by Dale Mayer
Silence fell over the room.
Brock stared at him. “And so? What was the result?”
Cole gave Denton a lopsided grin, encouraging him to share with them.
“I understood a little bit about what she’s going through,” Denton said. “That loneliness that she’s always had in her life. I didn’t have the same experience she did, since I do know what it’s like to have good friends. Friends who barge in my door to make sure I’m not hiding from them. Friends who understand how important our relationship is.”
“So how does she feel about what you’re doing?” Brock asked.
This time Denton chuckled. “Well, it’s part of the challenge for me to separate slightly this last week and for her to step forward. To see if she could make some friends and be a little friendlier every day.”
“I never noticed her not being friendly,” Brock said with a frown.
“Exactly. But if you didn’t see her with me, would you see her at all?”
The two men looked at him and then chuckled.
“Maybe not,” Cole answered. “But then we are both seeing just one woman. And maybe that’s why you see her. Because she’s for you.”
“No idea yet if she is or not. But I’d like to find out. However, I don’t want to collect another friend because they need that relationship, and I don’t want to be collected because she needs a relationship.”
“Now we come to the crux of it all,” Brock mused. “I think that’s a very valid point. Enough so we can understand you figuring out this whole relationship thing. We’re on board. I promise you.”
“All the power to you,” Cole added. “None of this relationship thing is easy. We’ve seen that she’s sincere, honest and real. And you know how we feel about those qualities.”
“Absolutely,” Denton said. “And maybe that’s why we had this initial attraction. Because she is all that. The sense that I can trust her. That she’d be there for me. And if she can accept what she sees now, then it can only get better, and yet, if I relapse, she’d take it in stride.”
“So, it is that serious?” Cole grinned.
Denton shrugged and smiled too. “I’d like to think so, but I also think we have to wait and see.”
Brock chuckled. “I feel like we should bring other single buddies of ours here. There is something magical about Hathaway House.”
Cole laughed. “Don’t tell Dani that. If she thought we were using this place as a matchmaking service, she’d run for the hills.”
Denton shook his head. “Are you sure about that? From what I understand, she’s the one who blazed this trail. I’ve heard Aaron always was a bit of a trailblazer. I’m sorry he’s not here right now. I’d love to get to know him.”
The men exchanged grins.
“Aaron is at school right now. According to Dani,” Brock said, “he just finished a set of tough exams. He should be home soon.”
“Good. Let’s meet up with him when he’s back.”
Chapter 10
Hannah continued to go out of her way for the next few days to be friendly to everyone, even though she knew this general approach defeated her purpose to be a little more social and to do something for someone specific every day. If she did end up doing things with Denton, then it was a sure thing she would be doing things with the men around him. And that meant their women as well. That Hannah might become a part of their group, with her becoming the sixth member, had her feeling fuzzy inside.
Maybe the whole thing wasn’t as much of an issue as she’d thought. It had taken a few days, but she’d noticed a shift. Everybody seemed friendlier toward her. It wasn’t so much that she was making friends but that she was more open and welcoming and was getting the same kind of response back. Even the kitchen staff had noticed.
“Something must be good in your life right now,” Dennis had said with a laugh, teasing her. “I’ve never seen you with so many smiles on your face.”
“Really?” She winced. “Was I that unfriendly?” She trusted him to give her a truthful answer since Dennis was a straight shooter.
He shook his head. “Nope, not unfriendly, just not overly friendly. You’ve always had an air of reservation about you, as if you weren’t quite sure if you were welcome.”
That startled a laugh out of her. “That’s exactly how I felt. I never attracted friends before, and I was always worried about my welcome. This is kind of an experiment,” she admitted. “To see if I can work on making some friends. So I have to be friendlier.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said with a shrug. “You’re good people, and good people always find friends.”
“I’ve never felt like I was good people.”
“Listen,” Dennis said, his expression serious. “Sometimes you choose the wrong group, or sometimes it’s hard to meet people. When you’ve been hurt, it sometimes seems impossible. It’s hard not to keep looking at everyone in the same negative way.”
She stared at him in wonder. “And here I thought you worked in the kitchen. I didn’t know you were a shrink. You’ve got real talent there.”
That big grin of his flashed. He waved his cup of coffee, motioning to a fresh pot brewing right beside them. “It’s just a matter of standing behind the counter, watching people day in and day out and understanding how much our existence here is simply a small view of the real world out there. People grow. People change, and sometimes you can’t see who they are. As a staff member, I see how people treat me. In a supposedly lower-paying job like this one,” he said, “you see people’s true colors. But for the most part, those who are here have been very good to me.”
“Good. I’d hate to think you were being slighted in any way. You’ve always got a smile for everyone, and you’re one of the most helpful people on staff. I would be lost without you.”
He chuckled as he gave the counter a wipe. “And that’s very kind of you to say. The thing is, I don’t think you see yourself as you really are. I’ve never seen you ever have a sour word for anyone. You always have a smile on your face, and you’re always here ready to do the job, regardless of the night you had or how someone spoke to you. It’s not an easy job. None of this is. But there are rewards”—he shook his head—“and those rewards are tremendous. It’s not about the money in your bank account. It’s about your day-to-day experiences and that little bit of yourself offered to everyone else. Don’t try so hard to make friends or to be friendly. Just be yourself.”
“That’d be terrific, but I haven’t made many friends so far,” she pointed out to him.
“Because you weren’t open to it. That’s one of the biggest things—you will make friends if you are open to the concept. That is a matter of how many people walk in front of you. Do you see them or not?” He gave her a small wave with his towel and headed back into the kitchen.
Hannah wasn’t sure what happened, but it felt like she’d gotten a lecture on life.
“Wow,” a man behind her murmured.
She spun in surprise to see Shane behind her. “Right? Who knew Dennis was so deep?”
Shane shook his head. “I didn’t know, and I’ve been working with him for six years.”
“He is very good at what he does, and obviously he understands people in a way we don’t.” She frowned slightly. “You know? It’d be very good for every one of us to stand on the other side of that counter for a few days and watch the world walk past—the good, the bad and the ugly.”
“Do I have to?” Shane asked. “I wouldn’t want my hands so near the food. I’d gain forty pounds in a month.”
She burst into laughter. “You? Overweight? That would be something to see.”
He gave her a mock look of horror. “Bite your tongue. I work hard to keep all that lovely food prepared here for us off my waistline.”
“So far, I haven’t had to do too much work in that area. I do eat, but I have a high metabolism.”
“True, but one day your metabolism will slow down. And you will pay the price.
”
It was her turn to look at him. “Now you bite your tongue,” she snapped laughingly. “I wouldn’t know what to do in a gym. I’ve never felt comfortable in those places.”
“Never say never,” Shane said. “Many of us workout here. You are more than welcome to join us anytime.”
She shook her head. “Oh, no thank you. That would be incredibly awkward for me.”
He stopped, studying her for a moment. “I guess if you’ve never been in there, it’s intimidating.”
“Very intimidating. I wouldn’t know what to do or where to start. I’d be afraid of hurting myself on the first day.”
He nodded. “Let’s do something about that. Normally I do a forty-minute workout at the end of the day. Why not meet me? We can go through something very basic, very simple, that you can do on your own without any awkwardness.”
She wanted to refuse. But then her brain poked at her. It was one of the few invitations she’d ever received at Hathaway. She wrinkled her nose up at him. “Is getting sweaty a requirement?”
He burst into laughter. “It’s a definite requirement.”
She sighed. “Okay. I’ll try it once, and if it’s too …” She was at a loss for words.
“Too what? Too heavy? Too painful? Or too sweaty to return to work?”
At her nod, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “The gym can be adapted for whatever you need and whatever you feel comfortable with. Nothing is written in stone. Just pick a day and join me.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and took a bite of his cinnamon bun. “I work out so I can have these. That’s the only reason why.”
“Because you love food.”
His eyes lit up. “Exactly.” He grinned at her and gave her a wink before disappearing down the hallway.
Well, now she’d done it. She’d gotten herself signed up for a workout with Shane. Suddenly, she was afraid the whole thing would be a huge disappointment, and she’d make a fool of herself.
But at least he had offered. Which was a success.
Suddenly feeling happier at the concept, she returned to the coffee pot. She refilled her mug and after a moment, poured a cup for Dani too. As she placed the mugs on a tray, she glanced at the fresh hot cinnamon buns and decided she and Dani both needed the treat. She grabbed the laden tray and headed to Dani’s office.
As she walked toward the main office, she caught sight of a horse trailer pulling down the driveway. She paused outside Dani’s office and watched as the trailer made its way to the far end of the building. She glanced at Dani. “You’ve got more horses coming?”
Dani lifted her head from her desk and looked at her in confusion. “Horses? I don’t think so. Why?”
Hannah put the tray down on her desk. “Well, a horse trailer pulled up the drive and headed toward Stan’s end of the building.”
Dani hopped up and walked to the front door to take a look. “As soon as I’ve had coffee and that treat—thank you, by the way,” she said, “I’ll head down there to see what that’s all about.”
“Do you mind if I come with you?” Hannah offered. “I’ve seen the horses here but only from afar.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Dani’s expression was one of disbelief.
Hannah chuckled. “Nope. I never had the opportunity to ride a horse before. I haven’t been around a real horse.”
After finishing their coffee and pastries, Dani headed down the hallway. “That’ll change right now. Come with me.”
Denton rose, finishing the last set of calf raises, his muscles shaking with the effort. The workout today had been hard and demanding, and he was so done.
“That was a great effort,” Shane said approvingly. “You pushed that movement to the max. Don’t forget to have your snack as soon as you get back to your room.”
Denton laughed wryly. “It seems nobody lets me forget about my little lapse.”
Shane shook his head. “Hell no. Not in a place like this. Dennis won’t blab about it, but he’s certainly on top of things too. And if it looks like you’re suffering or struggling in any way, he will mention it to one of us on your team.”
“Considering it’s all done in my best interests, it’s a little hard to get upset about it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“How is it that even missing a toe is such a major injury? How can it have such a brutal effect on my body?”
“It’s pretty amazing how much something like that affects everything else.”
Denton’s hamstrings were killing him as he did one more muscle exercise. “Another question—how can muscles that are no longer there hurt?”
“Are you hurting badly today?” Shane gave him a crooked grin and said, “If not, pick it up.”
At that, Denton laughed out loud. “I guess you’ve heard all the excuses and procrastination delays anybody can give.”
Shane nodded his head. “When you work at a place like this, you don’t run short on those. Remember to dig in to work on the slow, controlled movement. For that burn that says something is happening. You’re building muscles, which means you must make tiny micro tears into the existing muscle, so it can rebuild bigger and stronger. If the muscles are new, they must be fired awake again. Nerve endings can be painful. You know perfectly well how this works. When it all comes together, it’s a piece of art.”
“I’m a work in progress.” Denton closed his eyes, feeling the pain shoot up his legs, the back of his ankle, even his knees. Missing a hamstring muscle made it harder. But it wasn’t bad. It could be so much worse. At least he had his legs. From what he’d seen here, a lot of guys were way worse off. When he finally finished his set, his body was completely drenched in sweat.
“There you go,” Shane said. “Nice job.”
“Am I supposed to be so worked up over this?”
“Absolutely. It’s like hitting a wall. You feel like it’s taken everything out of you right now. When you rebuild, you come back stronger and bigger and better than ever.”
Denton nodded. “Good to know.”
They went to work on other muscles, focusing on balancing both sides of his body. By the time his session with Shane was done, Denton was drenched. He shook his head. “I’m hitting the showers.”
Shane nodded. “Or you can go to the pool.”
Denton lit up like a firecracker. “Really? I thought it would be longer before I hit the pool.”
“You’ve been cleared, so how about today? You worked hard. Your body could do with the cooldown.”
“Sounds even better,” Denton said. “I’ll get my swim trunks and meet you down there.”
“I’ll be with you for about twenty minutes, and then I have another physiotherapy session in the pool. So I can’t keep an eye on you while I work with the other person. That okay?”
Denton knew what Shane was asking. “Yes, I’m perfectly capable of going in the water on my own. I’m ecstatic to have a chance to hit that hot tub. And thank you for the confidence in my ability and independence.”
With a high-five, they separated. Denton had a new surge of energy at the thought of the pool and the hot tub, and he made his way quickly to his room. His shirt clung to his back as sweat dripped from his scalp. But knowing where he was going made all the difference. Deciding the wheelchair might be more prudent, he sat down and wheeled his way to the elevator, his towel wrapped around his shoulders. He slowly made his way to the pool deck and wondered what the protocol was.
Shane appeared at his side. “First things first. Because you came from a workout, you need a quick shower before you get into the pool. Afterward you can get right in the water.”
Denton realized Shane was already in his own bathing trunks. Fit and lean, he was a great role model. Denton was seriously excited. Containing his exuberance, he made his way to the changing room and parked the wheelchair outside. Denton rinsed off and then made his way very slowly to the pool’s edge, surveying all the amenities disabled people might need, including a motorized lift fo
r getting in and out. “No money spared here, huh?”
“No, when it came to putting in the pool, Dani and the Major did it right.”
“And we all get the benefit of that.” He stood for a moment, struck with hesitation. What was the easiest way for him to get in?
“Don’t worry about it. Just jump in,” Shane said, chuckling.
Denton flashed him a big grin and fell sideways into the water. Cool waves wrapped around his body. He’d always been a water baby, and he couldn’t believe how much he’d missed it. As he slowly sank, his body instantly reacted, bending and swerving, kicking and waving, the motion so damn natural it almost brought tears to his eyes. When he broke the surface, he closed his eyes for a long moment, enjoying the sensation of once again being back in his natural environment.
“Glad to see I don’t need to worry about you in the water,” Shane said jokingly.
“I was a Navy SEAL,” he said with a grin. For him that said it all. He closed his eyes and floated in joy.
Life could be a lot worse.
Chapter 11
Once again, Hannah marveled at the joys of her job. How many people got to spend an hour visiting with horses in the middle of their workday? She met Maggie and Molly, the baby, who stood in attendance. Hannah watched as a new arrival was unloaded.
“This is Sir Raleigh,” Stan said. “He’s a racehorse. Destined for the factory.”
Dani’s face turned grim. “And will he fit in with the other horses?”
Stan chuckled. “The last time we talked, you told me to rescue any horse I knew of. He’s still intact. I figured we could give him a quick surgical procedure and put him out to pasture along with the others.”
Dani’s face broke into a beautiful smile. “So very glad to hear that. I was a little concerned about the stallion aspect, but if we can castrate him, then that’s fine.”