a plan

"Are you even sure he's out of a coma?" Nora snapped. She was furious with her mother. Evidently, Joel wasn't getting the best care in the world, and yet, he wasn't hanging on in a tent somewhere in a third world country, either.

Nora could hardly listen to how her mother didn't have time for him. Of course, Nora felt out of place here, all by her lonesome in Washington state. Still, she had faith in Grayson's parents.

"They want to help." Sure she was going to fly out and meet them. That is if her dear mother could see fit to let Joel come to Omaha.

Finally, her mother gave in. Nora supposed she cried longer than she meant too, but she wanted Joel with her. Somehow, even if it wouldn't be right away.

There was a plan in place. If they could get him to the rehabilitation center that Grayson's parents knew of, they could check on him daily, and hopefully, some of  his friends would be around to cheer him up too.

Vada was in total shock to hear from Nora. Something about Joel coming home.

"And he'll need you." Nora told her.

"What?" Vada winced. She suddenly felt as if she was being haunted by an old ghost. Joel was history, as far as she was concerned.

"It would be so great..if..if you could meet us at the airport." Nora told her they had some catching up to do. She told her he wasn't doing as well as she'd hoped he would be. She talked about him being in a coma and still in France.

Vada hated being reminded as to where she'd left things with Joel, but this was different now.

"Sure..sure I'll be there at the airport." Vada didn't know if she could go through with this, but then she knew this was not about her. It was about bringing Joel home.

She pressed her lips tight when she got off her mobile. After all, she was with Alo who was in the middle of folding laundry, his laundry. She was over at the boarding house, helping.

"What was that about?" He looked at her as if she'd gotten some really bad news.

"It was Nora." Vada sighed. "Grayson's family is bringing Joel back here to stay with them, I guess. Well, sort of..." She didn't know if she knew all the particulars. "He's out of the coma, but he..he can't walk. He can't talk."

"What does she want you to do?" Alo asked as he was piling his tee-shirts together.

She matched a sock, and put it with his others.

"I guess, just to be there...when..when they bring him back."

"Can I come?" He wanted to know.

"Yeah, of course, but it won't be until a few weeks from now." Vada looked at him. She certainly didn't want to do this, without Alo.