"Mrs. Burns?"
"May I come in?"
I was always impressed by her: perfect hair, brown with blond hi-lights, stylish outfit, bright colors, a burnt-orange blouse with tan skirt, 3 inch heels. I could never believe she was Charlie's Mom, not seeming old enough to have a 24 year old son.
I stood aside as she moved past me, into the foyer of our 2 bedroom apartment. "Please, come in, I'm sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting anybody..."
She had been here before, but these were different circumstances. She was tall, almost my height in heels. She smiled as she looked around. "It looks like a tornado hit it! Don't you boys ever clean up?"
Bowing my head, thinking This is why we don't have parents over! "Yes, Ma'am, I was just about to, when the bell rang." I rushed and threw papers and books off the couch. "Please, sit, is Charlie okay?"
"Yes, thank you, I just left him, he says you come by every night."
"Well, I know how crowded those hospitals can get, so I try not to intrude."
She lowered herself into the cushions, trying gamely to maintain her balance in all the lumps. She brushed her skirt, then slid those big sunglasses down, looking around again. "I haven't seen you since the accident. Are you okay?"
"Yes, fine, listen, I wanted to tell you and Mr.
Burns how sorry I am..."
She held up a hand. "Tommy, the cops on the scene told us. It wasn't your fault. Charlie said you keep apologizing, and I just wanted you to know that not only do we not hold you at fault, but if it hadn't been for you, my Charlie wouldn't be alive today. How are your hands?"
I looked down, self-consciously. "Better, thanks, I got the bandages off the left one."
"May I see?" holding her hand out. and I gave her mine, gingerly. Her big brown eyes welled up when she saw the ugly dry flesh, still raw in parts, and she said, "Do they hurt?"
"No, not bad." I chuckled, "A little hard to open a beer, but I get by."
She looked up at me. "If you need anything, honey, you just let us know, I mean it. I'll open beers all night for you, if you want! But seriously, you haven't been back to work, right?"
"I'm hoping for Monday, if I get the other hand cleared by the doctor."
She opened her bag, and took out her check book. "I wanted to give you Charlie's share of this month's rent, and I want to give you something extra to tide you over until you are back on your feet."
"No, that's not necessary..."
"Charlie said you wouldn't take it, but I reminded him of how tough I can be. He said to tell you it's a no-win situation."
She looked around. "I also will be sending Awilda, and her girls over to straighten up this place. My son is not coming back to this mess! And I bet there's nothing in the fridge, right? Don't make me check!"
I was being scolded, sweetly, playfully, and I had to smile. "No, Ma'am, the pantry is bare, as they say!"
"Well, I have the day off, so we will be making a road trip to restock this place. Get you some beers and a nice bottle opener, okay?"
"Mrs Burns..."
"Call me Kim, please."
"This really isn't necessary, he would have done the same for me."
"Yes, I hope he would, but you risked your life to get him out of that car, and it could have blown up and killed you both!" She was welling up again.