“The other one?”
“The night nurse, Monae, already lives here. She’s asleep right now, too, because she stays up all night, every night. Makes sure Dr. Rosen doesn’t fall again. That’s why he needs the twenty-four-hour awake care. He slipped and fell a while ago. Broke his hip on the terrazzo tile floor in the kitchen.”
I flinch. Terrazzo is hard stuff. Falling on it would feel like whacking your leg with a bowling ball.
“He went to rehab, did PT. He’s still not great on his feet, though. Balance issues. Neuropathy in his feet.”
“Did you get everything out of Mrs. Oppenheimer’s place?”
“Not yet. Monae’s brother and sister are going to help me move the rest. I don’t have much. Mostly clothes. Couple books.”
“When do you plan to do this?”
“Tonight. Shona won’t be home. She has big plans with the Rosens.”
Okay. Now I’m confused. “Mrs. Oppenheimer’s coming up here while you’re down at her place?”
“I’m sorry. Dr. Rosen’s son, David, is married to Judith who is Shona’s sister. Those are the Rosens that Shona’s seeing tonight; David and Judith.”
“So, did Mrs. Oppenheimer help you land this job with her sister’s father-in-law?”
She nods. I get the sense this is something else she just doesn’t want to talk about right now.
“Well, I’m free tonight,” I say. “If you guys need any help with the move.”
“What?” Christine shoots me a sly and dimpled grin. “It’s Saturday night, Danny Boyle. Don’t you have a hot date?”
“Nope. Not tonight.”
“Really?”
I hold up my hand like a Boy Scout. “Scout’s honor.”
“Good to know.”
Yes, I believe Christine Lemonopolous, the lovely Greek goddess, is flirting with me. Not that I mind. Hey, it’s Saturday. I’m off-duty. I have a pulse.
Feeling the need to blow off a little steam, I head over to the Sunnyside Playland Video Arcade.
Sunnyside Clyde, the small-time amusement park’s mascot, greets me. Clyde is this big, baggy-panted surfer dude with a huge ray-rimmed sun for a head who always wears dark sunglasses. I never understood why. If you’re supposed to be the sun, do you really need sunglasses? Why? In case you see yourself in a mirror?
Anyway, Sunnyside Clyde waves when he sees me because the guy sweating inside the giant foam rubber ball is another pal of mine, Josh Grabo.