Ashley stepped from behind the counter and walked over to Kevin. She knelt down in front of him and said. “Wow, Kevin! I heard the gymnastics thing. What actually happened? How long are you going to be like this?”
Kevin was blushing furiously and seemed to have lost the ability to talk. So, I spoke for him, “He sprained both ankles and his wrist. The doctor wants him off his feet at least until Tuesday. No crutches because of the wrist, so he’s stuck in the wheel chair.”
“Aw…you poor little guy! I’m so glad it’s not worse,” she said to Kevin with the same sweet/sad smile I’ve seen kindergarten teachers give their charges to console them when they fall down and hurt themselves. Then to me she said, “Wow, I’m being rude. Hi, Carrie. It’s nice to see you!”
“You too, Ashley. How are things?”
“Pretty good…Summer job at Mom’s fro-yo place. Not a bad gig. It’s pretty dead right now, but it’s usually hopping” She chuckled.
Now I could see why this was Kevin’s favorite place. He did have a crush on Ashley. Even if he was going to be embarrassed by it, he was loving her fussing over him.
Then Ashley called out, “Mom, could you come here?”
Ashley’s mom came out of the back room. She was a taller, somewhat heavier version of her daughters. She had a really sweet face though. “What’s the matter sweetheart?” she asked as she stepped behind the counter.
“Kevin O’Neil is here with his cousin.” Ashley replied.
“Oh, Kevin! How are you?”
This time Kevin remembered how to speak and replied, “I’m okay, Mrs. Dunn. Thanks for asking, just sprains, but I’m off my feet until next week.”
“Oh, you poor thing! I was there when you had your accident. I’m so glad it isn’t worse. I think the best thing to get you better is some calcium rich fro-yo. It’s on the house for you both.”
“You don’t have to…” I started to protest.
“No, no. Kevin is such a good influence on my youngest guy, it’s the least I can do…But I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Rita Dunn.” She said as she held out her hand with a big smile.
“I’m Carrie Sullivan. I’m staying with Kevin while his mom is out of town.” I replied smiling as I took her hand in mine.
“Beth Fisher told me about you. You’re off to Med School in the fall. I think Ashley has aspirations in that regard. Maybe the two of you could sit down some time and she could pick your brain.”
I looked over at Ashley who rolled her eyes but smiled. “Be glad to,” I said.
Ashley stood up and said, “Let’s do this. Can I help Kevin get his yogurt?”
“Sure.” I said as Ashley took the handles of the wheel chair and moved Kevin over to the machines. She was whispering something to him and he was shaking with laughter.
Rita called me over so that we were out of earshot and whispered to me, “I think Kevin has a crush on Ashley.”
I chuckled, “Ya think? Is it mutual?”
“Might be. It’s hard to say. She really likes him and knows he’s only a little younger than her, but I think she sees him more like a little boy that needs looking after than a possible boyfriend.”
“I know the feeling.” I whispered back.
“Now, you go help yourself to anything you’d like. Then we can all sit and talk for a while.” Rita said in her normal voice.
Once Ashley, Kevin and I had gotten our treats, Rita joined us at a table.
“Rita,” I started, “where would do you bring your son to get a haircut? Kevin needs one before we head up to Cape Cod on Saturday and he doesn’t have a barber in town yet.”
“Snips and Snails here in the mall. They are great with little boys and they look really cute…er… handsome when they are done.” She responded and glanced over at Kevin who was totally absorbed in Ashley.
“Need an appointment?” I asked.
“Yeah, usually a week in advance. But if you want, I’ll call over for you and get you one tomorrow. It’s a professional courtesy the shop owners here in the mall extend each other.”
“Please.”
“What time?”
“Try for 10, but anytime in the morning will be fine.”
“So you’re going to Cape Cod?” Ashley asked.
“Yeah, my family is having a reunion there. It’s kind of a tradition. Kevin’s coming too.”
“I love the Cape.” Rita said, “But I haven’t been there since Heather was born.”
“Have I been there?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, but not since you were in diapers.” Rita answered.
Ashley blushed a bit and said, “Mother!” But Rita just smiled at her.
I noticed Kevin blush a little, too.
We chatted for a while longer and then some customers started to come into the store. “We’d better be going,” I said, “But, could I return this favor? Would you like to come to our place for dinner tomorrow?”
“My husband and I have an engagement tomorrow,” Rita said, “But the girls can if they want.”
“I’d love to and I’m sure Heather will want to come too. But we can’t leave Mark out. Can we bring him too?”
“Mark?” I asked.
“He’s their little brother and the littlest guy on my gymnastics team.” Kevin replied, then added, “Of course he can. I don’t want to be totally out numbered by girls!”
“Well, it’s settled then! How does six sound?” I asked.
“Sounds good to me,” Ashley said. We said our goodbyes and I began pushing Kevin to the door.
Ashley called out, “Carrie! Come here a sec.” I locked the wheels and said to Kevin “Be right back.”
“What’s up?” I asked
In a very low voice, Ashley said. “I think Kevin’s diaper is wet. You can change him in the family restroom around the corner.”
Re: Summer Nurse
Ch 38
I looked at Ashley for a second with my mouth open and then she said, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul…I babysit a lot and when I was talking to him, I heard a familiar sound.”
“Wow…Okay…” I replied. “Thanks, I’ll take care of it when we get home…But, please…”
She cut me off and said, “Really, don’t worry. I won’t even let Kevin know that I know. But what’s going on?”
“Bladder infection. It seems he gets them on occasion.”
“What are you doing for it?”
“Doc Tom prescribed antibiotics and plenty of water to flush the infection. Well, that and time.”
“Aw, poor little guy,” she whispered. Then loudly she said, “So, it’s agreed then, I’ll bring the dessert.”
“Thanks, that sounds good.” I said out loud and then more softly, “Really, thanks.”
She winked at me as I left and took Kevin to the car. When I was in the parking lot I asked Kevin, “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, why?” he asked.
“How’s the diaper?”
“Hmmm, oh…” he said as he shifted his weight…“Oh God, I wet myself in front of Ashley and I didn’t even know it!”
“Calm down, calm down.” I said, “It’s the infection, you don’t have any control over it.”
“Do you think she noticed?” he asked, panicked.
“I’m sure it’ll be alright.” I responded avoiding the question.
“If she noticed…this is awful. How can I see her tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry.” I said. “Look, it’s obvious she likes you. I don’t think your being sick is going to change that.”
“You think she likes me?” he asked hopefully.
“Yeah, I really do.” I answered truthfully. Although I thought, “But probably not the way you’d like her to.”
“Now, can we get you home so I can change you?” I added
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Doses of medicine with plenty of water, followed by diaper changes; watching TV, playing board games, a simple dinner of soup and salad. More medicine, more water, more diaper changes. Then, just before we went to bed, Kevin asked me to take him to the bathroom so he could pee.
“That’s good sign!” I said cheerfully. “Maybe, you’re getting over the infection.”
“God, I hope so. I would really like to be out of diapers tomorrow when the Dunns come over.”
“I don’t blame you.” I said, “But we’ll have to play it by ear.”
“What do you mean?” Kevin asked.
“Even if you’re not wearing a diaper tomorrow, we should probably go with pull-ups. You know, just in case.”
“I guess you’re right,” he said glumly.
“Come on.” I said, “Let’s get you ready for bed and we’ll see what Frodo, Sam and the boys are up to.”