Howie reached out and put a hand ontop of AJ’s. “Could you just sit still? You’re probably drilling bruises in your thighs.”
AJ shifted in the seat, tilting his head back. “I can’t help it, you know how I am when I get nervous and mister clean air won’t let me smoke in the car!”
“I’m thinking about others besides me, AJ!” Kevin growled, his eyes never leaving the road as he drove the rental car down the highway.
Brian shook his head, reaching into his front pocket. “Here.....chew some gum then,” he stated as he offered the pack over the front seat.
AJ snorted when he looked at the yellow pack of Juicy Fruit Gum. “Figures you’d eat something labeled ‘fruit.’ “
“Huh? Oh for the love of God, why do you constantly insist that someone is gay all the time?” Brian admonished.
“Not saying a word....”
“At least I stick with one woman....”
”SHUT UP AND QUIT THE BICKERING!” Kevin yelled as he guided the car down the exit ramp. “We’re almost there and no one has said anything nice since we left the airport!”
“I can’t believe it’s been three months since we last saw Nicky,” Howie thought outloud.
“I know,” Brian agreed quietly. “It wasn’t our decision though, that doctor Sizesomething....”
“Seizmoralez,” Kevin corrected.
“Yeah, Seizmoralez told family members that they had to stay away because Nick wouldn’t know us anyway and that us being there would only overstimulate him.”
“Which I think is a load of bullshit,” AJ muttered, placing a cigarette in his mouth.
Howie narrowed his eyes at his brother only to have AJ focus his attention out the window, deliberately ignoring him.
“Wonder if Nick’s family has been there yet?” Brian questioned.
“I doubt that, you know that Aaron is their golden child and they’re much too busy with his life to be concerned over their fucked up son.....”
”AJ! that’s uncalled for!” Brian hissed.
“Well it’s true,” he replied defensively, clicking open his lighter and quickly lighting the cigarette.
“I thought I said no smoking in the car!” Kevin growled.
AJ took a deep drag from the cigarette, exhaling blue smoke as he replied, “Yeah, you did.”
“Put it out then!”
“So we have to pay a fine for smoking in a non-smoking rental car, big deal.”
“No, it’s more like you’re going to pay the fine, not us,” Howie corrected.
“Look....we’re here!” Brian announced quickly.
No one spoke as the car was guided through the stone archway and up the circle drive. The manicured shrubs and blossom trees made the setting look peaceful and serene.
“Looks like a nice facility,” Howie commented.
“Looks like a goddman nuthouse,” AJ grumbled, taking another deep drag off his cigarette.
“I’m tempted to leave you in this hot car in the sun......with the windows closed,” Kevin threatened.
Lowering the automatic window, AJ flipped the cigarette butt out expertly with his thumb and forefinger. He was quickly met with Kevin’s disapproving eyes in the rearview mirror.
AJ slumped back into his seat, folding his arms across his chest. “Send me a fine for that too, mister clean environment.”
Kevin pulled into a parking space and quickly turned in his seat to face AJ. “You’ve done nothing but complain this entire trip. Why are you making this so difficult for everyone?”
“I’m not a child and you’re not my father,” AJ spat.
Kevin killed the engine. “Just make this a happy visit, okay, that’s all I ask from you.”
AJ quickly exited the car, slamming the door. “Oh, park far enough away from the building?”
Kevin shoved the keys in his front pocket after he got out of the car. He raked a hand through his hair as he started walking across the lot toward the entrance, Brian half-running to keep up with his cousin’s long legged strides.
Howie placed a hand on AJ’s shoulder. “J, I know this is a difficult situation for you, but please, you have to know this situation wasn’t your fault.”
“I don’t need your sympathic counselling, I’m fine, let’s just get this visit overwith.”
Kevin and Brian waited for the other two to meet up with them at the entrance. Brian tugged at the doors only to find them locked. “It’s locked.”
“Now I know this is a nuthouse,” AJ mumbled.
“There’s a box by the door, I guess you push it to get buzzed in or something,” Howie pointed.
With a shrug of his shoulders, Brian punched the red button and true to Howie’s words, the door buzzed and clicked, signalling that it was now unlocked.
Once inside, the bustle of the staff indicated that this was a thriving hospital. There were wheelchairs and walkers in the hallway with patients wandering up and down the halls. No one was wearing hospital gowns, they were all dressed in sweatpants and tee shirts or sweatshirts.
Kevin approached the front desk. “We’re here to see Nick Carter.”
“Oh, he’s in room 1214, down the hall and take the elevators on your left, second floor,” the receptionist gestured with her pen towards the hall.
AJ dragged his feet as he followed his brothers toward the elevator, trying not to look at the various faces of the patients that were wandering the hall. “Welcome to hell,” he muttered as he thrust his hands into his front pockets.
