Jane led the way to her rooms, and again, they were nothing like I was expecting. Instead of a small, dull room, Jane lived in a bright, self-contained apartment. The walls of the living room were painted a cheerful soft yellow and there was a colorful print hanging above the couch that I was pretty sure was a Frida Kahlo. The couch itself was a deep navy and looked comfy enough that you could sink into it for days.
There wasn’t a lace doily in sight, but there was a bottle of gin and a cocktail shaker on the counter of her small kitchenette, abunch of poker chips scattered across the small dining table, and a hint of a certain herbal aroma hanging in the air.
The apartment, and the woman, were nothing like I’d been imagining.
Jane sat down at the small dining table and patted the seat next to her. “Come sit down, Miller, and tell me why I need a lawyer. Danny has power of attorney, but I’m guessing this isn’t something he can deal with on his own.”
“Well, it’s not that he can’t,” I said, “but I’d prefer to make sure you’re on the same page. And I’m guessing that power of attorney is designed to come into effect if you’re unable to make decisions on your own behalf. Which”—I took another look around the room—“seems to me like it’s not an issue.”
“Danny, sweetheart, go make us some coffee.” Jane laughed. “Are you wondering why I’m living here with all these old fuddy duddies?”
“That crossed my mind, yes.”
“Well, firstly, they’re not all like Barney Wilson,” she said. “There’s a fellow over in the east wing who’s still got his original hips and teeth, and I’ve got my eye on him!”
“Grandma!”
Jane laughed. “Honestly? I like living here. I don’t have to drive to get to the stores, and there’s a cafeteria right here on site, and a swimming pool that’s heated in the winter. Some of my friends had already moved here too. It’s like living on a cruise ship, except you don’t get seasick and there’s no godawful karaoke every night.”
“Just on Wednesdays,” Danny called from the kitchenette.
“The girls and I go out bar hopping on Wednesdays,” Jane confirmed. “There’s a bus that collects us at eleven.” She leaned closer to me and said in an undertone, “Besides, the boys needed some independence. I’m only a phone call away, though.”
The boys?
“Danny is your only grandson, though, right?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “Just Danny and his older sister, Emma-Lee. She’s a nurse in Richmond. The other boys are my bonus grandsons. Oh, speaking of!” She turned in her seat. “What’s happened to the hot water system?”
Danny froze in place. “Why?” he said cautiously.
“Because I thought my luck had changed yesterday when I walked into my bathroom and there was a naked young man in my shower, but it was only Cash. He jumped like a scalded cat!” She raised her eyebrows. “After I’d peeled him off the ceiling, I asked why he was using my shower, and he said there was some issue with the hot water at the house.”
“No, he didn’t.”
Jane sighed. “Fine. He said, ‘Hot water’s fucked,’ if you want to be completely accurate. And I knew I wouldn’t get more out of him than that, because it’s Cash.”
Danny came over and set down a tray with a coffee pot and three mugs and sat down, propping his elbows on the table. “I’ll get it fixed. I’m just waiting for payday is all.” Danny’s brow creased and he eyed Jane. “You didn’t say anything about Cash showering here, did you? I don’t want him to get into trouble.”
“What do you take me for? I’m no snitch. Not when it’s one of my boys.” She rapped her knuckles against the table. “I’ll call a plumber today.”
“Grandma, I got it,” Danny said. “Wilder’s Uncle Steve is gonna come have a look on the weekend.”
“Steve the roofer?” Jane asked. “What the hell does he know about hot water systems?”
“He knows stuff, and if he doesn’t, he’ll know a guy.”
“I know a guy too, honey. He’s called a plumber. And where are the rest of you showering in the meantime?”
“It’s summer. Cold is fine.”
Jane raised her eyebrows. “And what about when Grace comes to stay? Tell me that sweet little girl’s not making do with a washcloth.”
I shifted in my seat, an unwilling spectator to this family argument, as well-intentioned as it was.
Danny didn’t say anything, and Jane nodded to herself. “I’ll send the plumber.”
Danny sighed. “Can you afford that?”
