“Are you Okay, Honey? Do you need anything? Can I do anything?” Claire was almost frantic again.
“I’ll be fine, thanks. Let’s go home and pick up Ava.”
“What for?”
“Doesn’t she need any supplies for school? I know I do!”
I also needed some other things that I couldn’t ask them to get for me, so I needed her to drive me. But I also couldn’t get those things with either Claire or Ava looking over my shoulder, so I needed them occupied with their own shopping spree.
“Wait ... You...” She half turned back to the doctor’s office’s entrance, and finally realized that we simply left the building without stopping at the front desk. “He didn’t give you a sick note?!”
“Don’t need one. And even if I did...” I quickly added to stop her protest. “ ... I’ve been out of school for six weeks already. I kinda have to go back, or my attendance drops too low.”
“Are you su...”
“YES!”
I really didn’t mean to get loud, but after what just happened in there, I couldn’t help but be on edge. And having to constantly reassure her, which basically amounted to constantly arguing about what I needed and wanted, got me riled up. Once again, she hung her head and apologized in that submissive pose. I just rolled my eyes and got into the car.
Back in my apartment, I recovered some cash from my closet while Claire was fetching Ava, and then returned to the living room to wait for them.
“We’re going shopping?” Ava asked, half suspicious and half hopeful.
“Yeah. Let’s get everything you need for school.”
“Everything? I might need a few clothes.” she carefully tested the waters.
“Sweetheart, don’t impose on your brother.” Claire abolished her.
“No, that’s fine.” I quickly interjected, thankful for Ava’s unknowing assistance in having them occupied while I did what needed to be done. “I’m pretty sure I got enough for the both of you to get whatever you need, and our school supplies.”
“Of course, Honey. I’m sorry.” Claire immediately confirmed.
“Alright, that’s it!” I snapped at her. “Why the fuck are you behaving like I bought you on an Ukranian website and you can’t file for naturalization yet?”
This took her aback.
“I ju ... just...” she threw a look at Ava. I couldn’t tell whether she was looking for words or support. Then she continued in a quiet voice. “I just don’t know what else to do to make you happy.”
And then it dawned on me. That must have been the conclusion they reached on the sofa, after I had crept back into my room.
“You want to make me happy by playing the ... what? Submissive slave?” I asked incredulously.
“No. More like ... devoted wife.” Ava clarified.
“Seriously?” I asked, and they both nodded. Apparently, my joke about buying her on an Ukrainian website wasn’t so far off. “Okay, listen. Dial down the servant act. While I’m hurt, I need a caregiver, not a damn slave.”
Both of their eyes widened immensely as they stared at me open mouthed. I think they had expected me to simply tell them off, instead of asking them for something else. And they especially didn’t expect me to ask Claire to be exactly what she wanted to be for me according to her letter.
Suddenly, a massive bright smile spread across their faces, and while Ava skipped to the door to hold it open for me, Claire rushed to my side to help me get outside and into the car.
The shopping in the Mall went off pretty smoothly. Once Claire and Ava were looking for clothes, I hobbled out of the door and visited every store I could find that sold paysafecards and VISA Gift Cards for cash. By the time the two women were done, I had bought ten cards, charged with one-hundred dollars each.
Back home, I immediately went to my computer and got to work. I had developed and published quite a few browser AddOns and Apps over the past few years, and had the option to place a “Support the Developer”-button on my profile pages. My plan was to use that button to transfer the cards I just bought to my PayPal account, and then transfer the funds from my PayPal account to my bank account.
This way, I could safely include that money in my tax forms, and didn’t have to worry about anyone trying to track that money’s origin. I had previously dismissed the idea, since it was unreasonably time-consuming in relation to how little money I could clean that way. There were also only so many stores I could buy the cards from before they would start to recognize and possibly report me, especially with all my current injuries. Crutches and bandages left very lasting impressions on peoples’ memories, since it’s relatively uncommon to see it on people. Also, PayPal and similar services have a history of closing people’s accounts down for suspicion of fraudulent activities, if the accounts fill up too quickly.
By the end of the week, my PayPal account would be a thousand dollars heavier. In addition to that, I could deposit eight-hundred dollars a month directly into my account without exceeding the ten-thousand dollar yearly limit. There was only one other problem I needed Claire’s help with before I could put any of it into my bank account, but we could address that later. I wasn’t sure how she would react with the way she had acted the past two days. At least, when dinnertime came around, I could already tell that she had taken my request to heart. She was less of a catalog wife, and more like ... a mother, really. I wasn’t opposed to that.
We followed a pretty set pattern for the following two days, with Claire helping me in the bathroom, Ava helping me when cleaning the apartment, and both of them helping me in the kitchen. Until my next visit to the doctor presented me with the next catastrophe. After he had repacked my leg, which I really didn’t think was necessary but got overruled, he removed the stitches from my shoulder. Then he cleared me to start physical therapy.
According to him, there was a recommended rest period for wounds depending on their severity, but the earlier I started PT, the more effective it would be. When I told him about the place the Millers had booked for me, he was very eager to send me on my way. Apparently, they really were the best, and he had quickly confirmed with them that I could show up for my first session.
In short, it was hell. The guy working with me was not only sickeningly upbeat and optimistic while he tortured me, he was also relentless. I’m not gonna lie, I had to unsuccessfully try and suppress more than one sound of agony when he made me leg press. It didn’t get better when he informed me that I was pressing all of twenty pounds. All the while, Claire was standing by the sideline, biting her nails.
By the time we were done, I was reduced to a panting mess that could barely find the strength to leave the room again. Claire had to support me most of the way back to the car and into the apartment.
“Holy!” I heard Ava’s gasp. “Why’s he pale like a ghost? What the hell happened!?”
“Don’t get me started!” Claire said, then heatedly let out a breath of air. “First the doctor digs around in his wounds, then the physical therapist makes him exercise the leg to exhaustion. Help me get him into his bed, Sweetheart.”
As soon as I was lying down, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of fading pain. I felt them relieve me of my shirt, pants, and socks, but couldn’t bother to complain or protest. Then something remarkable happened.
I felt Claire carefully lie down to my left, and push one arm under my head. Then I felt my face being gently cradled to her chest, as she dragged her fingernails through the short hair on my neck and softly hummed to me. This was unbelievably comforting. Just like two months earlier, that Mom-smell filled my nostrils again. That distinct smell of times past, when the world wasn’t such a scary place yet and my Mother would always comfort me. Without even realizing that I was doing it, I started rubbing my face against her supple, ample breasts, until she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her chest, revealing her bra-clad bosom to me.