Chapter 23

Over the next several weeks, between everyone's respective schedules, the spare room had been cleaned out, with several trips being made to the Dumpster.

Paul had come by one day, a confused look on his face at the parade of parcels going by for another trip to the Dumpster.

"Dude," he asked Brian, "what the fuck? You're moving and didn't say a word to me?"

"Oh that's right, you haven't been around for awhile," Brian replied. "No, we aren't moving, just cleaning the downstairs room out."

"Jesus, that's a hell of a lot of junk you're hauling out of there. But what prompted you to finally clean the junk room? Steffi's been on your ass to do that forever."

"No one told you? Jesus, we really haven't talked longer than I thought. Sorry. Ma's moving in with us."

"When did this happen?"

"She had a mild heart attack recently," Brian answered. "Stef and I thought Ma would be better off living with us. The house got sold recently for a good price, even if I did have to do a bit of haggling on it."

"Who would have thought you would be one of those guys that would move his mom in with him?" Paul grinned. "I have to give you credit, man. Of course, I have to say I'm not surprised."

"Thanks. I think the change will be good for her anyway. It took a bit of convincing, but she finally came around."

"What do the kids think of all of this?"

"Are you kidding? They think it's great. They always did love Ma. I think Heath will especially enjoy himself gathering blackmail stories about me."

"Hell, I could have told him a few of those myself."

"Not the kind one's own mother can tell, my man," Brian grinned.

"Right. I should make a note to keep the girls away from my own mother then."

"Daddy," Audrey called from the back. "Mom wants to talk to you. She thinks she may have found a nice bedroom set for Grandma and wants to know what you think."

"Sure, sweetheart, be right there." He then grinned at his longtime best friend. "Duty calls once again."

A week later:

"Be careful with that shit, boy; that box is marked 'FRAGILE' for a reason," Brian chided Heath as the boy carried a box over his head.

"I got it, Dad, don't worry. I know Grandma has her good stuff in here."

"Really, honey, don't fuss at him," Barbara said. "It's good he and Audrey are helping me move in.

"I have the rest of the stuff unpacked," Audrey announced, coming out of the room.

Brian gave her a look. "Already?"

"It wasn't a whole lot," Audrey shrugged. "Clothes, knick knacks, books, baby pictures–"

"Wait, baby pictures?"

"And some of them are even yours, Dad," Heath said with a laugh. "The joy of helping Grandma pack to move here."

"I should have known better than to take you two up there," Brian groaned. "What else did you kids manage to smuggle down here?"

"Not much," Audrey smiled.

"And really," Barbara added, "did you have to go through such an expense to do that room? It's lovely, but it must have cost a fortune."

"Only the best for you, Ma," Brian said. "But if it's any comfort, Stef picked out the furniture and bedding. I did the rest."

"And hired the painters," Audrey added, giggling.

"That too," Brian glared at her, displeased at being outed.

"I know I'm going to watch a lot of TV in Grandma's room from now on," Heath grinned. "That big flat screen Dad picked out is really cool."

"And I have no idea how to use it," Barbara sighed.

"Don't worry, Grandma, I can help you with that," Heath offered.

"That's the nice thing about teenagers," Brian said with a laugh, "they're good with the technical stuff."

Steffi then came in, carrying groceries, smiling when she spied her mother in law. "Oh good, she's here!"

"Yeah, we're getting Grandma settled," Heath nodded. "Need some help, Mom?"

"Yes, could you and your dad over there get the rest of the groceries off the porch? The driver had to leave and couldn't bring them in."

"I could do a few of those," Barbara offered.

"Absolutely not," Steffi shook her head. "You just got over a heart attack and no way will I have you risk another."

"You heard her, Ma," Brian agreed, "this is a job for the men around here. Let's go, Heath. And when we're done with this, we can bring the rest of Grandma's stuff in while the ladies put the groceries away before I take you all to dinner."