My parents were divorced when I was two and my mother remarried. I got saddled with the typical asshole stepfather but, enough about him. My dad also remarried, years later.
At the earliest opportunity, I left home, after a brief stint in college. I held various odd jobs…and, on a whim, I called my dad. He invited me to his house to get acquainted and meet his new wife. I mulled the invitation over and decided that maybe it was worth a visit.
The initial contact was a bit uncomfortable but we eased into the disaster with caution and a bit of decided delusion as to what each expected the other to be. After all, it had been a lot of years and as I recall, I was in diapers the last time I had a good look at his face.
His new wife was a bit of a bitch. I guess she figured that I was coming out of the woodwork after a lot of years and I must want something. Not true.
He invited me to stay for awhile, which went over real well with his wife. Anyway, I decided to move in for awhile and help him around the house and his business in exchange for some spending money, room and board.
After a few weeks, his wife warmed up to me a bit but it was still frosty around the house. I used to hear her talking to dad, in hushed tones, when hey thought I was asleep.
OK, now we fast-forward about 25 years (I don't want to bore you with a bunch of stuff that doesn't really add to the story).
I'm married, a couple of kids (fairly well grown) and dad has a heart attack. I get the call one-day at my office and pack a bag for a quick trip to his house.
My stepmother has been in a 4-year mental decline, suffering the onset of Alzheimer's and dad is in the local hospital awaiting a triple bypass.
Since I only have a maiden aunt, she and I share the responsibilities of staying with my stepmother. My aunt spends the weekdays and I drive up to the house to spend the weekends. From Friday night thru Monday morning, my stepmother is my responsibility.