Wheels of Steel, Book 1 Read Online Free PDF

the two talked, really talked, for the first time since Daddy’s death and maybe for the first time ever. When Robin hung up the phone an hour later she wasn’t sure if her mother would change, but she already knew that she couldn’t continue a relationship with her mother where she had to hold everything in. She breathed a sigh of relief.
     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    Robin was kneeling, putting the older woman’s feet into her underwear as she sat on the side of the bed, now containing clean sheets. “What’s your name, dear?”
     
     
    Robin looked at her, not sure if the question had been directed to her or not, even though there was no one else around. She had been Miss Lucille’s home health care aide for over three weeks and the woman had never asked that one question.
     
     
    “Robin.”
     
     
    “You’re a pretty girl, Robin. Such pretty eyes you have.”
     
     
    Robin smiled at the compliment. “Thank you.” Miss Lucille struggled to stand and Robin pulled up her panties.
     
     
    “My son will be coming over today. Can you pick me out something nice to wear?”
     
     
    Robin stood and went to the closet. “Sure. Would you like pants or a dress?”
     
     
    “There is a navy blue dress. Bring that to me.” Robin draped the dress over the bed. There was dust on the shoulders and she brushed it off quickly. “I have a doctor’s appointment today. Bentley will probably take me to lunch after. We go to the Brown Derby. I usually have the chopped steak and baked potato. They use fresh mushrooms, you know. Not all restaurants do; even those expensive steak places-” Robin listened to her as she talked about her son, her grandchildren and the ladies from the women’s group. She pretended that she hadn’t already heard this story thirty times and commented in all of the right places.
     
     
    When Jodie arrived to replace her, she called over her shoulder. “Bye Miss Lucille. See you tomorrow, and have a pleasant visit with your son.”
     
     
    Jodie frowned. “Is that why you put her in that party dress?”
     
     
    Robin shrugged. “Well she wanted to wear it when her son takes her out to lunch.”
     
     
    “Her son doesn’t take her out. He’s a busy doctor.” Jodie’s voice wasn’t low and Robin looked over at Miss Lucille to see if she had heard. “He drops off her food, and pays whoever is on duty to do some cleaning and laundry. And then he leaves.”
     
     
    Jodie moved to the kitchen but Robin stopped her. “Well…who is going to take her to the doctor?”
     
     
    “Nobody. The doctor comes here, if ever. Look, these old people are delusional. They think all kinds of things because their reality sucks for them. Just play along, okay?” Robin nodded her head and left. She felt gullible and saddened.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    “Robin, I want to know if you will take on a new client ASAP while Miss Babbs is in the hospital?” Robin was on her way to work her first job. She had been informed only a few hours before that Miss Lucille had been admitted to the hospital with a case of pneumonia and was still reeling from that news. She wanted to visit her but her need for sleep had prevailed; she intended to visit her first thing in the morning, though. And now Ben was calling, asking her make a decision on replacing her with someone else…
     
     
    Over the course of two months, Robin had grown more than fond of the older woman. Initially she had looked at the job as a just a means to bring in more money, but seeing the other woman’s life as a series of caregivers and evangelist shows had caused Robin to put forth more effort. Though it wasn’t like her to reach out, she did with Miss Babbs.
     
     
    At her morning breakfast she sometimes placed a fresh muffin that she’d picked up from a nearby bakery on her plate instead of the usual toast. Miss Lucille never said thank you but she ate every crumb of the treat. She’d taken to brushing the woman’s beautiful white hair while