Ford leaned over Walter and hugged him carefully, mindful of the tubes and wires sticking out all over the older man’s body.
“How are you feeling?” Ford asked. His voice was shaky as he held Walter’s hand. I went to the corner of the room and grabbed one of the guest chairs and slid it behind Ford as he and Walter spoke.
Ford didn’t seem to notice as he automatically sat, but Walter’s eyes briefly met mine. Something flashed in them, but he kept right on talking.
“They’re saying they want to keep me in here for a few weeks because this fancy doctor thinks he can fix my knee and make it so I don’t need the chair so much. Told him the VA docs said there was nothing that can be done but he’s talking about all this stuff I don’t understand.” Walter waved his hand impatiently.
“There’ve been a lot of technical advances in orthopedic surgery, Walter,” Ford said. “It may be worth a try.”
Walter shook his head. “Nah. I gotta get home. My girl will be a mess without me. And they’re talkin’ about puttin’ me in one of those homes just so they can teach me some fancy stretches.”
“It’s not a home, Walter. It’s an inpatient rehab place… it’ll make it easier for them to help you with your physical therapy until you’re more mobile. And Puddles has found herself a good-looking, overprotective guy with big teeth to watch over her until you’re feeling better.”
That gave Walter pause. But then he shook his head again. “I’ve been taking care of myself just fine. Soon as I can get outta this bed and head home, the sooner I’ll start getting back to normal.”
“Walter, your house isn’t livable right now,” I said. Both Walter and Ford looked at me in surprise. I hated breaking the news to the old man, but I didn’t really have a choice. “The fire department was able to get the water out of the basement, but someone is going to need to inspect the foundation to make sure it’s structurally sound. And the cleanup will take a while with this weather. One of the firemen who helped pump out the water took a look at the rest of your pipes. Ford managed to turn off the water to the house so that kept more pipes from bursting, but a few in your ceiling and walls did end up leaking so those are going to need to get replaced. I’m sorry, but you’re not going to be able to go home for a while.”
Walter’s face fell.
“Do you have insurance, Walter?”
Walter nodded but didn’t say anything. He looked numb.
Ford picked up Walter’s hand and held it in his. “Do you have any family you can go stay with?”
Walter pulled his hand free of Ford’s as he gave him a little shake of his head. All of the life had drained out of the man’s eyes. “Would you boys… would you excuse me? I’m feeling a little tired,” he said. Walter turned away from Ford and attempted to pull the covers up a bit. He was facing me, but he didn’t look at me.
Ford stood and quickly adjusted the blanket to cover more of Walter’s frail body. “Don’t worry, Walter, I’ll figure something out, okay? I… I can work on your house and get it so you can come home sooner. And I’ll make sure Puddles is taken care of.”
Walter didn’t respond.
“Walter?” Ford whispered softly.
My gut hurt but I wasn’t sure who I felt sorrier for.
Walter or Ford.
Ford tried a few more times to get Walter to talk to him, but the man had seemingly shut down and while he wasn’t rude to Ford, there was no life in his voice when he asked Ford to leave so he could sleep.
I waited in the hall for Ford to join me. When he did, he looked so distressed that I almost took him in my arms. He wiped at his eyes discreetly.
“Ford,” I began, but Ford shook his head. His eyes were downcast.
“It’s his worst fear,” he murmured.
“What is?”
“Going into one of those places. He thinks… he thinks once he goes in, he’ll never come out.”
“Doesn’t he understand it’s rehab, not a nursing home?”
Ford nodded. “He’s got no one, Cam. No kids, no family… that house and his dog, they’re all he’s got.”
“He’s got you,” I pointed out gently.
Ford paused, then nodded, but didn’t say anything. He started to move past me, but I grabbed his arm as my mind raced. I couldn’t believe I was even considering what I was considering, but I already knew what my decision would be. “Hold up,” I said to Ford. I slid my hand down his arm and ran my fingers over his palm, but managed to keep myself from linking our fingers like I wanted to. I went back into Walter’s room. I heard Ford behind me.