I want to extend a HUGE thank you to my editor! I am sure this was a tall order to edit.
To the readers:
I hope you enjoy the story. Please let me know what you think, feedback is really the driving force behind my writing these stories. Also, is it worth continuing?
*****
Day 5: Giving a Bath and Showing it all
In her usual fashion, by the time Clare arrived the next day, she had regained much of her confidence. That is not to say that she still did not have her doubts about what had transpired the day before.
Flashing the guy was one thing, but going down on him? What the fuck had she been thinking?
Yet, she had found some solace in the fact that nothing like that would happen again. Even if, however she tried to deny it, some crazy part of her had found it exhilarating. That was the part of her that remembered Greg's innocence, remember the pure delight radiating from him during it all. That part remembered how she had felt like a Goddess, in complete control of another's enjoyment. Clare had spent a long time looking in the mirror this morning, trying to figure out who exactly who was staring back at her.
Clare remained lost in thought as she entered the facility and headed to the locker room. She did not even register Billy's greeting. When she entered the locker room and passed the Pride Wall, two new pink slips caught her attention. She stopped to read them. The first read, "Clare is a great caregiver!" and the second, "Clare is amazing!" this one signed Greg. Clare smiled, she thought she recognized the first as Mr. Grange's handwriting, which was shocking. That Debby-downer did not give anyone good reviews. Although, he sure had perked up yesterday, something Clare had still not given much thought to.
The pride reviews surprisingly alleviated her stress. Things had definitely gotten pretty wonky recently, but the glowing reviews somehow made it seem better. She was making a difference for the first time in her life. Clare crossed the room to her locker, refreshed. As she put on her uniform, she giggled at the thought of removing her bra. While there was no way she was going down that path again today, the fact that she could joke about it was a relief. She would rein things in and bring a bit of normalcy back into her life. Clare was once again cheery when she ran into Nathan on her way to Mr. Grange's room.
"Clare, hold up a second," he called as he waddled toward her.
Clare stopped, what could he want now. The worst case scenario sprang into her head.
Had Greg reported her?
As Nathan approached, she could hear him wheezing a bit.
Jesus
, she thought,
the guy can barely walk through the halls. He would probably be a resident here before long.
"I just wanted to say great job!" Nathan beamed, catching her off guard. "Three pride reviews in a week, extraordinary."
Clare found herself responding in kind. She had never been praised by her boss before.
"Keep it up and you might make employee of the month," Nathan continued.
"Thank you," Clare responded, more than a bit flustered.
"Well, back to work. I am sure Mr. Grange is waiting."
Clare watched her boss waddle away and shook her head. What a crazy few days! Clare shook her head and continued to Mr. Grange's apartment.
The scene before her was a stark contrast to every day before. Mr. Grange was wide awake and quite animated. He almost seemed as if he had been waiting for her to arrive. Clare definitely noticed this change, but with so much on her mind, she barely gave it a second thought. In her rush to get things back to normal, Clare failed to notice how the old man's eyes immediately locked on her chest and the sigh which followed when he realized that she was wearing a bra. Clare had awoken something in him yesterday, and the twinkle in his eye suggested he was not about to let it go easily.
"Hi Mr. Grange," Clare said, smiling at the old man, "How are you today."
"I'm fine young lady, how about yourself?"
"Great," Clare responded. "I saw someone gave me a pride review," she chided, hands on her hips.
The little bit of color that rose to the old man's cheeks betrayed him. It was cute. Mr. Grange "ahem'ed" as if to clear his throat and turned away in embarrassment.
"Well, what should we do today?" Clare asked rhetorically, planning on simply following the set routine.
"Uhm, would you mind helping an old man with a bath?" Mr. Grange responded, catching Clare completely off guard.
She stood there, trying to process the request. Residents often talked back or refused to do something on their daily worksheet, but no one had ever asked her to completely deviate from the routine. Clare was not even sure if she was allowed to give a resident a bath.
"I... uh," Clare stumbled.
"Sorry to ask," Mr. Grange pressed, "But, the nurse this morning was busy and didn't get around to it."
Clare's heart quickened and she began to worry.
What did she know about giving a resident a bath? Although... really, how hard could it be?
"The nurse said you could probably take care of it," Mr. Grange said, pressing even harder.
Well, if the nurse told him to ask, I guess it would be okay
, Clare thought. "Sure, I guess we can take care of that," Clare finally responded, convinced that the request was not that unordinary. She did not notice the devious twinkle that appeared in the old man's eyes or the sly smirk that followed.
Clare grabbed the menu and asked, "Would you like to eat lunch first?"
"No," Mr. Grange replied abruptly, startling Clare, but his voice immediately softened, "I mean, can we do the bath first?"
"Sure, why not?" she replied, once again missing the warning signs. Clare just assumed the broad smile that spread over his face was his satisfaction at the thought of getting clean. She knew she would be happy to get a bath if she needed one.
Clare retrieved Mr. Grange's walker and proceeded to help him off the bed. She allowed him to drape his arm over her shoulder as he slid to the floor, ignoring how his hand "accidentally" brushed across her breast a few times in the process. Helping an elderly man to the bathroom was not part of her normal routine and she figured it was normal. When the old man was finally on his feet and had gained his footing, Clare was shocked at how quickly he shuffled across the room. He seemed to be in quite a hurry. Clare shrugged, the guy must really want a bath.