2020-10-21 - Nolan's Visits

 2020-10-21 - Nolan's Visits

Two days after the surgery that saved Nolan after his father shot him Elise comes into his room after school and calls out softly “Nolan? Are you awake?” Because as he slept off the anesthetic and was in earlier recovery he was very dozey. 

Nolan was more sitting up than laying down in his hospital bed.  He’d been dosing, as daytime television, he was learning the hard way, was absolute crap.  He hears Elise’s voice and smiles.  The room he is in is the second floor back.  “Yea.  Come in.”  there are flowers but mostly cards from all kinds of people in Alexandra wishing him well.

Elise has been there a lot but for some of it Nolan was in and out of sleep. So she’s pretty comfortable in the room. There’s a chair by the bed and she goes to it but first she fusses at him a bit “Your pillow is slipping again…” She leans down and kisses him lightly and then carefully rearranges the pillow so it’s more centered as carefully as she can so she’s not jostling him. “How are you doing? Mr. Arnett gave me your school assignments but I almost told him to go eff himself. You can catch up on that later.” She glances at the card on one of the flower arrangements on the table by the bed “Candra Stevens sent you flowers…” She teases. Some of the flowers and cards were from girls who found Nolan cute but most were from people sharing their genuine kindness.

Nolan slowly sits up as she rearranges his pillow.  It still hurt, but overall he was much better off than he’d been in the beginning.  He kisses her back and shrugs.  “Still a decent amount of pain, but I’m ok I guess.”  Then he looks around eagerly.  “Homework?  Where?  Gimmie?”  he looks at her  “This was the first day I didn't sleep all day … so I was trying to wacth some TV .. oh my fucking god.  They have these stupid drama things here.  The place has the most basic of cable television.  It’s a nightmare.”  he complains but then Candra Stevens is brought up.  “Yea … I’m getting a lot of flowers from girls.”  he rolls his eyes.  “Some with the whole XOXO thing.  Dumb.”  he rolls his eyes.

Elise laughs “You WANT your homework? I was going to bullshit a book report and stick your name on it if I had to to get them off your case. Pick a book that has a movie you could watch later. But there’s some math questions and apparently we’re supposed to write a thing convincing someone to join a political party of our choice. I’ll leave it all here so you don’t have to watch soap operas. Do they have wifi. I could bring you a tablet and you could stream Netflix or something.” She smiles about Candra and the others. “I’m not worried they’re going to steal you with flowers and written kisses when I get to give you real kisses...oh and hang on. I have something better than flowers..” She reaches down into her backpack and takes out a little tupperware container of vegetable nori rolls “I was super careful because I know they’re watching you for infections…”

Nolan nods.  “Yes.  I am dying of boredom.  Homework would work.  And I think they have wifi.  I keep meaning to ask Mom to bring my laptop or something, but she’s still sort of I dunno.”  he sighs deeply.  He looks at Elise as she explains she isn’t worried and then pulls out nori rolls.  “Yes, please…”  he smiles.  “You get real kisses every time.  I don’t remember everything but … I feel like you were leaning over me covering me with your shirt.  And I was seriously cold too.”  he doesn’t mess with chopsticks or anything, he just picks up a pieve and pops it in his mouth.

Elise nods about Nolan’s mom. “She probably feels like it’s her fault.” Elise knew in fact that Sharon did as she had heard her say it but that wasn’t her conversation to have...that was between them. “Have you guys been offered any kind of counselling about it? I don’t know i could kind of see it being something that might take awhile….for both of you. For me too but he wasn’t pointing that gun at me Nolan. I did put my shirt on you to stop the bleeding but then the bleeding wasn't as much as I thought or they thought….because it was more on the inside.” she smiles as he eats the sushi “Sorry no fish….didn’t want to risk it yet. It would not be good if you got listeria right now.”

Nolan sighs.  “Yea …  I think she does. Dr Singh ever since I called the police on Brett, but my mom.  I think she’s afraid or nervous or something.  Maybe guilty.”  he sighs  “She wanted to see good in him.  She wants to see good in people.  I guess that's just how she is.”  he smiles about her shirt.  “How can I not love a woman who will let me bleed on her?”  he nods as he eats.  “Still fantastic food.  You know this hospital doesn't have a kitchen or cafeteria?  They order from the local restaurants.  Like The Breakfast Nook for breakfasts?  I mean its a little different sometimes.  I’m no more or less normal food, but like for calories I guess they handle that.  It’s really kinda neat.”  he pops some more sushi in his mouth.

Elise looks happy about Dr. Singh “I’m glad you’re still talking to him. I knew that but I forgot as I aked you…..it’s been a hell of a week. I can’t even imagine what your mom feels or what you might feel. I still feel guilty for texting you….like maybe it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t…” She tenses up and looks away “So maybe I should make myself an appointment with Dr. Singh.” She wipes at her eyes quickly and then laughs “It’s just a shirt…...I’m just glad you’re ok. You threw up on me a bit as you were coming off the anesthetic too.” She laughs again “So blood and puke...sorry not appetizing conversation. And you’re saying this hospital actually gets decent food? That’s amazing!”

Nolan cants his head.  “A week … Man I thought .. no it was last summer, right?  July and … the shit with Dad was ... what’s today …  I thought was it Monday?  Don’t feel guilty.  I'd never let you face my Dad alone.  And maybe it wouldn't but then I’d be living with whatever my father did to you.”  he sighs and reaches for her hand.  “He’s good … and there's a lady one too.”  he squeezes her hand and laughs.  “Yea …  I … kinda remember that.  You let me bleed on you … puke on you.  If that’s not love I don’t know what else we have to do.”  he grins and then nods.  “Yea . but the doctor says to enjoy all this because they’re building another wing or something.  Named after some Italian benefactor ..  I don’t know.”

Elise nods “ I know you wouldn’t…...he’s gone, you’re here. That’s all that matters.” She giggles “Let’s not discuss other bodily fluids today…..but eventually you won’t be in pain.” She gives him a flirty look “I’m sure we’ll figure out more again.” She looks around at the clinic “Well it is a bit small. It gets crowded really fast in this place. So go Italian dude?” She squeezes his hand back and sighs at him “I love you Nolan….so much.”

Nolan nods.  “I’ll be out on Saturday.  Probably still in pain.  But Dr McKinney sait no .. well nothing … no gym, no hockey .. nothing before December.  Not even sex, she told me.”  he blushes a little bit.  They clearly had not spoken about his virginity.  “But Chris and Seamus say they’re not going to argue with her … apparently she’s not to be argued with, so I’m sidelined till Winter.”  he sighs deeply at missing hockey.

Elise had heard the doctor suggest Saturday was a possibility and smiled “Home is better. Even if it’s less fun takeout food.” Elise blushes about the no sex too and looks sympatheric about the hockey. “We’ll get there. I wouldn’t want to injure you further. And I'm not going to have that argument with Dr. McKinney.” The irony of it strikes Elise and she can’t help but start to laugh “Oh….maybe she said that because...she prescribed my pills.” She tries not to laugh “Sorry...just uh….ah life. I’m sure you’ll get back in the game no problem Nolan. Would it be torture to go watch the games?” She winces a bit.

Nolan sighs.  “True.  Better to be home.”  he laughs about them getting to the sex and Dr McKinney perscribing her pills.  “Well, in 6 weeks … they should be working … right?”  he smiles softly.  “Well, watching the games might be more torture for Chris and Seamus ..  I’m ok with not watching.  I mostly play hockey to get out my frustrations so …”

Elise takes Nolan’s hand and presses it to her cheek “Yes they’ll be working fully by then.” She kisses his palm. Then she chuckles “You mean torture because they’d want to put you in the game and you’re a spectator?” She gets what he’s saying about frustrations “Some of the source….maybe lots of it….is not a factor anymore.”

Nolan grins, but goes back to talking about hockey.  “They’d want to put me in the game.  I mean, I guess when I can I’ll finish the season, but … at this point I don't NEED to play hockey anymore.  I just don’t know what I WANT to do.  He kisses her hand.  “Just spend time with you.  I feel like I almost lost you.”  he smiles.  “Oh what do you want for CHristmas?  May as well get to thinking and saving for that.”

Elise looks curious “But you like hockey? Why not play for the enjoyment?” She smiles as he kisses her hand now “Nolan you’re the one who had a bullet pulled out of you and an organ removed...i feel like I almost lost YOU. All  I want for Christmas is you alive and healthy. I don’t need anything else. I mean that.”

Nolan shrugs a little.  “I like playing it casually.  Seamus was telling me that when the inlet freezes over they skate out there playing hockey or tag or whatever.  Now that sounds like a blast.  And I am still a fan of the right hockey team.”  he tells her, knowing how she was about that sort of thing.  “But I’d rather be on the couch screaming at the TV with you than on the ice listening for you there.  I guess I’m not really that competitive, if that makes sense.”  he smiles.  “You have me … long after all this healing is done.  And I’ll try not to bleed or puke on you ever again.”

Elise beams “That does sound like fun. I have a hard time believing it gets cold enough for it to freeze solid.” She looks a little concerned and then grins “Calgary of course….although not that we made it through the playoffs…..eh whatever...weird year for it.” She looks reassured by his words and then laughs “Oh be careful about making promises. Not that I want that….it’ll even out someday though. I mean when we’re WAY older and you have to watch me push a scary squishy baby out of my vajayjay or something...while I yell at you…..isn’t that how it goes?” She’s really only half kidding.

Nolan grins.  “It’s just been a really strange year.  For everything.”  he agrees.  He takes her hand.  “I didn’t make you a promise, Elise.  That was just simple statement of fact.  Maybe the intensity will and we’ll only kiss just before we go to sleep every night.  And you can blame me, because you’re technically right.  I did that to you.”  he chuckles.  “Elise I know we're young, but I know how I feel.  I love you.  It’s not some fad I’ll get over in college or whatever.”  he looks at her intently and chuckles himself.  “I sound like Gen, huh?”

Elise is smiling until he says just kissing before sleeping every night “Oh I scared you with the baby comment into just before bed kissing now?” She laughs and then gives him a  melting look as he goes on “It’s not a fad for me either. I love you...like forever. You actually sound like me talking to Gen...so we’re on the same page.”

Nolan laughs.  “No …  I mean when we’re old in our 50’s someplace.  I’d love babies … at least one baby.”  he kisses her hand again.  “Like forever.”  he agrees and raises his brows.  “So what do you and Gen talk about?”  he wonders aloud.

Elise does a dramatic back of the hand headswipe of relief with her free hand “Oh yeah 50s...probably wise. I mean there’s always that old lady danger of pussy bats.” She cracks their ongoing joke and then sighs happily at the words like forever coming back. Then she shoots Nolan a look “You really want to know what we talk about?” She smirks “Some of what I already said to you. Lots of speculation about pussy bats…” She jokes and then she admits “Sometimes I ask her for advice….because there’s a lot of stuff Gen has….more experience in than I do.” She shyly shrugs and smiles “and of course our families, friends, this place….Dante of course Dante...and you.”

Nolan chuckles at the pussy bat reference.  “By then I’ll know how to get rid of them.”  he tells her.  He nods, curious about what the girls talk about. SMiling about most of it and curious tht Gen has more experience than Elise does  he looks curious again.  “God .. did she tell Dante .. well .. everything?  Brett being dead, especially?”  He leans back a bit.  “I’d think Dante would be much more interesting than I am.”

Elise giggles “That would be helpful.” Then she looks serious “I’m sure she told Dante the second she could get ahold of him or vice versa.” Then she gives Nolan a quizzical look “In what way do you think Dante is more interesting? Do you mean like….sexually?” She blinks “No offense to Gen...I’m sure he is for her but I have never looked and never will look at Dante like THAT.” she laughs and blushes “Just you…..so I’m glad he makes my friend happy.”

Nolan nods.  “Yea … if nothing else, I bet his lawyer told him.”  then he blinks.  “Oh … no …  I mean … no …  I wasn’t thinking about sex.  He’s just .. he’s done so much to protect Gen.  And he didn’t blame me … him or Sasha … for what Brett did to Gen.  I just admire the hell outta the guy.”  he smiles.  “But I am glad to know you feel that way about me .. again.”

Elise nods in understanding “No one blames you Nolan….you’re not your brother...or your father….you’re you. Sadly people can’t choose their relatives. I mean it’s like Mr. Brown...the school caretaker….turns out he was a psycho. But my brother’s best friend is dating Hayley and she seems like a perfectly nice girl. Maddox not so much but I kinda get what some of his problem might be now. But again random. And of course Dante and Sasha protected Gen. But you are like that too….you wouldn’t let me face your dad alone….the guilt still eats me up. I’m sure in some ways Gen has that too. And she’s had to be apart from Dante wondering if some jerk is going to beat him up or rape him in prison because they do that there,”

Nolan considers what she says, especially about the Brown family.  “Yea … sometimes you just can’t tell.” he agrees.  “Don't feel guilty because I love you and wouldn’t le you face some danger alone when I can at least try and protect you.”  he blows out a breath.  “I keep thinking Dante is pretty tough.  But I get how she could be scared.  But I also get how it could be worth it and he’d do it again.  I would.  My fear was that my mother came out of nowhere and hit Dad … and then I knew he was going to shoot her.”  he sighs.  “I couldn't stop him but .. yea I could get between my dad and her.  I’m just glad my mother didn’t have another heart attack.”

Elise swallows and nods “I know. I would also protect you Nolan…..but right now let’s just focus on getting you healed and happy. He probably would have shot your mother. I mean if he had a gun he was planning something bad...for one of you or both. I don’t even want to think about it. I’m so glad you’re both ok. Just keep resting and stay that way. I’ll bring you sushi every day if you want…” She smiles but there’s still residual sadness in her eyes thinking about what could have been even though she’s trying to shake it off.

Nolan remembers that it had all started with his father following Elise.  That probably meant that his father planned to do something to Elise … and that is what he didn’t want to think about.  He holds her hand.  “Just bring me you every chance you get and I’ll be happy.  I need to get out of here just to make sure mom is doing OK.  I know she’s not hurt but I don't want her going off her diet.  I know … mother hen, that’s me.”  He is willing to change the subject at least a little bit.

Sharon happened to be walking in from the hallway as Nolan said he didn’t want her going off her diet and called himself a mother hen “You are a mother hen honey and I’ll have you know I had a salad for lunch with a single hard boiled egg. And I have ingredients for a healthy stir fry when I get home.” She waltzed over to Nolan’s other side and planted a kiss on his forehead “And I went to my yoga class at lunch...which is why you’re only seeing me now. So quit your pecking and focus on you. How are you feeling? Hello Elise.” She smiles over to her.

Elise has to giggle as Nolan gets busted “Hi Sharon. You ate healthier than I did today and I definitely haven’t done any yoga.” She was happy that Nolan just wanted her to bring herself though. That she could do.

Nolan looks unashamed at being busted by his mother. He cheers at her lunch and her dinner plans.  “And yoga classes?”  he grinned.  “That’s new, isn’t it?”  he looks at Elise.  “I haven’t done yoga either.  I’m not supposed to do anything but …  I don’t know … Dr McKinney took every great activity known to man off of my list of things to do before December..  So maybe I should learn to meditate.”  he places his hands together and stares humming.

Sharon smiles “Ah Tina's dragged me to a  few on the lunch hours. I checked in on you this morning but you were asleep...then i called before I went to yoga and they gave me a status update…..then Tina and Matt handed me my gym bag and shoved me out of my own office. So I went to yoga. It’s a good stress reliever and meditation is part of it so yes you should Nolan…” She laughs at his meditation.

Elise giggles at Nolan and is glad he’s not giving his mother the detailed list. “Every great activity known to man…” She chimes back and also avoids details “You just sit there and look pretty.” She looks down at his feet as she can see the edge of a sock “Did they give you fancy socks at least?” She looks up at Sharon “I need a Tina….I’m getting lazy about exercise lately. I mean I walk but I used to play ringette and I was in traditional dancing which they don’t have here….”

Sharon points at Elise “Well Tina’s daughters go to school with you...the twins? Uh Sophia and Mia? And Zach too...I forget who’s in what grade….”

Elise’s eyes go a little wide and she smiles “Zach is in our grade group and the twins are in my brother’s class. He suggested they’re a bit...intense. So maybe I can get Gen to go to yoga with me…..”

Nolan smiles.  “Well good on the employees.”  he smiles and sighs.  “My problem is when I try to meditate I wind up falling asleep.”  he rolls his eyes.  Then he looks down at his feet.  “Yea … those …”  he hates them, but knows not to take them off.  “More reason to hide my big stupid feet.”  he listens.  “Maybe you can teach me to dance, if the doctor doesn’t take THAT off the list too.”  he grins.  “No yoga for me.  I’d tie myself in a knot and then where would I be?”

Sharon laughs “Well then the relaxing part works for you. You need the socks for a while. And your feet aren’t stupid honey. But I’m glad they’ve slowed down a bit in growing…..so many shoes and boots…..” She sighs “And Brett always had smaller feet, even when they were little. And he rejected the idea of wearing Nolan’s shoes when he grew out of them. Wouldn’t wear anything second hand at all and he had to have the brand names. Thank goodness Nolan wasn’t so snobby. Spent a fortune on shoes I swear. You boys were always different, in every way.”

Elise smiles at Nolan “I like your feet just fine. But I suspect they’d outlaw dancing until December too…..maybe not slow dancing because that’s not too strenuous. But I’ll hold off on showing you the Red River Jig.” She gives a little eyebrow wiggle and then listens to Sharon “Most of my clothes are second hand. Especially here with such a great Thrift Store. Different in every way for sure.” She laughs about Nolan tying himself in a knot “A Nolan pretzel….just trying to stay awake during meditation without falling over?”

Nolan chuckles.  It’s inevitable they talk about his brother, and he is slowly getting used to it.  “Yea … he always had to have the very top of the fashion heap and I was happy if it fit or wasn’t too tight.  I’m not a real fashion plate.”  he looks at Elise.  “Red River Jig?  That sounds painful .. for your feet, not mine, unless it’s one of those dances you can do 2 meters apart.”  then he grins.  “I do like the thrift store around here.  That was one of the things Mom and I did when I was little.  Thrifting.  Man it was so much fun.”

Elise looks sweetly at Nolan “You could wear a burlap sack and I’d still find you handsome. But don’t...they’re so itchy!” She says as she puts up a finger to make her point. “It’s a generally solitary dance but sometimes there are groups, but yeah you need room to move. And see thrifting you could still do once you’re allowed to go on slow gentle walks. We’ll just stop for coffee half way so you can rest.”

Sharon smiles “I do remember our thrifting adventures. Does your whole family dance Elise? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Metis dancing...maybe on TV.”

Elise shakes her head “My sister and I, and believe it or not my Dad can do a mean jig. Stefan actually plays the fiddle but I haven’t heard him practice since we moved here. I’m pretty sure my Mom can do both but she’s always encouraging us. We’ll have to challenge her on it one day. It’s kinda like Scottish Highland dancing meets Indigenous dancing you’d see at a Pow Wow. It’s pretty energetic.”

Nolan smiles at Elise when she calls him handsome.  He wasn't’ the handsome one, but maybe that could change now.  “Slow gentle walks with stops for coffee.”  he nods slowly  “That sounds like something I can only do with you.”  he  winks and then listens to the dancing explanation.  “I have a hard time picturing your dad and brother dancing. That probably makes me an ass because I don’t think they’re built for it.  But I dance like a drunken dinosaur so I really don’t have room to talk.  But right now I am not feeling the most energetic being on my ass for the last couple of days.”

Elise laughs “I’ve never seen my brother dance but he can play the music for us. I mean apparently he slow danced with LaTonya...but that didn’t end too well for them. And now I want to see the drunken dinosaur dance.” She giggles “Would it be more like a T-Rex with the tiny little arms or like a slick Velociraptor sneaking around through the crowd? Or maybe like a Triceratops just barreling through and that crowd just better part?” She teases.

Sharon smiles as Nolan and Elise make plans to be out and about in a  way that helps him recover from what was one of the worst days of their lives. She lost one son to the evil in himself and then then almost lost the other to the source of the evil trying to take him from her. She would be grateful for every moment of joy and humour Nolan got to have from each day forward.  She wasn’t familiar with what happened between Elise’s brother and the girl mentioned but laughs about the dinosaur dancing comments from both of them and then looks a little cheeky as she eyes Nolan “Well I’m not sure about Nolan’s dancing but I always thought he might become a singer after all his singing into my hairbrush in front of the TV when he was little. What was that song you sang from that Avengers cartoon honey?” She looks at Elise innocently.

Nolan is considering carefully which dinosaur he dances like.  “Maybe the triceratops .. many people would be stampeded.”  and then his mother looks at him with the purest ov evil in her eyes and discusses his old television theme song singing habits.  “Oh ….  Mother .... how could you …”  he laments and covers his face with both of his hands only to then break out into song.  “Avengers, assemble!  Always, we will fight as one, 'til the battle's won, with evil on the run, we'll never come undone…”  he keeps his face covered, torn between embarrassment and delight his mother remembered.

Elise looks amused by the idea of Nolan as a triceratops and then looks overwhelmed with joy at his mother embarrassing him with a  childhood story about his hairbrush singing. The only thing better is when Nolan starts singing it after hiding his face “Wait!” She scrambles to open her backpack and pulls out a hairbrush and tucks it right into his hand with an open mouthed smile of encouragement “Ok keep going...I remember that show….I watched with Stefan…” 

Sharon can’t help but give a little clap before she cracks up “It was cuter in his little boy pjs but he’s still got it.” she laughs more.

Nolan does finish the song after Else hands him the hairbrush.  Then he gives a slight bow.  “I watched with Brett.  I loved and wanted to be Quicksilver.  He wanted to be Thor … Dad even gave him a hammer and it did not end well.”  he rolls his eyes and reaches to take his mother’s hand.  “Mom … mom …  my little boy PJ’s …. Should never be mentioned.”  he laughs, shaking his head.

Sharon beams at Nolan and pats his hand “You were so cute. You still are of course, just differently now that you’re bigger and you shave….which reminds me I should have brought your razer.” She shrugs “Scruffy. I remember the Quicksilver and Thor years. And the Halloween costumes. And no it didn’t end well….but now we start again?” She looks a bit melancholy.

Elise stifles a giggle at Sharon telling Nolan he needs to shave after talking about how cute he was as a kid. Then things get serious and she purses her lips and nods before saying “Not everyone is worthy of the hammer they say. I would love to see childhood pictures of Nolan.” She can’t help but add.

Nolan grins, even though his mother called him scruffy.  “Maybe I’ll work on a beard.”  he suggests, feeling his face.  “Or maybe I’ll just shave.”  he grins at his mother.  “I learned to be fast, at least.”  Then Elise asks for childhood pictures.  “For the love of GOD, Mom .. no!”  but he realizes that if it’s going to happen … These days of him in the hospital and not home are the perfect days for it.

Sharon grins at Elise and then mouths “I’ll text you.” with a dramatic whisper so it’s not really mouthed. She chuckles at Nolan “It’s my job to embarrass you now and then. Do you need anything else from home besides a razor? Books?”

Elise winks at Nolan “You’d be cute with a beard.” She nods emphatically at Sharon and whisper mouths back “Yes please!” Then she overhears the question “Tablet or laptop for Netflix? So it’s not all soap operas?”

Nolan rolls his eyes at both his mother and his girlfriend.  “You two arent even trying ….” he protests.  He sits up a little bit especially when Elise mentions his tablet or laptop.  “Yes . Razor and shaving cream, plus the tablet AND laptop please.  So I can do homework, research and watch something that isn’t whose spouse is fucking who and whose baby is actually someone elses.”  he sighs.  “I mean I’m getting out Saturday ….  Hopefully Saturday morning.”  he has high hopes.

Sharon laughs “Not a bit honey. Yes to all those things. I can even bring them back tonight before you sleep. Evening walk after supper maybe...or on my way to work tomorrow. No need to watch trash on cable. Saturday will come soon enough.”

Elise smiles a bit as Nolan and Sharon talk “Well unless it’s good trash. Trashy can be funny when it’s well done. I’m hooked on Mohawk Girls on APTN. I feel like they’re trying to make fun of Sex in the City...but I’ve never watched that. They just keep bringing it up though.” She looks at Nolan. “We can take anything you need to take home separately because you probably shouldn’t carry anything home. And it might feel like a way longer walk than normal….maybe we can borrow someone’s car?”

Sharon nods at Elise, thinking “Yeah you’re right. Oh who has a car….the grocery store…..the hardware store…..I’ll ask around.”

Nolan smiles.  “I’d appreciate that Mom.”  he grins.  “Maybe we can watch it together.”  he offers and then nods, thoughtfully.  “True … I …  I think I could make it.  I don’t have a license .. and .. god … who drives in this town?”

Elise ponders the whole driving and car thing “My parents shop is right by the hardware store. Maybe one of them can borrow the delivery van. We can just deliver you home like building supplies with your hairbrush singing and your sexy socks?” She smiles at Nolan. “And yes I’ll stop before season 3 so I don’t know too much ahead…” she offers.

Sharon looks hopeful “Oh yes good idea on the van. Maybe I can order some paint for Brett’s old room. I’m cleaning it out. It can be a guest room or a….I don’t know what. I don’t sew.”

Elise points at Sharon “A yoga room….but burn some sage or something…..that’s going to need all kinds of cleansing.” She still vividly remembers going into Brett’s room to find him attacking Gen. The energy of that had to be purged somehow.

Nolan chuckles.  “Alright then.  On Saturday you rent the hardwares delivery van, buy a bunch of paint for mom’s new yoga room.”  he snaps his fingers  “I can try and help paint, unless Dr McKinney adds that to the list of things I can’t do.”  he clasps his hands and waves them at the ceiling.  “Please let me be able to go to the bathroom without help.  Give me SOMETHING.”  He is a bit concerned that his first couple of weeks at home will basically be like being in the hospital, just at home.

Sharon listens to Nolan “We’ll ask the doctors. And I'm not going back to before toilet training.” She laughs “That ship has sailed. I don’t think they’d release you if you can’t independently use the bathroom or walk up and down stairs. They know we live in a  two story home with a bathroom on the second floor.” She looks at Elise and then Nolan.

Elise shakes her head and smiles “No Depends yet Nolan. I cheer on in your peeing abilities. That sounds way dirtier than I meant it.” She laughs and blushes “I'm sure it will be fine.”

Sharon closes her eyes and laughs at Elise’s awkward comment.

Nolan stares at them.  “It had better be or I’ll just .. stay upstairs until December.”  he looks for another subject.  “You know … Christmas is coming up … I mean I was kind of looking forward to it even before we moved here but now …  Mom, what can I get you?”

Sharon gives Nolan a loving look “I don’t need anything Nolan. And I’m supposed to be Santa for you remember? What do you want for Christmas honey? Elise does your family celebrate Christmas? I don’t want to assume.”

Elise gives Nolan a little arm poke “You’re like a jolly elf today. He asked me that too Sharon. Yes we do Christmas. We do everything. I mean we’re not Christian but you know the turkey thing….and thank god it will be turkey this year. I know you probably heard about my uncle’s weird holiday animals at Thanksgiving….but I’m still happy it’s turkey. We do gifts but we don’t go overboard. And my parents never did the whole Santa thing but they made us promise not to spill the beans at school for other kids who do.”

Nolan looks exasperated.  “You both are getting something.  You wanna leave it to my imagination, that’s on YOU.”  he warns them.  “And turkey sounds good.  Maybe you guys can come to our house since we were at yours for Thanksgiving…”

A nurse comes in.  Lovely redhead with a bit of white in her hair now.  “Nolan, how are you doing?”  she smiles at Sharon and Elise.  “Ladies.  Is it alright if I steal a few minutes of this gentleman’s time?”

Immediately Nolan looks suspicious.  “What now?”

The nurse, whose name tag says C Reinhardt smiles.  “I am here to take out your catheter.  Unless you’d like to keep it for another day or so…”

Nolan smiles.  “Well, why didn’t you say so .. carry on, Colleen.”  she had told him to call her Colleen, so he did.

Elise smiled at the nurse “Of course…” Then her eyes went wide and her cheeks went pink “Oh….” She knew where the nurse had to work to get that out “I can...step out if you like…” She was pretty sure Sharon had no idea she had any familiarity with her son’s body so she wasn’t going to advertise that now.

Sharon nodded at the nurse “Oh well that answers a question we had earlier. Hi Colleen I’m Sharon. I’m sure you’ve met me at the bank but probably in passing.” She does respectfully turn so she’s not watching the whole thing. Nolan was a young man now and she respected his privacy. Then she pursed her lips at Elise, unsure of what her son would say. They were young and life could be awkward.

Nolan isn’t advertising anything to his mother either.  “Um .. can they just .. look out the window or do they have to leave?”  he doesn’t have a problem with the nurse doing nurse things, so it would be up to them.

Colleen nods.  “If you’d like .. or you can leave, but this won’t take too long.”  she admits.

Elise takes Nolan’s suggestion and walks to the window looking pointedly out “Look at that...it’s a seagull. Just living his life eating some weird crap off the ledge….”

Sharon finds Elise’s distraction ploy very funny and joins her “Yes...seagulls...oh look there’s two now.”

Elise forces more bird conversation “That one’s bigger. Maybe it’s older…...do you think they’re pals? Family? A couple? I always wonder at the lives of our sea birds…..”

Nolan watches his mother and Elise turn and then looks at Nurse Reinhardt.  “OK … so … um …”

Colleen smiles at him and moves his sheet and blanket.  “If you'd like to look at the flock of seagulls, I won’t be insulted.”  and she begins.  It’s not a complicated procedure.  “Annnnnd .. there you go, free at least.”  She makes sure all of the urine is in the jar before she rolls up the tube, covers Nolan again, picks up the jar and heads out the door with a “Back to your visit ladies.”

Nolan didn’t even have time to decide what he wanted to do, but he was looking at his oher and sister as Nurse Reinhardt removed the tube and set him right again.  “Um …  thanks Nurse Reinhardt …”  he says awkwardly. Then he leans back.  “So … that happened?”

Sharon turns and then goes back to her side where she was before and sits back down in the chair “Yes. Yes it did. Those things are such a  nuisance but good that we have them when they’re needed.”

Elise looks back at Nolan and smiles “I guess now you can walk around a bit if they let you?” She taps at the window “Our seagull friend is throwing a bit of a rager over there. I suspect they don’t need a chaperone so I’ll come back now.” She does return to her seat. “The nurses seem nice at least.”

Nolan sighs and leans back.  “Yes, they told me that after the catheter comes the learning to walk again. I guess.”  he looks at his mother.  “Those things catheters?  Ugh mom, just ugh.”  he looks at Elise.  “Thanks for putting me ahead of a bunch of irresponsible teenaged seagulls, Lise.”

Elise snorts “Anytime Babe. Eventually their parents will come home and they’ll have to explain the mess. Although with seagulls maybe that’s good?” Elise looks at his legs or the shape of them under the blanket “You probably haven’t forgotten. It just might feel a little unsteady at first.” She encourages.

Sharon smiles and then holds up a finger “No bedpan hockey games with the other patient in the hallway tonight.”

Elise cringes “Especially if there’s anything in the bedpans…..ew!”

Nolan chuckles at them both.  “Well, I don’t have to go to the bathroom yet, so there’s no rush.  He moves his legs a little.  “Now to see when I can get out of these stupid ugly socks.”  he sighs deeply.  Leaning back into the hospital bed he looks relieved, but then his eyes drift closed.  Faster than he expected, he’s fallen asleep.