“Hey, Mrs. Butler.” He walked over, and I couldn’t help but notice how his pointer finger and his middle finger of both hands seemed to be curled into his palm. “Is that Grady’s baby?”
“Clara Butler.” My voice ran up an octave. “Isn’t she precious?”
“A doll baby.” He walked over and looked down at her. I took a closer look at his hands.
“Do you want to hold her?” I blurted out, thinking that she’d wake up if he said yes.
“No, ma’am.” He held up his hands. “I can’t do much holding on to anything right now.”
“Oh no. Are you okay?” Goodness, I bet Harriette was right. He had to have some sort of terrible arthritis.
“I’ve got some sort of disease called Dupuytren’s contracture.” He held out his hands and tried to open his fingers then pointed to the tendon in his palm.
“Arthritis?” I asked.
“No, ma’am.” He tapped his palm. “You can feel my tendon right here is tight like concrete. These are nodules that have created a stiffness and loss of full extension which brings my fingers in, making it look like arthritis. Right now, the only thing I can do is have surgery.”
“How did you injure both hands?” I continued to look back and forth, then felt one of his palms after he gestured me to. They were so tight and hard.
Poor kid. So young.
“Not any injury. I just started to get this tightness in my hands while I was working on the cars, and so I came to the doctor. I was initially treated for carpal tunnel. Then I went to physical therapy, was treated for arthritis, then got the Dupuytren’s diagnosis.” He frowned, shaking his head and looking at his hands. “It’s been a struggle not being able to work. It’s depressing. I never thought I’d be twenty-seven and relying on my parents for help. I should be like Grady. Wife, kid, and doing what I love.”
“I’m so sorry.” I could feel his pain. It radiated through his eyes. “Is there anything I can do?”
“No, ma’am.” He was just as polite as could be. “What was it that made you think of me today?” he asked, jarring me back to his letter.
“I stopped by the garage because there was a certified letter for you accidentally stuck in my mail carrier bag.” I looked around for my bag, though I knew it wasn’t in there. “Gosh. I forgot I dropped my bag off at the post office before I came over here to meet Julia for her appointment. Anyways, I told Gerome I’d give it to him tomorrow morning, and I also told Nick to tell you I was there.”
“Do you know who it’s from?” he asked.
“Patent office.” I pretend to accidentally nudge the pumpkin seat in hopes Clara would hurry and wake up. No luck.
“Oh yeah,” Simon gasped and happily sighed. It warmed me up inside to see his light turn on. “I’ve been waiting to see if I got a patent on this motorcycle part because it would really help if I could sell it and pay the surgery cost so my parents didn’t have to.”
“Nick mentioned something about that.” I watched as the smile melted from his lips and his eyes clouded over with worry.
“You showed Nick the letter?” he asked.
“No. He asked if he could sign, and I showed him the envelope had your name on it for signature, so I couldn’t give it to him.” My eyes narrowed. “Is there something wrong?”
“No, ma’am.” His chest heaved as he sucked in a deep breath. “Grady’s baby sure is cute. You be sure to tell him I saw her.”
He took off like a jet out of the doctor’s office, and not too long after, Julia emerged from the exam room hallway with a paper in her hand.
“Already finished?” I pouted. “She never once woke up.”
About that time, Clara burst out crying and so did Julia.
“Oh dear.” I didn’t know who to comfort first. Well, actually… I did, and I scooped her into my arms. “Julia, it’s okay, what’s wrong?” I rocked the pumpkin seat with the toe of my shoe, soothing Clara for a moment.
“Doctor Hunter won’t clear me to go back to work, and if I don’t get some peace, I’m going to lose my mind.” She cried on my shoulder. “I’m so tired. Going back to work I can at least rest my eyes when Mac is gone in the afternoon.”
I patted her back and let her talk out all the stress right there in the reception room, remembering exactly how hard it was to adjust to being a mom.
A few hours later and a little mentally exhausted, Iris and I were right back on that darn yoga mat in the most uncompromising position while I whispered between aches and moans how I was going to let Monica Reed take one day a week for my third loop while I cared for Clara so Julia could get out of the house, or bring Clara to my house while Julia slept at hers. Plus, I’d intended on talking to Grady about it.
“Poor gal. I bet it’s hard.” Iris had twisted at the waist, hugging her tented knee to her chest.
“Ladies,” Peaches said, interrupting our conversation. “You get more benefits from yoga class if you also use this time mentally for yourself. Gossip later.”
I gave her a flat look and slowly untwisted from the right, going into the same twist on the left and getting a good view of Lucy Drake in yet another new tight-fitting yoga outfit.
The rest of the class, I refused to let myself get all worked up about Lucy. I’d secretly wished Peaches would kick her out like she’d done Sarah, but no luck. I got lost in a daydream of wearing the shirt China was going to make for me and Lucy being jealous of me.
“Wake up.” Iris nudged me. “You’ve got to stop falling asleep because your snoring is getting louder and louder.”
“What?” I blinked awake and dragged my hand along the drool that’d dripped down my chin.
“You know you should go to the doctor about sleep apnea.” Lucy Drake smiled and trotted past us with her fancy yoga mat rolled up under her arm.
“Why don’t you jar me awake when I start to fall asleep?” I glared at Iris, filled with embarrassment.
“Because I’m busy worrying about myself not falling asleep.” Iris grunted when she pushed herself up to stand.
“Sorry about all this, Peaches.” I stood up.
“Don’t you worry about it. I’m so glad your body is responding exactly the way it needs to so you can find rest. If you’re falling asleep, you must be comfortable.” She walked into the front of the spa. Everyone had already left the studio. “Want a drink?”
To my surprise, she tugged a big bottle of bourbon from underneath the counter along with three shot glasses.
“One for you, you, and me.” She referred to me and Iris as she made the two-finger pour shots.
“No thanks.” I put my hand out in front of me. “Are you okay?”
“What? Can’t I have a little downtime? You use yoga; I’m using bourbon.” She double fisted my shot glass and hers before she downed both.
Iris didn’t miss a beat. She grabbed the one for her and gulped it right down.
“Weeee-doggie, just what I needed to get tonight’s baking done.” Iris smacked her lips together.
“Want to join me for another one?” Peaches wiggled the bourbon bottle in the air.