the essence of life is love

Naamloos deel 24

...

"Rick. Your mother is on the phone."

Kaan entered without knocking. He doesn't glance around, ignoring Bo, who is leaning back on the couch. Bo looks surprised at Kaan, who usually doesn't walk in when he's having a conversation with Rick. Without looking up, Rick takes the phone from Kaan. Bo now sees that it's a very old model, small and foldable. He thinks he knows what kind of phone it is, one that can make calls and send text messages, nothing more. No internet or photo capabilities.

Without looking at Bo, Rick leaves the room. Kaan looks outside, says nothing, avoiding eye contact with Bo.

"What's going on? Can I help?"

Kaan stands still, not moving, seemingly not breathing. The silence lasts long, very long, almost two minutes. Bo only hears his own breathing.

"No, you can't help, sorry."

"What's wrong with Rick's mother?"

Again, that silence, the broad back turned towards Bo. When Rick walks back in, Bo sees that his eyes are red.

"Sorry, I have to go to my mother, she needs me."

He doesn't say more, doesn't look at Bo or Kaan. He doesn't wait for a response.

"Kaan, what's going on?"

Bo must have said it a bit panicky, Kaan turns around.

"For the next few days, I'm here for you. If you need anything, let me know. I have to call Seb, his appointments are cancelled."

With that, the conversation seems to be over. Without saying anything more, Kaan walks out the door. Bo hears him talking a little later.

"No, sorry, I might not be available for another week. Yes, I would appreciate that. Okay, call when you're here. Uh, Seb, thank you."

Bo stands behind Kaan when he ends the call. Bo grabs Kaan's arm.

"Can I really do nothing?"

"Sorry, no. Seb will be here soon for his treatment. Your mother will take care of dinner later, Rick won't be here for the next few days. I'll let you know when he's back."

Without saying anything more, Kaan gently pushes Bo to his apartment. There, Bo sits, and Kaan makes coffee, his face turned away from Bo.

Seb walks in, on crutches, and settles next to Bo on the available chaise longue. They get coffee, and then Kaan leaves the room. Bo waits a moment before daring to ask anything.

"Did he tell you anything?"

"No, just that I could come here and stay for a few nights."

"Are you here by car?"

"No, taxi."

"Oh. But do you know what's going on?"

"No, really not. It'll probably be over soon, I think."

Only after dinner, Kaan just returned, Bo is lying back, Seb is carefully doing his exercises, and Inez is reading the newspaper at the bar.

"Rick's mother is not doing well. He doesn't expect she gets better. He asks us to pray for her to pass away quickly and in peace."

With that, he sits at the bar, his back to the two boys, next to Inez. She gently places her hand on his arm. Bo sees it from the corner of his eye, it unsettles him. His mother has never been so friendly or physical. Only in the years before his addiction did she hug him, never again like a loving mother. And the gesture he sees now is truly affectionate towards Kaan. She clearly feels pity, comforts him. And that hurts Bo, it pains him.

"Mom? Where is Esmee?"

"Your daughter will be with her mother for the next few days. She just returned from a reporting assignment and offered to take care of her for a while. Maybe she'll come by tomorrow. You can go for a walk together if you want."

Bo stands up, takes Seb by the arm, leading him away.

We're going to watch TV in my room."

There is no response as Kaan stays behind with Inez.

"What a crappy situation. Is it really that bad with Rick's mother?"

"I think so, or else he wouldn't just leave you like that, right?"

Bo looks outside. "Do you know, Seb, that I don't even know where they go when they leave here? After they finish their work. If they sleep somewhere? Or if they have a home somewhere? I know nothing about Kaan or Rick."

"Do you think I know anything?"

"No, it's not that. I just want to say that they never tell me anything. I have to bare my soul, but they never say anything about their private lives. Maybe they have children and a wife waiting for them all the time until I let them go."

"They probably have a place to live, I think. They're not staying here, right?"

"No, this is my room, the guest room is the other one here. Nothing else. There's another consultation room, it's behind via the hallway. I think there's also some kind of office where they work."

"I don't know how it is. Maybe they don't have a partner? Who knows."

Bo looks outside again, he thinks about something but doesn't want to admit those thoughts. It's dangerous, too painful to feel, to realize.