4. Wild Daria
Tuesday Morning
Daria was sitting at the breakfast table finishing her toaster waffle, syrup, and coffee. It was quiet, because everyone had left for work. Her father, Jake, was usually the last one to leave, but this morning he had a breakfast meeting with a new client. Helen and Tom had left at their usual times. Today, under Tom's watchful eye, Daria had gotten out of bed and into her power chair all by herself. She had maneuvered the chair out of the dining room, which served as her bedroom, and into the kitchen. She had parked by the kitchen table and then taken the two steps needed to move from the power chair to her regular chair. Tom was so excited about this that he made her waffles and served her breakfast before leaving for work. Daria felt a sense of accomplishment.
The front door opened and Amelia walked into the house. "Good morning Daria," Amelia said.
Daria noticed that Amelia was wearing a surgical mask, something Daria had never seen her do before. Daria said, "Good morning. What's up with the mask?"
"Well, my kids woke up sick this morning. That is why I'm late. I don't want to risk infecting you, so I decided to wear this mask. I will have to leave at noon today in order to take them to the doctor. I will be able to get you to your physical therapy appointment and home again. I should also be able to make your lunch. I hope you understand," Amelia said almost pleading.
"Of course I understand how important your children are, Amelia," Daria responded. "Besides, I think it might be good for me to have an afternoon on my own. I managed to get out of bed and to the breakfast table all on my own this morning. Tom watched, but didn't help me. I do need to start regaining my independence."
"Congratulations," Amelia said. She surveyed the scene with Daria sitting at the table and the power chair parked to the side. "That is a big step, so to speak! A big part of why I enjoy private nursing is seeing people reach new milestones in their healing. You just reached a milestone. Now let's get you ready to go to physical therapy."
Daria got up and walked the two steps to her power chair. Once seated, she drove the chair through the house to the bathroom. There Amelia helped her get cleaned up. Daria put on some make up, but not very much. The bruises on her face from the airbag were mostly gone and so were the scrapes. Then Daria drove the chair to her room to get dressed. Amelia still helped a little with getting Daria dressed, but Daria was nearly self-sufficient in that area again. The main problem left from the accident was the cast still on her left forearm.
"Do you think that as part of physical therapy today I could have a shower?" Daria asked. "As good as you have been at bathing me I still have not felt totally clean since the accident. I especially want to wash my hair. I only wear it in a ponytail like this when it is really dirty. We have made do at the sink down here, but I would really like to feel totally clean."
"I'll talk to Joey, but I think that will be fine. They have what are essentially gym showers there at the facility. I can assist you in the shower and we should work on sealing up your leg cast and arm cast so that you can shower," Amelia said. "I expect that you will start stair climbing exercises today and by the end of the week you should be able to go up the stairs and use the shower."
Daria drove her chair into her bedroom. As she was getting dressed she remarked, "I hate to admit it Amelia, but I think I have learned a great deal from this experience. I certainly have a new found appreciation for those with physical challenges. I can't imagine having to have the type of help you provide for my entire life! Plus, the dependence is really aggravating. On top of all that I can understand how humiliating it can be for a person to be confined to a chair."
"Why Daria, are you mellowing with age?" Amelia said teasingly.
"Don't push it," Daria replied. "Maybe I am just looking at it from the academic perspective. This is a form of enforced experimentation. I will be able to use the results in teaching and writing."
"What about service?" Amelia said.
"Well, I am on the hook for service as well in order to get tenure," Daria said.
"Does Lawndale State University have an accessibility committee or something similar you could join?" Amelia asked.
"I may look into it," Daria responded. "I'm not much of a joiner, but with this experience I could probably add value to the committee."
Daria drove her chair over to the front door and parked it. She got up and with Amelia's assistance opened the front door and walked to the passenger side of Amelia's minivan. Amelia opened the van door. Amelia had set the seat far back. That allowed Daria to place her right foot in the van and then turn to lift her left foot in and be seated. It was cumbersome, but it worked. Climbing up into a minivan was definitely different than sitting down into a car. In a car she could sit and then swing her legs in. The two women drove off.
Daria stared out the window as they drove. "You know, I think I have mapped in my mind every curb cut, handicapped parking spot, and accessible entrance on this drive. For the first time, I have even noticed that the Lawndale Transit System busses have chair ramps. It appears all of the busses can accommodate wheelchairs. Still, I sure hope I only have to deal with this chair for the rest of the week."
"You are healing well," Amelia said. "I can see you fully walking again in this week, though maybe with a crutch or cane. Our next goal is to get you climbing stairs. Then you can go back home. I am sure Tom would like to sleep with you in your bed again."
"I know. It is so difficult to make do in the hospital bed," Daria said with a slight smirk.
Amelia turned her head and looked at Daria for a moment and then returned her eyes to the road. She exclaimed, "What?"
"You know. Having to sleep in the hospital bed and poor Tom lying over there on the futon," Daria said. "It's not like the futon is all that comfortable. My bed will go up and down and I can recline or sit up. I can even raise and lower my feet. All in all I can have just about any position I want."
"Oh," Amelia replied. "Just remember what the doctor said about carrying weight."
"Not a problem," Daria replied.
Amelia pulled into a handicap parking space and put the permit tag on her rearview mirror. She assisted Daria with getting out of the van, though it was easier than getting into it. With minimal support from Amelia, Daria hobbled into the waiting room and Amelia checked them in at the window. After about a ten minute wait they were called.
Joey was waiting for them in the physical therapy room. He was holding a tablet with Daria's information file on it. He said, "Good morning, Daria. Are you ready to work today? We need to get you back in shape so that you can go home this week."
""Hi Joey. So, what evil forms of torture do you have for me today?" Daria said in her total deadpan.
"You are such a kidder, Daria. We will start with some stretching exercises. Then we will get you walking. Finally we will work on some simple stair climbing. I want to see you go up three steps today," Joey said.
Amelia popped up with, "Oh, and can we use the showers afterward? We need to work on sealing up Daria's casts so that she can shower by herself."
"No problem," Joey replied. "But let's get going on these exercises."
Joey put Daria through her paces. He had her do both upper and lower body stretches. While he didn't make her do squats, he did make her sit and get up from a chair twenty times. Then he took her over to the treadmill and had her walk at a very slow pace for almost ten minutes. Daria thought that maybe she should make squeaking sounds, since she felt like a hamster in a wheel. Finally it was over to the stair climber. Daria had to negotiate three stairs up and down about ten times. After stair climbing Joey had her do some final stretches and then they were done. Daria found the workout exhausting, not to mention mentally numbing. She hated exercising since there was no mental stimulation. The closest thing to mental stimulation was making the conscious decision not to collapse and die during her therapy.
"You did well today," Joey said. "Keep this up and we will have you running marathons in no time!"
"That is the most revolting thought I can imagine," Daria said somewhat out of breath. "I can't think of anything worse than running 26 miles. Besides, I hear that when training for a marathon your toenails fall off. I like my toenails and I plan to keep all 20 of them."
"Very funny, Daria," Amelia said. "Now let's go and get you showered. Thanks Joey. We will see you tomorrow." Amelia supported Daria as they walked to the shower. She could tell that Daria was approaching her physical limits. Not only was Daria's mood getting kind of foul, but she really was starting to need Amelia's help to walk. Fortunately, the women's locker room was only a relatively few feet away.
Sitting on a bench in the locker room Daria got herself undressed. Amelia had brought along some kitchen trash bags to cover Daria's casts. She worked with Daria to secure them with small bungee cords. The trick was to get them tight enough to be water tight but not so tight that they became tourniquets.
As they were finishing Daria's waterproofing a very large woman came out of the shower area. She was using a metal crutch and was accompanied by a therapist. She clearly had had her lower right leg amputated. They overheard her say, "That's the problem with this diabetes. First they take your toes. Then they take your foot. Now it is my lower leg. I just keep wondering what they will take next. Oh well, when I get home I guess I can contemplate that over a chocolate bar."
"I remember that woman from when I was a teenager!" Daria whispered to Amelia. "She used to have black hair not gray."
"You can tell me all about it in the car," Amelia said. "Now let's get you showered. You'll feel better afterward."
Daria went into the shower. For the first time since the accident she was really able to clean herself and wash her hair properly. Amelia stood just outside in case she needed help of any kind. It just felt so nice to be clean again! After stepping out and drying off Daria brushed out her hair, used the blow dryer Amelia had brought with them, and got dressed. She felt good, though she was tired. Amelia then helped her back to the van and they drove toward the Morgendorffers' house.
"So what was up with that woman?" Amelia asked as she drove. Keeping Daria talking would at least prevent her from falling asleep on the way home. Amelia wanted to get Daria into bed before she fell asleep.
"She is just someone I ran into several times," Daria replied. "The first time was in my sophomore year when we were selling candy to raise money for the youth coffee shop. Jane and I were going door to door selling candy. We came to her house and she opened the door. I remember her wearing this awful muumuu.
"It must have been really bad if you remember it," Amelia said. "It's not like you are a fashionista."
"True, but it was really awful. Besides, she was sweating profusely and short of breath. I was really concerned. Then she fainted in front of us! I asked Jane if we should do something or make a call. The thought of giving this woman CPR really creeped me out!"
"So what did you do?"
"Ultimately, nothing. She came to, got up, and said it was just her hypoglycemia. Jane and I said we wouldn't sell her any candy, because we didn't want to harm her. Then she offered five bucks a bar!"
"Did you sell it to her then?"
"No. We just ran off. The whole thing was much too weird and I did not want to do anything that might weigh on my non-existent conscious."
"OK"
"When we got back to school we found out that the woman had called the school and complained we wouldn't sell her the candy. We got a big chewing out by Ms. Li, the principal. She was really money grubbing and had no concern about hurting people for money. As far as she was concerned as long as we weren't shoving the candy down the woman's throat we should have sold her the candy."
"Jamie has told me about Ms. Li. Did you know that she just got out of prison a few months ago?"
"No. What was she in for?" Daria asked.
"She did five years of a ten year sentence for embezzlement, misappropriation of government funds, and grand theft. It seems that she was stealing from school organizations, like the student clubs. Plus she was purchasing items for the school from funds designated for other uses. Then she would steal the items she had purchased. No one knew that she was doing this until there was a minor incident at the school. When they went to get the security tapes they found only old equipment. That triggered an audit and that is when they found out what she had been doing."
"I guess it doesn't surprise me. She was always shady. The ironic thing is that she is in at least a small way responsible for where I am today. During a teachers strike she pressed me into service as a scab. I took over an English class. It turned out the scab she had hired with teaching credentials was also a pedophile. I discovered I had an aptitude for teaching and actually kind of liked it, though I still couldn't stand high school students." Daria turned and looked out the window. "It was also a bit of a watershed in another way."
"How so?" Amelia asked.
"Well, Quinn was in the class. I gave a test on Romeo and Juliet. Quinn did well. Her dumb fashion club friends did not. The mean girl, Sandi, who was the president, was giving her a really hard time. Quinn was defending my grading. It was the first time since we arrived at Lawndale High that Quinn actually acknowledged me as her sister. In retrospect that was the turning point in our relationship. It has improved ever since."
"I'm glad that you have a good relationship with Quinn," Amelia said.
"Me too," Daria replied. "We have very different interests. We are very different people. But, we are there for each other when needed," Daria said. "I am sure she would have come to visit if she wasn't so massively pregnant right now. She does text me several times each day and calls every couple of days."
Amelia pulled into the Morgendorffers' driveway and helped Daria out of the van and into the house. Daria was happy to sit in the power chair again and drive back to her bed. She really needed a nap after all the activity.
"Daria, it is approaching noon. I will leave a sandwich for you. I think you can get a soda from the refrigerator when you are ready to eat. Have a good rest and I will see you tomorrow."
"OK Amelia," Daria replied.
Amelia drew the drapes and left the room. She went out into the kitchen. After making lunch for Daria she stopped briefly by the door to Daria's room and could tell from Daria's breathing that she was sound asleep. With that Amelia went quietly through the front door to her van and drove off.
….
Daria awoke as a sunbeam was hitting her face. The sunbeam was coming through a slight gap in the draperies. Clearly it was a sunny afternoon. Daria reached over and picked up her phone. Switching it on she scrolled through a couple of screens and selected the weather app. The app showed her that the temperature in Lawndale was cool but pleasant, specifically that it was 50o F or 10o C, whichever you prefer. The evening was predicted to be cooler. Her phone also showed the time as 1:30 pm.
Daria had just lain down in her clothes when she returned from physical therapy. She got out of bed and into her power chair and headed for the bathroom. After brushing out her hair she drove her chair over to the kitchen and quickly ate the sandwich Amelia had made. Then she rolled over to the refrigerator, grabbed a can of soda, and placed it in the basket on the front of her steering handle.
Now was the time to make her escape. She had the bus schedule on her phone and it was about 25 minutes before the bus stopped one and a half blocks from the house. The bus covered the route from the Lawndale Mall to Downtown to Lawndale State University. Lawndale State University had an agreement with the public transit service that Lawndale State students, faculty, and other employees could ride the bus free by showing their university ID cards. The ride to the university should take about 30 minutes.
Daria rolled over to the closet. She picked up her purse and put on her jacket. She checked to make certain that she had her phone, university ID, house key, office key, and charger cable for her chair. All items were present. She placed her purse in the basket. Then she rolled over to the front door, opened it, locked it, and rolled out closing the door behind her. She was off on her own. Off to the office!
On various outings with Amelia, Daria had covertly made certain there were curb cuts for wheelchairs on her route to the bus. She did not want to be rolling along at five miles per hour in her chair in the street. She was able to stick to the sidewalk all the way. She had also checked the bus' on time performance on several occasions when they saw it while going to Coffee King. There was a light breeze and she was glad she was wearing her jacket. While hardly an adventure suitable for Melody Powers, the fictional spy in the novels Daria wrote – and truthfully Daria's alter ego, it was thrilling to be out on her own for the first time since the accident. Unlike Melody Powers, Daria was not carrying weapons or explosives hidden on her person or power chair, though the experience might be useful in her next novel. Daria rolled up to the bus stop five minutes before the bus' scheduled arrival time. Daria's estimate was that the bus would arrive in seven minutes. It usually ran two minutes late.
As the bus approached Daria waived at the driver and he stopped the bus. He was only running one minute late, but that was about to change. Seeing that Daria was a person with a disability, the driver put on the air brake and extended the boarding ramp. Daria drove her chair onto the bus and showed him her university ID. The driver got out of his seat and lifted a group of three seats behind him. This gave Daria a place to park. Daria turned the chair around and backed onto the spot. The driver secured her chair with a strap and she turned off the power. She also told him she was going to the university. It all took three minutes and then they were driving away from the stop.
Daria wasn't certain that she had ridden on a Lawndale bus since working at the nut house in the mall – her first real job as a teen. As much as possible while teens she and Jane had either walked everywhere or persuaded Trent or one of Daria's parents to drive them. Well, at least until they were old enough to drive themselves. This afternoon Daria was the only passenger. The video she had found about how to ride the bus if you were using a wheelchair had been useful. The driver had been helpful. There was even a system that called out each stop along the route. It was really not bad.
Looking out the window Daria saw Lawndale as a totally different place than when she was driving a car. She had not really looked out a car window like this since she was a teenager. Houses went past and so did businesses. People got on and off the bus. Most got off at the downtown stop where all of the bus routes intersected. Several young people got on. One of them sat across from her. Momentarily her silent reverie was broken.
The pretty young blond woman sitting across from Daria looked like she might still be in high school. She had seemingly perfect hair, perfect skin, and a figure not unlike Quinn's slim but shapely frame. "OMG! Prof. Sloane! It's me, Margie Duncan. I'm in your freshman literature class. How are you doing? I was really sorry to hear about your accident. How are you feeling?" Margie said.
"Oh. Hi Margie," Daria said, though she had no memory of this student. She continued in her deadpan voice, "I'm feeling much better. My bones are healing and I don't have to wear as much make up to hide the yellowish bruises and the scabs on my face."
"Eeew. That sounds yucky!" Margie exclaimed. "It must have really hurt."
Daria thought to herself, 'This kid sure has a tremendous grasp of the obvious. She's probably not one of the brighter bulbs in the class. She probably won't get the hint that I would like to be left alone right now.' Then Daria said while looking out the window, "It hurt a lot. Fortunately, they gave me really good drugs for the pain."
"I'm glad they gave you good drugs," Margie said. "What happened?"
Clearly this one didn't read the newspaper or watch the news on TV. Everyone with even a modicum of intelligence had been telling Daria how they saw either an article or news piece about her accident. She went on, "I was broadsided by a pickup truck. The guy blew through a stop sign. He was speeding, drunk, and high. He died. I didn't. Be sure to wear your seatbelt. He didn't. I did. "
Margie exclaimed, "Wow. He died?"
Daria answered, "Yes he did. Because he wasn't wearing a seat belt his head hit the windshield, he was ejected from the truck, and he hit his head on the curb. It was like a smashed pumpkin with his blood running down the gutter into the sewer. Can you imagine having your blood run into the sewer as you die? There were also brains splattered all over the curb and on to the sidewalk." Maybe that will kill this conversation.
"Eeew." Margie said. "I'm glad I didn't have to clean that up! Of course, when you die and the mortician works on you your blood gets run into the sewer anyway. He pushes the embalming fluid through and the blood drains out. The real challenge must have been putting the guy's head back together for the funeral. Of course you can always use wax to fill the empty spaces and even fake hair if necessary. Hopefully he wasn't one of those guys who shaves his head. That would make it really tough for the mortician. The family always want's the deceased to look like they are peaceful and asleep."
"That is really interesting Margie," Daria said. At the risk of ultimately cursing her own curiosity, Daria asked, "Where did you learn all of this?"
"Oh, my major is Mortuary Science," the young woman said. "One of the things we do in the freshman Introduction to Mortuary Science class is learn about the day to day operation of a mortuary. We actually go out and view an embalming and the mortician describes each step in the process. It is really fascinating. The guy we got to see embalmed was found slumped behind the wheel of a car. They performed an autopsy to determine cause of death. When they sent him to the mortuary he was in pieces and his organs were in a plastic bag. The blood was already gone, but the mortician explained what he usually did when there was no autopsy. With an autopsy he had to stick the brain back in the skull and glue it shut. Then he put the bag of organs in the empty body cavity and sewed it shut. After that he put the guy's head back on with a spike!" Margie made a slapping sound as she brought one open palm on top of her other hand balled into a fist.
Daria noticed that several of the other riders had moved to the back of the bus. One even looked a little green around the edges. It was a good thing that the Melody Powers stories were rather bloody. It kept Daria's lunch down. At least the skulls Daria collected were all clean. This girl was way too enthusiastic about her field of study!
Margie went on with great excitement, "The only really weird thing was that the guy's eyes were still open. The mortician explained that the usual practice is to glue the eyes shut with super glue. That is what he did. Then he finished prepping the body, dressed him, and laid him in the casket."
"My isn't that interesting," Daria said. "Are you headed for class this afternoon?" Daria thought 'Maybe we can change the subject.'
"I have two classes. I just got a job at Coffee King working over the lunch hour. I get off just in time to catch the bus to campus. It is so much easier to ride the bus than to park. Parking is expensive for students! Besides, there is a bus stop right in front of where I am living."
"You don't live on campus?" Daria asked.
"No. I was able to arrange a better deal off campus," Margie said.
"I thought freshmen had to live on campus," Daria said.
"They usually do," Margie said. "But there can be exceptions, such as living at home or somewhere that relates to your studies."
Daria has a terrible hunch she knew what was coming next.
Margie went on with great excitement, "I'm living in one room of an apartment above the mortuary. It's free! The two guys in the apartment are seniors. They say that next month they will start taking me on pickups, but I had to have a dark suit first. So, I got the job at Coffee King in order to buy a black or deep navy blue suit. I'm so excited!"
Some things are deeply ingrained. Often these are from one's childhood or first job. The first thing that went through Daria's mind was, 'Maidens in the Mortuary – tonight on Sick Sad World.' Clearing her mind of that Daria said in total deadpan, "If only all the students at Lawndale State were as excited about their majors as you are."
"Next stop – University," the automated destination announcement declared.
Daria pushed the button announcing to the driver that she wanted to get off.
"So when will you be back in class Prof. Sloane?" Margie asked.
"I hope to be teaching again in a couple of weeks. I have to get my stamina up and be able to walk a little farther," Daria replied as the bus came to a stop.
Margie and a couple of other riders stepped off of the bus. The driver lowered the ramp and then came back and removed the safety strap holding Daria's chair in place. Daria thanked him, powered up her chair, and rolled off of the bus. It felt good to be back at the university.
Daria rolled through the iron gates which proudly proclaimed 'Lawndale State University.' The uphill path took her past Admissions, the College of Engineering and Science, the College of Business, and finally the College of Arts and Letters building. There she took the ramp up and pressed the push plate to open the door. The door opened and she was inside headed to the elevator.
Just as she was about to press the button she heard a young man's voice behind her, "Prof. Sloane! Prof. Sloane!" She pressed the button anyway and let the man catch up. "Hi Prof. Sloane. I'm Perry Samson. I'm in your graduate class. I've been waiting for you to return. I want to see you."
Daria looked at the young man. He was about six feet tall, had short blonde hair, a squarish face and clearly could have used some of Quinn's old acne products. Daria remarked in her total deadpan, "Thank you for the admiration, but I am not dating anyone – particularly a student. My husband would strongly object. He might even get violent. So please seek out someone your own age. I don't want to have to go see him in jail."
"That's really funny professor. But what I wanted to talk to you about was being chair of my master's thesis committee." The young man was almost pleading.
The elevator arrived and Daria rolled in and turned her chair around. Perry held the door and then got in the elevator with her. "What floor do you want Prof. Sloane?"
"Five please," Daria responded. The door closed and she continued, "Now tell me why you want me as your committee chair. I am a new faculty member and you would be my first thesis student. Surely someone with more thesis experience would be better for you."
The elevator arrived and Daria rolled out with Perry following. She rolled down the corridor to her office. There she fished the key out of her purse and opened the door. Rolling in she turned on the light and parked her power chair so that she could get to it easily from her desk. It took up most of the room between her desk and the door. It was clear that she would need to back out. Daria stood up, stepped away from the chair, removed her coat and sat down in her desk chair. Perry was still standing in the doorway as she reached down and started her desk computer.
"I really am interested in having you as my chair," Perry said. "I read your doctoral thesis on water corpse literature. I really liked that you did a comparison across genres and even across languages. I would like to do something similar. Vampires have been big recently in books and movies. I would find it interesting to research the history of vampire literature across cultures and anything that existed before Bram Stoker."
"What preliminary work have you done?" Daria asked.
"Nothing yet," Perry said. "I wanted to talk to you first."
Daria tried hard not to roll her eyes. "I am skeptical about your topic. Before I commit to anything I want you to prepare a concept paper with a literature search. I am looking for something that will be at least 15 pages. Only after I have read it and had a chance to run it by some other people will I agree to chair your committee."
"When would you want to have the paper?" Perry said.
Daria answered, "I need it by the end of the semester. I will then try to read it and get some feedback before classes begin in the spring semester."
"Thank you professor," Perry said.
"Please close my door on the way out," Daria asked.
"Sure thing," Perry said. He closed the door and left.
Daria shifted her gaze to her computer and logged in. She checked her email and responded to some. She could check her university email from her phone or laptop at home. Next she set a couple of books she wanted into the basket on her power chair. Then Daria started looking for the computer files she wanted. These were the reason she had come. She emailed the files to herself and then started taking advantage of the high speed network to find other information she wanted. Some of it she saved. One file she opened and started reading. As she was reading she noticed just how sleepy she was. Daria leaned back in her chair and immediately fell asleep.
When Daria opened her eyes she took a look out the window. It was dark outside. Looking at the clock on her computer Daria realized that it was almost 7:00 pm. She had been asleep almost four hours! This was not good. She had about 15 minutes to get to the bus stop or have to wait another hour.
Daria shut down her computer. Then she got up and carefully walked around the desk. She opened the door to her office. She put on her jacket and got on her chair. Carefully backing out into the hallway she closed her door and headed for the elevator. There was no one in the hallway. At least she wouldn't have any distractions. She pressed the button to call the elevator. It arrived and she rolled in. Moments later she was on the ground floor and headed toward the door. She hit the push plate and the door opened. Then it was downhill to the bus stop. There was no time to check her phone or do anything but roll at nearly full speed toward the bus stop.
As she was approaching she saw the headlights of the bus in the distance. Daria tried to gauge her speed versus the bus' speed. She didn't want to miss this bus! The bus continued to get closer and so did Daria. Just as it rounded the circle Daria pulled up to the stop and started waiving at the bus. The driver came to a stop right in front of her. The door opened and the driver lowered the access ramp. Daria rolled into the bus, showed the driver her university ID and he helped her get situated and anchored.
The half hour back to her stop seemed like a very long time. Daria pulled out her phone only to find that it was out of battery power. It would turn on and then immediately turn off. She would have to get home with no communication. That was hardly a 21st century trip!
Finally, the bus announced that her stop was next and she pressed the button to inform the driver that she wanted to get off. He pulled up to the stop, came back and released her chair, then lowered the ramp so that Daria could roll off. The temperature had dropped in the time she was on the bus. It had also started to drizzle. Daria stopped on the sidewalk, removed her jacket, and covered the items in her basket so that they would not get wet. This made the roll home especially, cold, damp, and just generally unpleasant. There was also the anticipation of her parents and Tom being furious with her for going out and not saying anything. Daria rolled up to the door, put her key in the lock, turned it, and rolled into the house."
"Daria?" She heard her mother yell from the kitchen. Helen came running. "Daria! Where have you been! Why haven't you answered your phone! We have been worried sick. Your father and Tom are out there combing the streets looking for you. That was very inconsiderate to say the least to run off with nothing left here to tell us where you went or when you planned to come home. For all we knew you were lying in a ditch someplace dying of hypothermia stuck under your power chair. We wondered if you had been kidnapped, but the police won't take a missing person report until someone has been missing for at least 48 hours. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Hi Mom. I'm home now. Call Dad and Tom, because my phone battery is dead. Would you make some soup for me? Now I'm going to my room and change into dry clothes," Daria rolled into her room and shut the door. She got undressed and put on her warm nightgown. Then she got back in her chair and rolled first to the bathroom and then to the kitchen. She sat down at the kitchen table.
"You still haven't answered my questions Daria," Helen said. "By the way, your husband and your father are headed home. I'm sure they will have some choice words for you."
"I went into the office to get some things and send a couple of files to myself. I fell asleep at my desk and slept for four hours. That is not how I planned it," Daria said.
"Why didn't you at least call when you woke up?" Helen asked. "You could have used your university phone!"
"I had to hurry to get to the bus," Daria responded. "If I had missed it I would have had to wait another hour for the next one. I didn't want to do that. As it was I couldn't stop on the way home. I thought I was going to pee my pants! Are we done with the interrogation counselor?"
Jake was the first to arrive home. He came in the door and sat down by Daria. "You had us really worried kiddo," He said. "Where did you go? How come you didn't leave a note or call?"
"I've already told Mom," Daria replied. "I'm not going to repeat myself until Tom gets here. If I'm too much trouble I'll just have Tom take me home. Then you won't have to worry about me."
"Come on Daria, that's not what we are saying," Jake said in a tone that sounded like pleading. "We were worried about you. We didn't know where you were or if you were alright. Remember, we are just getting over the trauma of nearly losing you in the wreck."
Helen brought Daria a bowl of soup and some bread. Daria ate it quickly realizing that she was ravenous. Tom walked in the door just as Daria was finishing her food.
"I'm glad to see that you are home snookems," Tom said. He knew Daria truly hated being called 'snookems.' Then again, she reserved calling him 'dear' for times she was mad at him or wanted something right now. "Let's go talk in the bedroom, right now."
Daria shot Tom a look, got up from the table and sat down in her power chair and drove toward the bedroom. She rolled into the bedroom and stood up. Tom walked in behind her and closed the door. He grabbed her around the waist, spun her around and kissed her. Then he kissed her again and just held her.
"I thought you would be mad at me," Daria said looking up at him.
"I'm furious and hurt," Tom said. "But that doesn't mean that I don't love you more than I am angry at you. The love of my life had so little concern for my feelings that she didn't bother to let me know what she was planning and doing. Not so much as a text message or a call. So what were you doing and why?"
With Tom still holding her, Daria explained the what. The why was more difficult. Tom listened patiently and still held on. Then he said, "You give me the urge to turn you over my knee."
"Unless you are planning something fun afterward I would recommend against it," Daria said in her cold hard voice. Then she softened her voice, "I guess I owe you an apology."
"You owe your parents one as well," Tom said.
"Do you accept my apology?" Daria asked.
As Tom continued holding her tightly he said, "I not only accept your apology, but I forgive you. I love you so much that the fact that you are back here with me trumps everything else. I don't like what you did. But I love you. All I lost was some time and gasoline."
"Thank you Tom," Daria said she buried her head into Tom's shoulder. "I love you too. You know I would never hurt you. You are my best friend and lover. You are the love of my life."
Tom looked down and kissed Daria again. He let her go and took her hand. "Time to go talk to your parents"
Daria sat down in her power chair. The two went out into the kitchen. There they sat and talked about what happened. They even discussed the unique conversation on the bus. Daria apologized to her parents. By the time they were done it was nearly 11:00 and Daria was tired again. Tom helped her get ready and get into bed. Then he went to bed himself. Tomorrow was another day. Hopefully it would be one without anxiety about his wife!
...
Friday Afternoon
Daria was sitting up in her hospital bed with her laptop on her table. She was going through her university email. In the past few days a routine had developed. She would get up in the morning shortly before Amelia arrived at eight. The first thing she would do is sit with Tom and possibly her father as they finished their breakfasts. Then she would kiss Tom good bye and he would be off to work. Jake would leave about the same time. Now that Daria was fully self-sufficient in the bathroom, she would wash up in the sink and then brush her hair. Today it had started out in a ponytail, since it really needed washing. Amelia would arrive, take Daria's vital signs and then fix her breakfast. Depending on what Amelia's children had been up to that morning, Amelia might eat with Daria or just sit and visit with her.
After breakfast Daria would get ready and Amelia would take her to physical therapy. This was always exhausting, but she had really made progress over the course of the week. Daria had to admit that Joey was a capable therapist and coach. She could now get up and down enough stairs to be ready to go home. She also demonstrated for Amelia that she was able to seal up her casts and take a shower, including washing her hair. In the weeks since the accident Daria had really come to appreciate the ability to do the simple tasks of life. There was no question that she had taken these for granted in the past, but then so did everyone else.
After physical therapy Amelia would drive them back to the Morgendorffers' house. Amelia would make lunch and then Daria would go down for a nap, usually about ninety minutes to two hours. When she awoke Amelia would again take her vitals. Daria was now spending time in the afternoon doing reading for her research work on comparing post World War II American and German literature, particularly focusing on the German literature meant to instill 'war guilt' on the German people and contrasting it to American literature of the time. After about an hour and a half of reading, Daria would use her laptop for about an hour to check her email from work. She had spent much of that time this week answering emails which had collected over the past three plus weeks. For the last half hour or so before Amelia left the two women would watch reruns of Sick Sad World. The episodes running this week just happened to be ones Daria had worked on during her time with the show right after college. Amelia really seemed to enjoy Daria's narratives about the shows.
Daria shut down her laptop and said to Amelia, "Ready for some Sick Sad World?"
"Sure Daria," Amelia replied. "I was just thinking. It is hard to believe that you and I only have two more days together. I'm really going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Amelia," Daria said. "I think we have become more than nurse and patient. We have renewed our friendship."
"I hope we can stay in touch and maybe even do some things together, after you are back to full function that is," Amelia said.
Daria swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. "I think we can manage that. Now let's go watch some TV!"
The two women walked into the living room. Amelia still spotted for Daria just in case she fell. However, falling was less likely every day. Daria sat down without help and even positioned her left leg in the walking cast on the ottoman. Then she pointed the remote at the TV and turned it on. Amelia was feeling a bit useless as the announcer said, "Prairie dogs playing paintball – tonight on Sick Sad World." Daria provided a running commentary on how this episode was totally fake. As it ended Amelia got up and headed for the door. "I'll see you on Monday at your place! Have a good weekend."
"Bye Amelia," Daria said as Amelia closed the door and headed for her minivan.
The local news came on and Daria sat and watched it. It was pretty much the usual Lawndale stories: a fire, a burglary, and a clown convention. That is when the sound of the door opening startled her. Jake walked in and said, "Hey kiddo! Have I got a surprise for you!"
"Hope it is not like the surprise you get when you squash a stink bug," Daria said.
"Eeew," Jake replied. "No this is a good surprise! Come on in."
Daria's sister Quinn waddled through the door clearly over seven months pregnant. Despite her size Quinn looked great as usual. She had the bouncy red hair, perfect skin, and perfect makeup on her heart shaped face. Even the maternity dress she was wearing was cute. Daria wondered how her sister would look two months after giving birth when the sleep deprivation had truly set in and she still had most of the 50+ pound weight gain to lose. "Hi Daria!" Quinn said in her high pitched voice.
Behind Quinn was her husband Tyler Smith. Tyler was six feet tall, good looking, and still every inch the running back he had been in college. He towered over Quinn's five foot four inch frame. He was carrying their bags.
"Hi Daria," Tyler said. "It's good to see you again. Hope you are feeling better." Daria knew that Tyler had worked hard to make certain that his speech did not have the Jamaican accent of his parents, who had immigrated to America before he was born. Nor did he have the accent of most African-Americans coming from New York. His parents had been insistent that he speak 'like the people on TV.' They also made him study hard. He was a smart guy, who had earned a degree in engineering.
"Hi Quinn. Hi Tyler. I am feeling much better," Daria got up, hobbled over, and hugged Quinn and Tyler. "As you can see I am even walking again! Tomorrow is the big day when I get to go home."
"That's why we came," Quinn said. "We want to help you get home and get settled. Tyler and I will stay here with Mom and Dad. I can't tell you how happy I am that you are going home again. We will be here through Wednesday and can help you out."
"It's a wonderful surprise to see you. You certainly did a good job keeping this a secret," Daria said.
Tyler took the bags upstairs to the guest room, which was formerly Daria's bedroom but no longer had padded walls and sawed off bars on the windows. Helen had redecorated.
"Well it was actually kind of last minute. Three things were going on. First, we wanted to have one last trip before the baby comes. Second, we wanted to see you. I have really missed having you in New York, Daria. I didn't think it would be that big a deal with you moving back to Lawndale, but it is. Third, Tyler has an interview. King Products in Ferndale wants a corporate quality control director and Tyler got an interview for the job! His interview is on Tuesday. If he gets it we will be moving here! Ferndale is only 15 miles from Lawndale and depending on where we live it would only be about a 15 minute commute for him. Then we can be close to one another again," Quinn said with considerable excitement.
"Wow," Daria said in total deadpan. "That would be wonderful." Daria and Quinn's relationship had steadily improved since high school. However, Daria knew that she could still only tolerate just so much of her sister before Quinn would really start to get on her nerves. Despite having a much better relationship and even occasionally doing things together Daria was far closer to Jane than to Quinn. Daria went on, "I hope that the job will be something Tyler would enjoy. What about you and your job?"
"Well, my hope would be that I could take some time off – beyond maternity leave – and then maybe work here at the Lawndale office. I have worked for Paige, Sloane, and Grace for several years now. Maybe the younger Mister Sloane could put in a good word for me?"
"You'll have to talk to Tom about that. Even though it is mostly a family business they still have rules on nepotism and not directly supervising relatives," Daria said. "I know that one reason things worked so well for you in New York was that there are no Sloanes working in that office." Daria did not want to make Quinn any promises she couldn't keep.
Jake walked up with a glass pitcher in hand. "Anybody want a martini? I just made a fresh pitcher."
"Can't handle all these houseguests, Dad?" Daria said.
"No kiddo. I just thought it would be nice if we all just had a drink together," Jake said.
"Or two or three," Daria responded. "Oh well, we don't want perfectly good liquor to go to waste. I guess I'll just have to have one."
"Now you two just have a seat while I pour," Jake said.
The two women both eased themselves down onto the couch across from the TV. Quinn said with a nervous giggle. "I'll have to pass, Daddy. You know, pregnant!"
"Do you have onions or olives?" Tyler said as he walked down the stairs.
"Which do you prefer?" Jake asked. "I have both."
"He'll have olives, assuming he wants to sleep in the same bed with me tonight," Quinn said.
"Like she said," Tyler responded with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Quinn added, "Oh and Tyler, would you get me a soda? Crushed ice and a twist of lemon please. Thanks." Tyler went to the kitchen and brought Quinn her drink.
"I'll take olives, too," Daria chimed in. "I don't like the bitterness of the onion."
"Too much like the bitterness of your soul dear sister?" Quinn said jokingly.
Daria looked straight at her sister and said, "Not nearly so bitter since I've been seeing a priest."
Quinn just stared wide-eyed at Daria in silence for a moment. Tyler brought over Quinn's soda and set it next to her.
Daria let the thought sink in then said, "I'm not dying nor is Tom. Nor is anyone else around here. Jane brought him over. He comes to visit me every few days."
Quinn responded, "Wait. Let me get this straight. You are seeing a priest, but you really aren't 'seeing' him as in confession or something. You are seeing him because he comes to visit you in your sickbed? I'm confused."
"You've always been confused Quinn." Daria quipped as they sipped their drinks. "He's a guy who became a priest after his wife died." Daria had decided to hold the full story in reserve. There had to be a good way to use it to really shock Quinn.
"That is both sad and romantic," Quinn said. "I feel really sorry for him." Turning to her husband she asked, "Would you become a priest if I died, Tyler?"
Tyler looked at his wife and with a little annoyance in his voice said, "No Quinn, I would not. I would become a hermit in the desert and tend a shrine to your memory for the remainder of my days." Then he took a long sip of his martini and said in hopes of changing the subject, "Great martinis, Jake. What is your secret?"
Jakes eyes narrowed as he looked at his son-in-law, "It's all in the vermouth my man. It's all in the vermouth."
Tom walked in the door and remarked, "Hi everyone." Then he looked over toward Daria and said, "Quinn! Tyler! I didn't know you two were coming!"
Tyler got up, went over and shook hands with Tom and they hugged each other. "It was kind of last minute," Tyler said. "Quinn wanted to help Daria move back home, as well as have a last visit before the baby comes."
Tom walked over to the couch. First he hugged Daria and gave her a kiss. Then he hugged Quinn. Looking at Jake he remarked, "Are those Morgendorffer Martinis I smell?"
"You bet" Jake said pointing his index finger at Tom. "Olives or onions in your martini?"
"He'll have olives," Daria said. Looking at Quinn she said, "Men. We may not sleep in the same bed tonight, but we will be in the same room!" Quinn giggled.
"So how was your trip down here?" Tom asked as he dragged a chair over and sat next to Daria.
"Not bad," Tyler said as he pulled up a chair and sat down next to Quinn. "We took the train so that Quinn would be able to get up and move around. She is to the point now where it can be hard to get comfortable."
"Not to mention I have to pee all the time," Quinn said. "I just can't seem to get the baby to understand that my bladder is not a waterbed. I think my kidneys are getting used as punching bags, too."
Daria popped up with, "I knew a woman at Columbia who was eight months pregnant and her baby was really a hard kicker. One time it kicked so hard that it got its foot stuck between two of her ribs! She told me how she screamed in pain and could feel the kid trying to pull its foot out. That caused her even more pain. Finally she was in such agony that she just took the palm of her hand and hit the baby's foot hard enough to knock it out from between her ribs. Then she spent the rest of her pregnancy and delivery worried sick that she might have injured the baby or it would come out with a deformed foot."
Quinn looked at her sister in horror and said, "Oh my God! That poor woman and her baby!" A tear slowly made its way down Quinn's cheek.
Jake looked at Daria and all he could say was "Eeew."
Tom looked at Daria and said, "You know that you are not helping sweet love of mine."
Tyler was suppressing laughter. He had to secretly admit that he really enjoyed watching Daria yank Quinn's chain. His wife and her sister were both very intelligent women, but despite Quinn being so much more outgoing and social than Daria, Daria knew exactly how to push her buttons and get a reaction.
"Anyway, the baby came out uninjured and just fine. They are really pretty resilient as well as pliant," Daria said. "Afterall, they get squeezed out." Daria looked down into her martini glass and took a long sip and said, "Squeezed," drawing out the word to four times its length.
"You're still not helping, Daria," Tom said.
Quinn looked over at Tyler and said, "Maybe I should talk to Dr. Rosenberg about scheduling a C-section."
Tyler responded with a chuckle, "That's all well and good my love, but just remember that if you have a C-section there will be a scar!"
"Oh, yeah," Quinn responded. "That's right. I would have hated to do all that we have done to avoid stretch marks just to have a big scar from a C-section. I would have to go to wearing only one piece swim suits."
Daria popped up again with, "If you need a C-section, they can probably cut so that your belly fat will fold over it."
"Belly fat!" Quinn almost screeched. "I'll have you know that once I have this baby I will be losing all my pregnancy weight. Before getting pregnant I was still able to get into clothes I wore as a senior in high school and I will again."
Tyler jumped in, "OK you two. Cut it out. Daria you are actually starting to upset Quinn. Quinn, you know that if you need a C-section the scar is below your bikini line. You are beautiful and you will always be beautiful to me, especially after having our baby. Now let's just have our drinks."
"Hear hear," Tom and Jake said in unison.
Jake asked, "So tell me about this job interview, Tyler."
Tyler began telling the story, "Well, as you may know Jake, King Products is a privately held contract manufacturer of products for commercial kitchens. They have contracts with several major fast food chains to produce their custom kitchens that each restaurant is required to purchase. Quality control of these products is critical. They have to be able to meet the customer specification as well as any health related regulations for the local restaurant's municipality. They are looking for a corporate Director of Quality Assurance to manage the quality function both in the plant and anything that comes up once the equipment is in the field. I would also work with the design and manufacturing engineering teams to ensure that the original design can be efficiently inspected and will have the highest possible reliability once it is installed. The position will probably have me traveling a few days every couple of months, but the rest of the time I should be home. At least with you and Helen here I am confident that Quinn won't be left alone."
Tom asked, "What made you two decide to leave New York? It is home for you, Tyler."
Tyler answered, "Truth be known, I have always liked Lawndale and the surrounding towns. When New York is good, it is unbeatable. But, I would like to have more room to raise our children. The density of the City and trying to live in apartments just is not what we want. Quinn and I discussed this at length. We want to get a place where we can have a big house with at least a half-acre of land. It would be even better if it was partially wooded. So, when this position became available in Ferndale I applied. I have every qualification they listed in their ad. I just hope no one gets hung up on my color."
Jake piped up with, "I don't think that will be a problem with King Products. I did some work for them a few years ago. They have a more diverse workforce than most of the companies in Lawndale and at least one of their Vice Presidents – I think he was the Chief Financial Officer – at the time was African-American. You shouldn't have any problems."
Tom added, "We floated a substantial bond issue with them about a year ago. My Dad even mentioned that they seemed more progressive than most other businesses in the area. Their case was part of my initial reading when I started with the firm."
"Which reminds me," Quinn said. "Do you think you could help me transfer from the New York to the Lawndale office?"
"As long as you don't work under me," Tom said. "We have three finance openings right now. Believe it or not it can be hard to find good people willing to live here in Lawndale. The young ones tend to want to move away. So, we are trying to attract people like you who might want to move back to the area. Fill out the forms with Human Resources for a transfer and then let me know. This should not be a big problem. I will let my Dad know as well."
"Thanks Tom," Quinn said.
Daria piped up with, "Are there any more of those martinis?"
As Jake was pouring the last of the martinis Helen walked in the door. "Hi," She said and stopped mid-sentence and mid-stride. She nearly shouted, "Quinn! Tyler!" Helen ran over to Quinn and gave her youngest daughter a big long hug and kissed her cheek. Then she ran over to Tyler, gave his a big hug and a kiss on the cheek as well.
"Gee," Daria said. "Why is it that I feel like chopped liver?"
Helen looked at her eldest daughter and said, "Daria! I expected you and Tom to be here when I got home. I didn't expect your sister and Tyler. Don't begrudge a mother being delighted to see her youngest child and son-in-law. Now are there any more of those martinis?"
"Sorry," Jake replied. "I just poured the last one."
"That's OK," Helen responded. "I'll just go open a bottle of wine." Helen went over to the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of wine, unscrewed the bottle cap, and poured it in a wine glass. Then she walked over – bottle in hand – and sat next to Jake on the couch which didn't face the TV. She put the bottle next to the couch.
"Oh, by the way, I got a text from Jodi late this afternoon. Cleaning Crew got our house spotless and ready for your return tomorrow," Tom reported. "She also said that she would stop by and see you sometime early in the week." Tom reached over and placed his arm around his wife. She leaned her head back on it.
Helen said, "That is really nice that she did that for you. I'm glad that Jodi's business is successful. She was always such a nice kid." Helen reached over, picked up the bottle, and poured herself another glass of wine.
Daria said emphatically, "Mom, Jodi is the same age I am. She isn't a kid anymore. She is a grown woman with her own business. The freshmen in my class are kids – not Jodi."
"I know that dear," Helen replied. "But when you get to my age anyone under forty is just a kid. You'll know what I mean sooner than you think!"
"So," Quinn said. "What are we going do for dinner?"
"We could always heat some lasagna in the microwave," Helen said with a hint of slur starting to creep into her voice.
"No!" Daria, Tom, and Quinn said in unison.
"How about ordering pizza?" Tyler asked. "We have all had drinks and shouldn't drive. So, we can just order pizza for delivery. My treat."
"I have the number for Pizza King and they deliver," Jake said.
"Good," Tyler responded. "Now what does everyone want?" He took their preferences and placed the order. He also ordered salads. They all continued to talk while waiting for the delivery. Forty minutes later the doorbell rang. Tyler answered.
Standing in the doorway was a medium sized skinny man with a paunch just starting around his middle. His hair was a speckled mass of red with a little gray. "Hi, I'm Artie from Pizza King," He said. "Here is your order of two large pizzas plus salads."
Tyler pulled out his wallet and paid the strange man for the pizzas plus a very generous tip, took the pizzas, and closed the door. Everyone in the living room had migrated to the kitchen table. Tom had grabbed a couple of folding chairs, which had been up against the wall, and set them up at the table. Walking over with the pizzas Tyler commented, "That was one strange looking guy!"
Daria was the first to chime in, "Oh, that's just Artie. He is sort of like a weird artifact here in Lawndale. He is obsessed with alien abduction and if you get him going he will tell you all about the aliens taking his skin."
"His skin seemed to still be attached," Tyler said. "Though he should have seen a dermatologist about his acne back when he was a teen."
"Obviously the aliens gave him an inferior replacement for his skin," Daria said.
"Obviously," Tyler responded. Tyler set the pizzas out on the counter and everyone got up, grabbed a plate and napkin, and helped themselves.
Turning to Daria Quinn said, "I think that was the guy who hit on me at the sci-fi convention you dragged us to not long after we moved to Lawndale. He was really a creeper. He clearly didn't know I was way under age."
Tom chimed in, "You had the most important quality Quinn – you are female! Besides, you are a redhead like him."
"I may be a redhead, but I am nothing like him!" Quinn responded. "Why did we go to that sci-fi convention anyway?"
"It was part of my evil plan to torture you, Mom, and Dad. If you recall I also got them to take us to Pizza Forest." Daria said. "Improving my self-esteem actually created a monster."
"Wow. Now I really understand you," Tom said with a sarcastic tone and smile. Daria punched him in the arm. "Ow," he said and went back to eating his pizza.
The family spent the rest of the evening talking and catching up on what had been happening. After their parents had gone to bed and their husbands had left the room to get ready for bed Daria pulled Quinn close to her and said, "Don't let anybody know, but I am really happy that you came to see me. I do hope Tyler gets that job in Ferndale, because I miss you too – sis." Daria hugged her sister. "Of course, if you tell anyone this I will deny it."
"Of course," Quinn replied. Then she got up and slowly made her way up the stairs.
Daria went to her room and got ready for bed. Tom was sitting on the futon looking at his phone. He looked up and watched as Daria got ready for bed. When she was in bed he got up to turn out the light. First, he walked over and gave her a very long kiss.
"Last night in the hospital bed," he said.
"Last night on the futon," Daria said.
"I won't miss the futon," Tom said.
"I will miss this hospital bed. I like the way it moves. However, I am more than willing to trade this bed for the ability to sleep together with you," Daria stated. She pulled Tom in for another kiss. "Speaking of moves, we could play with the way this bed moves one more time."
"Sounds like a fun game," Tom said. He went over and turned out the light. In the dim light filtering through the curtains he walked over to her tray table and grabbed a pillow placing it on top of the table.
...
Saturday Morning
The morning was clear and cool. Frost was still a few weeks away, but it would not be long. Quinn was helping Daria pack up the last few items in the dining room. Quinn had brought two new wool skirts with her from New York for her sister. Daria was wearing one of them – it was a beige and black pattern – and a black shirt. "You know, Daria, that skirt is really cute on you. It should be warm, too."
"Thanks Quinn. It is comfortable. But mostly I've been wearing pants, especially in late fall and winter. I just don't like being cold," Daria remarked. She was hobbling around the room putting a few items on the bed to pack. If her one carry-on sized suitcase wasn't enough, then she would just grab a couple of shopping bags for the rest.
"Now we just need to do something about your footwear," Quinn said with a little chuckle as she dropped onto the futon.
"Oh this old thing?" Daria said. "It is the latest in medical footwear! Just see how it covers and immobilizes everything. It gives you that sexy look of hobbling around."
Quinn responded, "Tom doesn't seem to mind."
"No he doesn't. My evil plan is working. I think even after five plus years of marriage that he is still somewhat infatuated with me, though I don't understand why."
"I know what you mean. Tyler is still kind of like a little puppy following me around. Not that I am complaining! At this point I sometimes need help with things. I mean look at me! I am so pregnant that I waddle like a duck," Quinn said. "Even so, you know Daria, I have never felt better in my life than I do right now. Pregnancy is a wonderful thing even if it means back aches and weight gain! When do you think you and Tom will start a family?"
"Gee, I don't know Quinn, but we sure do practice a lot!" Daria said in her perfects inflectionless deadpan.
"Daria! Too much information!" Quinn shrieked.
Tom and Tyler came running into the room. "What's up?" they said in unison.
"Nothing," Quinn and Daria replied together.
Quinn looked at Tyler and said, "We were just having sister talk and sometimes Daria can say things that make me go 'eeew.'"
Tom looked at both of them and said, "You two behave yourselves. Tyler and I are loading up the car and then we have to move this bed and put the dining room back together. I don't want Jake trying to do any of this given his heart condition." Tom and Tyler walked out.
Quinn looked at Daria and her eyes narrowed as she said, "You know, Daria, when the day comes that you are big and pregnant I will be more than happy to let you know how to still make things happen with Tom. Just because you're big and fat doesn't mean he has to stay away!"
Daria looked at her sister and again in total deadpan said, "I'll remember that Quinn."
Daria zipped up her suitcase and carefully lowered it to the floor with her right hand. She rolled it outside for Tom to put in the car. Seeing her coming out with the suitcase Tom turned to her and asked sharply, "Daria! Did you lift his bag?"
"Of course I did. How do you think it got here?" Daria replied.
"What did Dr. Prasad say about lifting things? You still have two weeks of healing left. He said you should not be lifting more than 5 pounds. You are still healing. I do not want you injuring yourself. This bag is at least 15 pounds," Tom said.
"I'm neither incapable nor helpless, nor am I stupid, Tom" Daria shot back. "It is not like I lifted and carried this thing out here. I slid it off the bed onto its wheels and then pulled it like a trailer out here. I am not going to injure myself doing that. So you need to stop treating me like I am a china doll that will break if you sneeze at it. Understand?"
Tom looked Daria directly in the eyes and said calmly, "I understand that sometimes you are stubborn and don't want to listen to what I say because you have already made up your mind. You know darn well that I would never accuse you of being incapable, helpless, and certainly never stupid. You are the smartest woman I know. That does not mean, however, that you always behave correctly or in your own best interest. That is one reason why I look out for you."
Daria really hated it when Tom was right and she knew he was right. She would normally have turned around and stormed off. Instead the best she could muster was saying, "Mmmmm." It was sort of a low growl. Then she turned around and hobbled back inside.
Tyler came out as Daria was walking into the house. He saw the look on Daria's face. Going up to Tom he said, "Fight?"
Tom replied with the sound of resignation in his voice, "Yeah. As you might have noticed my wife can be stubborn as a mule at times."
Tyler chuckled and said, "Tell me about it. Remember, I'm married to her sister. I think those two have more in common than they will ever admit – to us, each other, and even themselves. Truth be told, the biggest differences between those two are their hair colors and interests."
Tom turned and leaned up against his car. He said, "You make a good point. Daria's interests are reading and books. Quinn is into fashion and socializing. Yet they both chose careers that involve considerable study and analysis. I have known both of them since we were teenagers and what surprised me most was when I realized that Quinn is actually better at math than Daria."
Tyler laughed again and said, "Well, it's hard to go into finance if you can't do the math! Daria is better at broader analysis, though. Sometimes I have to force Quinn to do things like map out details and how they interact."
Tom chuckled and said, "You mean make her think like an engineer."
"Bingo. She really hates it when I do that," Tyler said.
Tom nodded his head in agreement, "Daria really hates it when I make her do something like an accountant. This assumes of course that I can make her do anything. Those situations usually require lots of 'discussion' and making up later."
"I know what you mean, brother. At least the making up part is fun, though I think I am paying the price for a fight now and it will last the rest of my life!" Tyler said. Both men laughed.
Walking into the house Daria took a good look around. The wheelchair and power chair were already sitting in the living room ready to be picked up by the rental company. As soon as Tom and Tyler had the bed out of the dining room everything would be ready. The rental company was due to pick up the items in just over an hour.
Wine glass in hand Helen walked up to Daria and said, "You know that you have really come a long way since the accident, Daria."
"I know Mom," she replied. "I was just thinking about that myself. But as far as I have come I just can't wait to get back to my students. As strange as it sounds I have a tough time being away from work."
"So maybe you did inherit something from me," Helen said as she tossed back the remaining wine in the glass.
Daria looked at her and responded, "I'm certain that my love of in depth reading and research come from you. You wouldn't be a good lawyer without those traits and I wouldn't be a good professor without them. As you might have noticed, I am also pretty good with a comment and comeback."
Helen replied, "I was thinking more about your dedication to work."
"I'm dedicated, but not a workaholic," Daria responded. "I can and will get away with Tom and I do not feel the need to 'keep in touch with the office' while I am away. That is the beauty of having breaks and no teaching duties in the summer. My work also doesn't have to be done at the university, except for teaching and some of my service activities. I can do research and class prep from almost anywhere." Daria knew what her mother wanted to hear. But the fact was that Helen's workaholic nature had left both she and Quinn without their mother's input at critical times. She loved her mother, but the fact was that her mother was more consumed by work than by family. That had come out when the whole family had gone to what Daria still referred to as 'psycho-camp' just before Helen became a partner in the law firm. Some good had come of it. At least her mother had started taking more of her vacation days once she became a partner. Still, that was in Daria's senior year of high school.
Tyler and Tom were just finishing moving the bed. Quinn was supervising the two men. Once the task was done it was time to leave. Helen was still standing by Daria and Jake got up and came over from the kitchen table. Helen and Jake hugged Quinn and Daria. Helen hugged Tom and Tyler as well. Jake shook hands with the two men. Jake turned to Daria and said, "Kiddo, as sorry as I am that you had that terrible accident, it has been nice having you in the house again. I really like hearing the things you have to say and just being able to sit with you." Then he hugged her.
"Um, thanks Dad," Daria said. "I appreciate you and Mom helping to take care of me and giving up your dining room for a while."
Releasing her Jake replied, "That goes without saying. We would do anything for you. Now get going. I know you are anxious to get back to your place. It is not like you live on the moon! We will see you this week sometime, OK?"
"OK, bye," Daria responded. Everyone said 'bye' and headed out the door. Since all of Daria and Tom's things fit in the trunk, all four rode in Tom's car. He would take Quinn and Tyler back to the Morgendorffers' house later.
…
The four arrived at Tom and Daria's townhouse. They got out of the car and Daria could hardly wait to go and open the door. She had her key in her hand. While she couldn't quite jump out of the car Daria got out as quickly as possible and started hobbling toward the door.
"Let me help you Daria," Quinn said.
"No. I'm doing this myself. I want to be the first one in the house. I've only been inside a couple of times with Amelia since the accident," Daria said.
Quinn didn't say anything and motioned to the men that they should just let Daria do what she wanted to do. They did. Daria hobbled up to the front door, the sensor picked up the chip and unlocked the door, and she went inside.
The first thing Daria noticed was how clean it smelled. Clearly Jodi's Cleaning Crew had done an excellent job getting the place clean. Next she went to the kitchen. Everything seemed to be put away in its place. Her favorite tools were just where she left them the morning of the accident, except that everything was clean. Then Daria went into the living room. It was clean, neat, and even her books were neatly stacked. The others came in behind her.
"Jodi's people did a nice job cleaning, didn't they Daria," Tom said.
"Yes," Daria replied and headed for the stairs. She went up the stairs one by one. It was certainly more difficult than before the accident, but she had the strength to walk upstairs. Her office was clean. Everything had even been dusted. Yet, her books and other things were just where she left them. Hobbling over to the bedroom she looked in. The bed was made and there was nothing left lying around. She walked over to the bed and noticed that fresh, clean sheets had been put on the bed. It was ready for her. It was ready for her and Tom.
"Pretty nice, isn't it?" Tom said as he was standing in the doorway.
Daria turned, walked over to Tom and buried her head in his shoulder. Then she just sobbed. Through the tears she managed to say, "Oh Tom, I was so afraid I would never get back here. I didn't want to be just a daughter again. I like being a wife. I like being your wife, even if I can be stubborn and hard to live with sometimes. I don't like having to figure out how to be together in the middle of the night. I like being in our place where we do what we want to do together whenever we feel like it. I appreciate what my parents did for me. What they did for us. But, I could barely stand being away from you and watching you sleep on that crappy futon night after night. I just hope we don't wind up spending a fortune on having a chiropractor fix your back! I know you did it for me and I love you for that. And now I am getting all emotional and I hate myself for that. I am a realist and I don't like getting all emotional. And I still have to wait two weeks before going back to the university and my students."
Tom could see Tyler starting up the stairs with Daria's suitcase. He motioned to him to stay downstairs. Tyler could see that something was going on and so he carefully backed down. Tom placed his face in Daria's hair and said softly, "Sweet love of mine, you are human just like the rest of us. Let it out. Even when you are crying you are beautiful. You will feel better after a good cry. You are with people who love you deeply. We understand. We want what is best for you. I promised you that I would love you for the rest of my life – in sickness and in health. We have been through a bout of sickness. You are in the home stretch of healing. Stay with the program! I want you happy and healthy. You are home now. The worst is over. Come on downstairs. I will make tea for all of us."
"OK," Daria kind of squeaked. "I could use a cup of tea."
The two went down the stairs. Tom spotted for Daria as she carefully took each step. They went over to the living room and Daria sat in a recliner and put her feet up. Quinn sat on the couch next to her. Tyler ran upstairs with the suitcase and put it in the bedroom. Then he went down to the kitchen and helped Tom make tea.