Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 26 Higher

"Hey. It's more Katie we're concerned about, not mom." She whispers, and both Nate and I look at each other.

"Well, mom too... But..." She pauses, "Katie was making a grilled cheese and forgot she was cooking. She left the stove on and apparently decided to go upstairs and start the laundry. Lunch caught on fire, and mom burnt her hand trying to put it out... with a dish towel. It caught on fire, too. Kendall was just walking into the house, thank God. She threw the pan and the towel in the sink and ran the faucet over it."

"Oh my God..." I throw my hand to my mouth.

"She's getting worse, Jamie. Katie.... she's getting worse." Ashley begins to cry and tears well up in my eyes. Katie is showing early signs of dementia just like mom.  "We're taking shifts staying over here but it's getting hard with work and shit. Katie was the one to take care of her twenty-four seven. Now..." Ashley chokes up and wipes her eyes.

"James. Give me the phone." Nate demands, and I look up at him. Did he not just see me drop the damn thing? And now, now I'm upset, and my hands aren't going to cooperate if I'm upset. Nate shakes his head, quickly remembering and sits on the couch so Ashley can see him.

"Ashley... right? Sorry. All you girls look the same." 

What is he doing??

"Yeah." She sniffs.

"Ok, Ashley. Would it help if I hired a nurse to come during the day to help care for your mom? And Katie?" Nate asks, and my eyes widen.

"Wha- what?" I stutter.

"I can't let you do that. You've already been helping us out so much financially." Ashley says, and her eyes dart from mine to Nate's.

"But if I DID hire a nurse, a good one, would you accept the help??"

Ashley begins to cry harder and nods. I feel my eyes ready to drain as well now.

"Ok, I'm going to talk to my personal nurse who is traveling with me. He will know of a few good candidates I can send your way. You can interview them yourselves and find the right fit for your mom and sister. Does that sound good? I will pay them well. They will take good care of you guys."

"I- oh my God... I need to go tell them. Love you Jamie, bye." Ashley quickly hangs up, and I'm a fricken mess.

"Hollan..." I croak out.

"James. I told you I would take care of your family. I keep my word. I'll text Jonah and get some contact information for people he knows at the hospital him and Casey worked at." 

I wipe my eyes and nod.

"I'm sorry to hear about your sister...." Nate says sympathetically. "We'll make sure she's taken care of." He pats my shoulder and stands up. "I'm gonna go check on Julia and text Jonah."

I watch Nate walk into his bedroom and close the door. He's going to hire a nurse to help the girls.  I look up to the ceiling as my eyes fill up and nod. "Thank you."

****

"Trisha...... what are we doing?" Noah turns his head while driving. I plugged the address of the venue into his GPS, and we are almost there.

"I'm not sure... drive around back." I tick my chin to the building. Noah drives around the stadium, and his eyes widen. 90 "Around the world" tour busses that travel with us are all parked, filling up the entire back lot.

"Hoe--ly shit." 

Park over there. Near that big tour bus. See it?" I point to our 'home', and he nods, parking right in front of it. I fumble through my purse to find my keys and hop out of Noah's truck.