, and worked on his lower half. "Once I'm done with you, I'm going to send Edward in with a bottle of water. I want you to drink it all, and then drink another one when you get home. It's important that your body stay hydrated to heal."
"Fine," he grumped.
"I'd like to see you back every two days. In between visits, if you can soak in a warm bath, it'd be beneficial."
I stepped out of my room, ready to wave Edward in, but I was met with a broad chest.
"Hey, Bella, are you done with Grandpa Jerry?" Emmett asked.
"Yes, I was about to send Edward in to help him get up and dressed."
"Dressed?" he sounded shocked.
"Yes, dressed, I gave him a massage. Where's Edward?" I looked around Emmett, only to see Edward cutting a man's hair in Rosalie's chair. That was a sure sign she was not here. "Can you help your grandpa? I need to grab him some water. What are you doing here? Where's Alice?"
"You and your twenty questions," Emmett chuckled. "I still don't understand why my grandpa is naked. I think that'd be scarring."
I let out a huff. "Emmett, I'm a medical professional. Just because I work here, doesn't mean I can't handle real PT work."
"PT? As in party time, potty training...?"
"Physical therapy," I answered with an eye roll.
"Well, why didn't you say so? I don't think you should call it PT, though. It sounds a bit misleading."
"Can you help your grandfather or not?" I asked again.
"Yeah, yeah, I may not have it down to a science like Edward, but I can figure it out. You still haven't explained to me why he's naked."
"Emmett, please, just go help him. I need to get him some water."
"Wore him out, huh?" he teased in poor taste.
The implication cut deeper than it should have. "Get him dressed, now," I snapped.
"Sorry," he apologized and hurried into the room with Jerry. I didn't know what I was going to do. I was still such a horribly moody mess. I had to be on the verge of PMS or something.
I knocked lightly on the door a few minutes later, and they called for me to come in. "Here you are," I said, handing Jerry an opened bottle of water. "Be sure to drink all of this and another bottle once you get home. It's important to flush your system out, since I strained it and broke free so many antigens. Is Emmett taking you home?" I asked Jerry.
"No, he said he was just here to help Alice fix the car."
"What's wrong with her car?" I asked Emmett, surprised. I was under the impression that it was a fancy one that would still be under warranty.
"Battery died, I think it's the alternator. I have her sitting in it with the motor running now. She'll be fine, as long as she doesn't stop."
"Isn't that covered under her warranty?" I was worried she'd come looking for money again if it wasn't.
Emmett started laughing, and Jerry just shook his head. "My car is a beautiful thing. Timeless, just like I told her, a real classic."
"Your car?" I asked Jerry, confused.
"Alice turned in her car, since she couldn't make the payments, and Grandpa has turned over his keys to his station wagon to her. That model of car is back in style. She's retro cool, right, Gramps?" Emmett taunted.
Jerry just scowled at him, not answering.
"That's really sweet of you to help Alice out like that, Jerry."
"The car needs to be driven regularly to keep it running smoothly, anyway. I've been telling Esme that for years, but she doesn't like to take it out. Edward would usually leave his car behind and drive mine when I had appointments, but I still don't think it was enough. The alternator isn't bad. The belt just needs to be replaced. It's old," he huffed at Emmett.
"Your belt could probably use replacing, too," Emmett smirked at him.
"Kids these days, they got no respect." Jerry was getting in a mood.
"Everyone's a bunch of Grumpy Gus's butts around here today. First Alice and Bella, now you. Come on, Gramps, you know you love me," Emmett egged on Jerry with a wink and an impish grin.
I was surprised, when the old man rolled his eyes and cracked a smile. "Alright, you big buffoon, I'll get you a lollipop from the shop next door."
Emmett gave Jerry a hug and kissed the top of his head. "I knew I was your favorite." He grabbed the door for Jerry and helped him out of the shop. Edward looked after them warily, but he was still busy with his customer.
I was about to take another customer back to be shampooed, when Emmett came strolling back into the shop with a lollipop in his mouth. "He actually got you a lollipop?"
"Of course, I love candy, and I'm his favorite. I think you're growing on him, though, because he told me to bring you this!" He pulled a Blow Pop out of his pocket, holding it up with a grin. "Only his favorites get candy." He waved it in front of me until I took it.
"Well, I'm glad he approves of me."
"Approves, this is a good as it gets. This might as well be a proposal." His words stopped, when he looked at my hand holding the lollipop, which just so happened to be my hand with my engagement ring on it. His eye darted back and forth between me and Edward, getting wider by the second. "Are you...? Dude, tell me you are, because that'd be so awesome."
His excitement was palpable and just what I needed to pick up my day. I nodded yes. "Edward and I are engaged."
Emmett let out a whoop and spun me around. "Check it out, she's engaged to my brother!" he shouted to the customers waiting. They all congratulated us.
Edward was wearing a big goofy grin himself. He finished up quickly and then pulled me into his arms, once he was done checking out his customer.
"I'll bet everyone is thrilled," Emmett said, looking around the shop. "Where are Rosie and Tanya?"
"Hopefully finding somewhere else to live," I sighed.
"What's going on?" Emmett asked worriedly.
"I'll let Edward fill you in on that. I'm gonna take a few customers." Edward rubbed my arms and kissed my nose, before he took Emmett into the back and brought him up to speed. I was surprised, when Edward came back up front on his own.
"Where's Emmett? Did he go out the back door?" I asked.
Edward shook his head no. "He's gone up to talk to the girls. He thinks he can straighten things out, but I doubt even Emmett has enough charm to fix that mess. He insisted he give it a try, though, and they haven't thrown him down the stairs yet, so he must be saying something right."
I didn't see how Emmett could fix anything, but he did get Jerry to buy him a sucker. I guessed only time would tell.
It was three hours later that we heard him tromp down the stairs. He was wearing a big smile and kissed my head and then hugged Edward. "I've got to jet, but I'll be by to see about the insulation tomorrow. Jazz, my man," Emmett held out his fist for Jasper to bump. "Ladies, stay beautiful!" he shouted, as he exited. I looked up at the ceiling, wishing it would reveal to me what I wanted to know.
The next morning, Edward and I arrived early, to be sure the shop was thoroughly cleaned. We started the coffee maker and were surprised, when Rose came stumbling down the stairs in her robe. "Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. She didn't look so good.
She glared for all of two seconds, until she saw that I was actually concerned. "No, but it's none of your business," she huffed.
I sighed, pulling a coffee mug down from the shelf and leaving it by the pot for her. Edward was watching us warily. I finally just grabbed his hand and pulled him to the front of the shop with me, leaving her be, so she could drink her coffee in peace, and we could straighten up the waiting area.
We heard some angry footfalls descending the stairs, and then we heard Tanya's sharp voice. "You shouldn't have talked to him. This is bullshit, Rose. This whole thing is messing you up, and they don't really give a shit."
"Leave it alone, Tanya. I came down here alone, because I didn't want to discuss it any further," Rose answered back.
"No, they don't know what shit this is dragging up for you. The way they've been treating us-"
Rose cut Tanya off. "I said drop it. I have a feeling Emmett is right, so just shut up and leave it alone, Tanya, I'm serious."
"Emmett," Tanya sneered his name. "He's biased, Rose, of course he's going to take their side..."
"If you'd listened to what he said last night, he didn't say a damn thing referencing any 'side,' as you put it. He talked more about paint and insulators than anything. You're still looking for a fight, and it's uncalled for."
"She flipped me on my ass!" Tanya shouted. "You should be defending me, not them!"
I waited for Rose's response. I was surprised, when I just heard someone head up the stairs, and then another set of feet stomped loudly up behind them.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked behind me.
"Yeah, I think so. I hope Emmett can work some more of his charm on them today. Rose was almost civil."
He pulled me into a hug and kissed me. I snuggled into his chest, soaking up the quiet we had for the moment. I'd need it to get me through the rest of the day. I prayed it'd be a tolerable one.