Page 19 of Lost in Yonkers

“But you both have lives in Alabama,” his mother insisted.

“Right, but I can work from anywhere and Wren is going to be staying at home for a while to take care of the baby. We can stay for as long as you need us, Ma,” he promised.

“Well, hopefully, I won’t need you for that long. The doctors have started me on a new treatment, and they are very hopeful.” When he left New York, to find Wren, he wasn’t sure that his mother would pull through her latest turn for the worse. Hearing that the doctors were optimistic gave him hope he wasn’t expecting to feel.

“That’s wonderful, Ma,” Yonkers said. “I’ll send you a bunch of pictures and videos for now, but we’ll be back home before you know it.”

“Great,” his mother agreed. “Now, about this biker you sent to watch me,” she said.

Yonkers groaned, “Can’t you just let Reacher do his job and keep an eye on you?”

“Why does a biker have to babysit me?” she asked. “I have a nurse starting here tomorrow. My insurance pays for an at home care nurse and my doctor has encouraged me to use her.”

“Well, she can take care of your medical needs, and Reacher will watch over you, make sure that you don’t need anything, and grab your food to make sure that you’re eating properly. You need to keep up your strength,” Yonkers reminded.

“I’m assuming that you have checked out this guy and didn’t just find him on the street,” his mother grumbled.

“Yeah, Ma,” he said, “I picked him up on the streets and asked him to move in with you to help you until I can get back.”

“Don’t be a smartass,” his mother chided. “I was just asking how well you know Reacher.”

“He’s a friend from my club. I met him at a meeting up in Yonkers, and he’s a good guy, Ma,” Yonkers defended.

“Well, he’s very handsome,” she swooned. Hearing his mother talk about another guy always gave him the heebbie jeebbies.

“Eww—Ma,” he shouted into the phone. “Can you not say things like that to me? You’re my mom.”

“Right, but I’m also a woman with needs and I was just making an observation about your friend, Reacher,” she said.

“Again, please don’t include my friends in the same sentences as your needs. Good God, Ma,” he grumbled. She giggled into the other end of the call, and he couldn’t help his smile. Hearing his mother’s laughter gave him hope.

“I like hearing you laugh again, Ma,” he said. “You really gave me a scare.”

“I know that I did, but I’m getting stronger every day now. You just concentrate on taking care of your two girls and I’ll be here waiting for you three to come visit me. I’m sure that Reacher and I can find something fun to do to fill the time,” she teased.

“Gross, Mother,” Yonkers mumbled. “I’ll send you pictures and will be in touch soon. Take care of yourself, Ma,” he said.

“I will,” she assured, “give my love to Wren and my new granddaughter,” she said.

“I will, Ma,” he said, ending the call. Yonkers thought about holding off on calling Reacher so soon after asking him for a favor. The guy didn’t seem too happy about his new babysitting gig, but Yonkers needed to hear from the horse’s mouth how things were going with his mother and not just her version of things. His mother liked to tell him that she was “Fine” even when she wasn’t.

He quickly dialed Reacher’s cell number and smiled to himself when the guy grumbled, “What” into the other end of the call.

“Is that the way that you answer the phone?” Yonkers asked.

“Yep, it’s how I usually answer the phone. Knowing that it was you calling me just made me extra grumpy. What’s up now, man?” Reacher didn’t sound very happy with him at all, and Yonkers knew that paying his friend back was going to be painful, but he was willing to do it. He appreciated Reacher more than he could ever tell the guy.

“I called to tell you that Wren had the baby—a little girl,” he said.

“And now, you want me to watch the kid and change diapers, right?” Reacher asked.

“Do you babysit kids?” Yonkers asked. “I mean, when we’re back in New York, I’ll put you down as a possible sitter for when Wren and I need a night out.” Giving Reacher hell was a lot of fun. The guy was honestly one of the grumpiest human beings Yonkers had ever met, and he had met a lot of grumpy ass bikers over the years.

“No, I don’t fucking babysit kids,” Reacher growled.

“Got it,” Yonkers teased, “good to know.”

“Why are you calling me, Yonkers?” Reacher asked, cutting to the chase.