Seven and Joey were greeted by Gran and Tiffany when they arrived back in Georgia. Seven had alerted the ladies that they were coming home and that Joey wasn’t in such good health. The ladies nursed Joey D. back to health and ensured that the swelling in his face and body was reduced to a presentable level before releasing him from their care. The men knew well that neither of the women would accept Joey’s patented “there was this thing the happened” excuse for the injures and the damage caused. They elected to tell the ladies the truth, or at least part of it, molded in such a way as to explain everything. They told the ladies that there was an “incident” where a young man attempted to rob Joey. As a result, Joey and the young man were involved in a physical confrontation. The facts and circumstances surrounding the “incident” were left vague and undetailed. When more information was requested, Joey D. would fall into a routine of pain and fatigue. This act would instantly bring out the caregiver persona in each of the ladies, who would then proceed to comfort and fawn over the large Italian, forgetting all about the information request. Seven’s story was that he wasn’t there when the robbery took place and he found Joey D. in the disheveled state on the street outside their motel room. Gran and Tiffany knew there was much more to the story than they were being told, but each of the women had long ago accepted that men don’t always tell you the truth and it’s often to protect them from the dangerous situations that they were exposed to. Gran especially was well versed in that experience. She accepted what she was told and secretly thanked a higher power for the safe return of her loved one.
Joey remained at the Thomasville farmhouse for a week before he and his caregivers deemed him fit to return to the business of young ladies with big hair flinging themselves about on brass poles to the hits of the eighties. He was happy and content at the farmhouse, but he was anxious to return to Tampa. He enjoyed the love and care that was provided by his niece and the stern grandmother figure.