Homebound

Chapter Seven

"Good morning, Betty" Harley and I greet the front reception as we walk through the doors of the carehome. Hex walks along side me as Harley leads the way. I watch from the corner of my eye as he glances around, taking everything in.

The entire drive to the carehome internal panic had crawled up my throat. I could tell Harley felt the same as our anxieties filled the car, worrying that today was going to be a bad day for Wyonna. What if she doesn't recognise Hex? I don't want it to put a dark cloud over such a happy day.

I hold my breath as we reach Wyonna's room; Harley knocks on the door and waits for her to answer.

"Come in" she calls. She's sitting at her coffee table while reading the five year old newspaper she re-reads most days. A cup of tea sits in front of her and her room is pristine.

"Hi mum" Harley greets.

"Oh girls!" she gets up to give us each a hug. Only half of my worry is eased when she recognises Harley and I. She's frail when I wrap my arms around her and her curly hair is whispy while held together in a bun on the top of her head.

I move to the side, revealing Hex. Holding my breath as I wait for Wyonna to remember him.

"Oh, my boy!" she steps up and wraps her arms around him like they had only seen each other yesterday and not years ago. Hex says nothing as he bends at the waist and holds her tight. His hair is covering his face as he looks at the ground over her shoulder but I can see the glassiness in them. It chokes me up.

I feel my shoulders physically fall in relief as Harley exhails a shaky breath.

"Come sit down" she pulls away from Hex as he stands confused on how to act. I grab his hand and lead him to the table while rubbing my thumb on the back of his hand. I don't know whether Wyonna had forgotten that Hex had been in the 'army' or if she isn't acknowledging it but it's probably for the best neither is mentioned.

We watch as Wyonna goes around her kitchen looking through cupboards. For what? I don't know but she seems to be becoming confused.

"What are you looking for mum?" Harley asks as she stands up and walks over to her. Hex's hand sneaks on to my lap as he grabs my thigh for comfort.

"I-I" she glances around as she trails off "I don't remember" Hex squeezes my thigh.

"Wyonna, why don't you come sit down" I say as both she and Harley sit back down.

"What have you been up to?" Harley asks. Wyonna ignores her as she glances at Hex and takes him in.

"You look different" she states. "You have tattoos now" her eyesbrows draw together in confusion.

"I've had tattoos for years, mum" Hex grunts. It's obvious that he doesn't really know how to converse with her, afraid of what she recollects.

"No you haven't ; they're new" she states, her tone becoming hostile. The hair on the back of my neck stands up as we sit in silence. I wonder briefly if she can only recall him from the time before he got locked up, before the tattoos.

Hex stays mostly quiet during the rest of our visit as he grips my thigh for dear life, his nerves getting the best of him.

Wyonna's mood brightens up as the conversation goes on. Hex listens intently to everything that comes out of her mouth, hoping to catch up on the life of his mother and what had happened over the years that he had missed. It also gave him some kind of an idea of how far her dementia had progressed.

"Was today a good day?" Hex asks as we step outside and into the car park. A nurse had come to collect Wyonna for her afternoon tea that was to be held in the community room with all the other patients.