Page 11 of No One's Like You
"She's turned into an unbearable grouch," Marisa sighs, "she refuses to go out or let anyone help her."
The story sounds familiar to Ruby, even if the circumstances are different.
"You should see her, she's whiter than paper, soon she'll be transparent. My brothers and I have tried everything. We've adapted the house to her needs, so that's not a problem, but she refuses to use some of the equipment and insists on doing everything herself. She'sfallen three times already, and we should be thankful she hasn't hurt herself."
Marisa pauses to catch her breath. Ruby can't see her, but the woman fans herself with her hand because the situation has her desperate.
"My brothers and I decided to take turns sleeping at her house so she wouldn't be alone, but it was impossible because she didn't want us there, so she'd get up at two in the morning and blast music, or she'd come into the bedroom while we were sleeping and spray us with the mister she uses to water her plants."
Ruby tries to suppress her laughter, but can't and has to cover the phone so Marisa doesn't hear her.
"We changed tactics and hired a nurse, thinking she wouldn't be so rude to a stranger, but it's worse—in two months, three women have quit. I'm not trying to scare you, Ruby, just warning you that my mother is a very difficult woman. If your mother isn't someone capable of enduring her impertinence and standing up to her, it's better not to put her through the ordeal of meeting her."
"I appreciate your honesty," Ruby says with a glint of mischief in her eyes, "but I think she can handle it. Let's at least let them meet."
Ruby worries more about convincing her own mother to go to the interview than about meeting Odette Bergeron, because if anyone has a strong character, it's Adele.
"Alright. I'm out of town for work, but my brother will be with her this afternoon. I'll let him know you're coming."
"Great," Ruby says. "Thanks for calling me."
"Good luck," Marisa responds.
It's Girls' Wednesday and Ruby is meeting Ellie at the bar in a couple of hours, but Ruby doesn't hesitate to call her to help get her mother out of the house. After all, Adele adores Ellie, and Amelia is still working.
Fifteen minutes later, the two meet at the door of Ruby's mother's house.
"Ready for action?" Ellie asks, rolling up her sleeves as if preparing for battle.
Ruby bursts into laughter and gives her a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks for coming."
"Don't mention it," Ellie rubs her hands eagerly. "It's about time this woman gets some sun."
Another fifteen minutes later, Ruby is behind the wheel of her car with Ellie in the passenger seat and her mother in the back, grumbling and clicking her tongue every few seconds while the two girls completely ignore her. Ruby didn't come prepared to negotiate—she asked her mother to get dressed because she needed to accompany her somewhere important. Adele refused, of course, but Ellie stepped in and approached her to whisper in her ear that it was something very important for Ruby and it would break her heart if she didn't agree. Adele fell under the spell of Ellie's sweet words, and it wasn't until they were on their way that Ruby told her the real reason for the outing.
"You lied to your mother, you should be ashamed," Adele continues protesting. "And you," she points at Ellie, "you're a traitor."
"Enough, Mom. It'll just be a little while. We'll meet this woman who's apparently more stubborn than you, which seems hard to believe," Ruby remarks sharply, making Ellie laugh, "and then we'll leave."
"I'm not getting out of the car," Adele insists.
"Then you'll roast to death," Ellie points out, "because we'll leave it parked in direct sunlight with the windows up, and you hate heat, don't you?"
The two laugh, ignoring Adele's protests again. She watches them, feeling an intense pang of pain seeing how much her daughter shines next to Ellie. Adele has always been aware of what Ruby feels for her friend, but has never dared to intervene or ask. She's respected her daughter's decision to always stay close to Ellie, even though Adele knows it would have been better for her to distance herself.
"We're here," Ruby announces. "Don't make me drag you out of the car, Mom, I'm begging you."
To the surprise of both girls, Adele opens the door and gets out. Odette Bergeron lives in a building located in one of the best areas of New Orleans, with a spacious, bright entrance and, of course, all access points adapted to her needs, although she doesn't use them.
The door is opened by a middle-aged man with horn-rimmed glasses, neatly combed hair, and a good-natured face who introduces himself as Darwin Bergeron, Odette's son.
"Mom, these are—"
"Shut up and throw them out of my house. I told you I don't want any babysitters," Odette cuts him off from her wheelchair, positioned near the door to the terrace.
Darwin blushes with embarrassment and starts to sweat. Ruby immediately feels sorry for him; it's obvious the man is too docile to stand up to his mother, and she takes advantage of his weakness to do whatever she wants with him.
