“But I haven’t done anything for anyone, I have been in that hospital bed since the fire at Lindy’s… Chase it better not be what I’m thinking.” Luke’s anger was clear in his voice.
“She wanted to help you recover and she is more than qualified to care for you, plus she is a trusted friend and needed a place to stay and a job for a while.” Chase had a big smile on his face, while Luke knew he looked like he had been sucking on lemons.
“No, take me to a center.” Luke said turning to look out his window.
“Absolutely not. You made your decision already. You also said you wouldn’t fight this.” Chase used his daddy tone again. Luke was really starting to hate it.
“That was before I knew who it was. She needs to move on with her life and this won’t help her.” Luke told him.
“But this is her rebuilding. She needed a place to stay and work. You need someone to care for you, who better than her. Y’all are actually helping each other.” Chase told him sternly.
“She deserves better than being stuck with me while I try to get movement back. She needs to have her old life back.” Luke told his brother.
“She can’t, not until everything is settled and she can rebuild her shop.” Chase told him. “She needs a purpose until then. She was going to go back to the hospital, so she could make money, and rent a place to stay. If she stays here we can pay her good without her thinking it’s a hand out, and she doesn’t have to waste money on rent or food. Get over yourself and help me help her.”
“Your right. If it is to help her I will do whatever you need. It won’t be easy. I don’t like anyone seeing how weak I am, especially her.” Luke mumbled the last hoping Chase wouldn’t hear it.
“You aren’t weak. Never think that. You are down because you saved her life. If you hadn’t gone in when you did she would probably be dead right now. Let her help you.” Chase wasn’t happy right now, but he didn’t understand it wasn’t about anybody seeing him weak, it was about her seeing him at his lowest.
“Okay, let’s get to the cabin. My leg is starting to ache.” His leg was only a dull ache, but it was an excuse. He was done with this conversation.
Luke really did want to see her, but it was going to be hard letting her see him, how weak his body was. He figured she would be moving on to a new man soon, and he could live with that. What he couldn’t live with was the disgust and pity in her eyes when he needed her help with things not even a wife would do. She wouldn’t last long, even if she was a nurse. When she left, he would pick the pieces up and continue on.
“Are you ready?” Chase asked as he pulled up to the ramp that had been built up to the house to accommodate his wheelchair.
“Now is just as good as any other time.” Luke said as he opened the door and tried to shift on the seat so he could get out when Chase brought his chair around.
“It won’t be that bad. She is a good nurse. We did check before we asked her to care for you.” Chase told him unfolding his chair and helping him get into it.
“I don’t doubt that she is a great nurse. I just doubt that she can make it through caring for me without killing me. If you get a call in the middle of the night, it’s because she is trying to kill me and I expect you to come and save me.” Luke told him as they started up the ramp.
“Stop being so melodramatic. If I decide to kill you, you will be dead before you have time to make the call.” Lindy told them smiling as she opened the door.
“Hi, roomie.” Luke gave her what he hoped was a convincing smile, but by the look on her face she wasn’t buying it.
“Hiya handsome.” Lindy gave him a wink, but he just looked at her. “Well, let’s get sourpuss in the house.”
“You better behave or the next stop for you is the rehab center.” Chase whispered in his ear.
“I think that might be a better idea.” Luke told him sharply.
“Fine, if you want to have Callie running back and forth all day, dragging the babies in and out to see you, and Chasity running over to bring you bear claws, I will take you now.” Chase snarled and spun the wheelchair fast enough to make his head spin.
“What the hell? My meds are not conducive to you playing tilt-a-whirl with this chair.” Luke had a death grip on the chair as he tried to bring the world back into focus.
“Even more reason for your sorry selfish butt to be away from here.” Chase snapped at him.
“Oh, is his highness running away already? I really thought we would at least make it to the first time he had to use the bathroom, or needed a shower before he took off. I guess you win this one Chase.” Lindy said as she walked by to open the truck door for Chase to help him in.
“Good, you just got here. I was afraid I would miss welcoming you home.” Callie said as she walked up to the truck.
“You’re too late. He didn’t even make it into the house before he backed out.” Lindy told Callie as Chase pulled the chair beside the passenger side of the truck.
“Oh. Well you can just move back into the house with us. There’s more room there for you anyways.” Callie said touching Lindy’s arm as if to show support.
“That’s okay. I knew he would back out, so I already talked to the hospital and I can go back there whenever I want. Since I now have my car back, I can go to the closest hotel and stay till I find an apartment. I’m good. I promise.” Lindy told her hugging her close.
“If this is a guilt trip it isn’t going to work. I made sure you had the money to have her car keys made and I won’t feel sorry for her having to go back to the job she used to have.” Luke narrowed his eyes watching their reaction.
“You did what?” Lindsey screeched at him, there was nothing else to call the noise she made. He looked up to make sure the truck windows hadn’t busted out.
“Calm down, Lindsey. You are going to shatter all the glass nearby if you keep that up.” Luke said unhappy with her outrage.
“Callie, how could you? Is there anything else he had a hand in taking care of for me?” She asked looking around their little group of friends.
He looked around noticing Chase and Callie hanging their heads and realized what he said. He hadn’t meant for her to know what he’d had Chase take care of for her. She looked like she was lost and ashamed and alone. How could anyone look alone surrounded by people who cared for her. Worst of all, she looked defeated.
“Callie, what else did he have taken care of for me? Did he cover the extra clothes you picked up? What about all the books and magazines, or the laptop?” He could see from the look on her face she was basically begging Callie to deny he had any part in any of it. “Answer me!” She yelled.
“Yes.” Callie replied softly at the same time Chase spoke up. “I know you are angry, but do not talk to her that way.” It was the “daddy tone”.
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” Lindy said and bowed her head before she took off at a mad dash up the dirt road from his house.
“What did you just do?” Chase asked as he took a crying Callie into his arms. “If you had told me how much you hate her, I would never have put her through this.” Chase said as he stared down at him.
“I don’t hate her.” Luke told him quietly.
“You made it perfectly clear she was indebted to you, and that you didn’t want her here. What else could anyone think except that you hate her? She told us you wouldn’t go for this, but we thought you would be happy to have a way to come home. We should have stayed out of it.” Chase was making a good point, but not for the reasons he thought.
“You don’t understand. Everything was easy for you two.” Luke told them.
“Callie, why don’t you go to the house. We need at least one of us to have an alibi when I kill him so the kids will be taken care of.” Chase told her kissing her forehead. She didn’t look like she wanted to go, but then she nodded and walked up to their house. They watched her go, before Chase turned back to him.
“Luke, I love you but you are making it way too hard right now. M
y wife is in tears, and I’m pretty sure Lindy is too. If you are always going to act like this I would be happy to make sure no one knows what rehab center you are at so you can’t hurt anyone else. Now, let’s start with you telling me what is going on with you, and why you suddenly seem to resent my relationship with Callie and then work our way to your problem with Lindy.”
“I don’t want to do this now.” Luke leaned his head back to stare up at the sky.
“Tough. You don’t have a choice. Whatever is going on has to stop. It’s not like we can just fight it out like last time. They would all kill me for punching you, no matter how much you deserve it right now.” Chase scold at him, his fists balled at his sides.
“Fine, you really want to know, I’ll tell you, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I don’t resent your relationship with Callie, I’m jealous of it. I hate being in this chair and feeling useless and crippled. I hate having people look at me in pity, but tell me I’m a hero for saving Lindy. I hate the thought that the woman I love will have to see me at my worst and help me do things most wives wouldn’t even do. I hate that she will have to see me as a patient and completely dependent on someone to do even the most trivial of things, and not the strong man she needs at her side.” Luke said and looked up to see Chase’s shocked expression. “Close your mouth or you will catch flies.”
Chase closed his mouth, but didn’t speak. He slowly sat on the ground just staring straight ahead. Luke knew it was a lot to take in so fast so he waited, letting Chase wrap his head around everything he just said. Slowly he could see the life returning to his face and knew he was going to have a lot of questions. In 5-4-3-2…
“There are so many things wrong with what you just said, but let’s start with the jealous part. Why are you jealous of us?” Chase asked him.
“You and Callie have it all. You saw her and in the blink of an eye she was living here and having your babies.” Luke said, he assumed it was obvious.
“You are leaving out some very important parts. What about all the time she thought I had taken advantage of her, or the fact that we literally fought over you telling her the truth? It was hardly the fairy tale you are making it out to be.” Chase told him.
“You still got your happily ever after. In the grand scheme of things those things don’t even matter.” Luke told him.
“The pain I went through says different even if she is mine now. Now, the next part people don’t pity you.” Luke looked at him like he was crazy. “They don’t, they just don’t know how to help you. Lindy does know how.”
“It is different when you see that look on their face, it makes you feel like you aren’t good for anything.” Luke knew if the look hadn’t been directed at you before you couldn’t understand.
“Even more reason to stay here and let Lindy care for you. No one here gives you that look. You can concentrate on getting better, not worry about how people see you.” Chase told him.
“You still don’t get it. She will be here and see it all.” Luke said shaking his head.
“Which brings us to that last bit of news. How long have you been in love with her?” Chase’s voice demanded eye contact.
“I have no idea, but it’s been a while now.” Luke was trying to avoid going any deeper into the conversation.
“Luke, is that why you went into that building even when you were told not to?” Chase asked him.
“I know Jacob told me not to go, but she was in there and I couldn’t risk her being hurt.” Luke finally looked over to see Chase still watching him closely.
“Does Jacob know why you went in?” Chase asked him quietly.
“No, no one knows but you. That I know of, no one even suspects. Everyone thinks I went in to save her because of Callie.” Luke told him.
“So, Lindy doesn’t even know?” Chase asked him.
“Not that I know of. I tried to keep most of it hidden.” Luke told him.
“Why? I know you and her are always either arguing, or you are flirting with her, but I thought that was just you trying to be funny. I feel really bad for not seeing this sooner. No wonder you got so upset after her comment at the hospital.” Chase was shaking his head, staring at the ground as if trying to visualize every encounter he had witnessed between them to see if he should have known about it.
“This isn’t on you. If it wasn’t for the fire, I would probably still be chasing my tail. After I made her leave that day, I decided if she was single by some miracle when I was better and could walk again, I would ask her out. No woman would ever be attracted to a man she had helped to bath and cloth.” Luke felt like he had been defeated. “But you’re right. She is my only chance to stay home.”
“I can try to call an agency. Maybe they can send someone out you don’t know to deal with all of this.” Chase said as he stood up.
“No, she is better off here. I can make sure she is well paid and she is taken care of in every way I can while she is stuck with me.” Luke told him.
“Okay, I agree. The question is, how do we get her to come back, or if she will come back.” Chase said frowning.
“For obvious reasons, I can’t go after her. Her car is still here. At this point, I will have to wait on her to come back.” Luke didn’t like waiting, but he really didn’t have any choice in the matter.
“I have no idea where she went, but if she decides to run, her clothes are at the ranch. I will go back and wait to see if she shows up there. If she does I will try to send her here.” Chase told him. “Do you need any help getting into the house?”
“No, since you have the ramp installed I should be fine. I will grab the cordless when I get inside so that I have a way to call if I need something.” Luke told him turning the chair to go in.
“I’ll call you shortly.” Chase said and hopped into his truck.
Luke carefully wheeled himself in, he was definitely working the muscles in his arms pushing the chair. He was a pretty fit guy, but getting himself up the ramp had made his muscles burn. Hopefully his legs wouldn’t get too weak. As soon as his left leg healed enough, he was going to get crutches. It should only be a few more weeks before he could put his weight on it, at least enough to use the bathroom. The right leg would be much worse.
For now, he was going to concentrate on getting Lindy to come back and stay with him. He hadn’t meant to say that to her. She wasn’t supposed to know what he had done to help care for her. His lashing out had caused this problem and it would take a miracle for him to fix it.
*****
What was she going to do now? She had already planned on paying everything back, but she thought it was Chase and Callie she owed. She would never have enough to pay Luke back for saving her. How would she repay all of this too? Running off might not have been the most grown up thing to do, but she had just needed to be away from them. She was looking forward to caring for Luke. It made her feel like she was at least trying to make up for him being hurt saving her.
Now she wasn’t sure where to go. It would take a while to save up money for an apartment. She had some put back, but it was now going to pay back Luke for having the keys to her car made, and all of the other things he had no doubt been responsible for. She hadn’t been happy when she thought it was Callie’s money that paid for everything, but they had reassured her it was all things she needed and they wouldn’t miss the money. They said she could take all the time she needed to pay it back. Luke hadn’t been mentioned when they had talked with her about making sure she had what she needed. She had tried to say no to the laptop, but Chase had brought it home anyway and told her it would be easier for her to have her own than to keep borrowing his. He did use his a lot, but she had tried to only use it if he was out or if she couldn’t wait any longer.
After about an hour she still didn’t have a plan, but she couldn’t wait any longer. As she walked back to the ranch she decided she would grab some clothes, and go to the closest hotel. Tomorrow morning, she would call the hospital. At least with some money coming
in she would be able to pay for her hotel room, and even maybe pay Luke back a little at a time. All things considered she didn’t see any way to reopen the boutique. The insurance money would allow her to invest in a home for herself. Maybe it was time for her to just go back and get her RNs. That would give her a stable career for life. She liked being able to help others, and she was sensible enough to know when it was time to give up. The boutique had been doing great, but not good enough to rebuild and open back up.
As the ranch house came into view, she paused to take a deep breath. While she felt betrayed that they had kept this from her, she knew they were only doing what they thought was right for her. After all they had done for her, she couldn’t be truly angry at them.
She had always known she would never measure up in Luke’s eyes, but knowing he saw her as a charity case was the last thing that she had expected. It cut deep to know that the man she had secretly wanted for so long only felt pity for her. Her heart felt like it was shattering in her chest, but she didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself.
She was standing at the steps to the ranch house and had to pull herself together. She straightened her spine, then took a deep breath to gather her courage, then walked up to the door and knocked.
“Lindy, what on earth are you doing knocking?” Callie said opening the door wide. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”
“I’m sorry to have worried you, I just needed some time to myself. I just need to run up and grab my things, then I will be out of your hair. Thank you for everything you have done for me.” Lindy turned for the stairs ready to make a break for it. She should have known it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Lindsey, I need to speak with you a moment please.” Chase called to her. She wanted to ignore him so badly, but he was using the “daddy voice”. He never did that before the twins were born. She figured since women got a mother’s intuition, dads apparently got a super power too. Chase’s seemed to be the “daddy voice”. She turned to face him, but she resisted the urge to say “yes sir”.
Luke's Recovery Page 6