his call

Elliot knew there was no good time to really call Amanda. He'd heard she'd started student teaching. That was the last thing he ever thought he'd be hearing. But a part of him was happy for her. He hoped it went well.

Of course, he wondered if this accident hadn't happened to him, if she'd still be at home taking care of Rosie. True, they'd gone around in circles wondering if she should or shouldn't get her student teaching done.

He listened to her talk about Derrick and Ian.

Now that shocked him. He didn't see that one coming. And now Ian's ex-girlfriend had clobbered Derrick at a high school dance. He so wanted to laugh, but he didn't. There was something important he wanted to tell her. But he was waiting. Only, he hoped it wasn't too late.

He sighed then. He'd been thinking a lot about the house. And her. A sadness inside him was so overwhelming. He really thought they'd be OK. Maybe. Yet he'd waited so long because he kept thinking Rosie would be upset. And he didn't want to upset her anymore than he had. His eyes watered then as he thought what to say. How was he going to say it.

"Is anything wrong?" Amanda wanted to know then. As if he'd heard some bad news about his health. He was walking OK. He couldn't say he was good as new. He still needed a cane. Winter didn't help his joints any. True, he felt like an old man now. Yes, he had a lot of aches and pains. But he was staying away from pain killers. He knew if he didn't get back to work... get back to his life, then he might never be the same.

"I've-I've been thinking," He said. He was expecting Amanda to say something, but it was like she were holding her breath. "I want to come home."

The silence grew.

"Amanda, are you still there?" Elliot asked then. He was laying in bed staring at a dead TV.

"When? I'm..just..you know..when?" She jumped in to the conversation.

"I dunno." He hadn't thought about it. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" She sounded a bit troubled. "I see."

"Yeah. Tomorrow." Elliot sounded certain. He needed to go home.