by Dale Mayer
It was a text from Elliot. Any chance of meeting for coffee or having dinner together tonight?
She stared at her sandwich, which had looked so appetizing until she got this message. She wasn’t sure how to respond, so she decided to think about it for a few minutes, but the phone rang. She picked it up again to see it was Elliot. Frowning, she answered the call. “What’s up, Elliot?”
“I was wondering if you are avoiding me,” he said without any preamble.
“No, not at all. I’m in town. Why?”
“I had a talk with Dani about the hot tub option and about the horses. I understand she had a meeting with you today, so I wasn’t sure if that was a problem. I don’t want to cause problems.”
“No problem,” she said lightly. “I was getting out for a bit.”
“That makes sense. Will you be back in time for dinner, even if it’s late?” he asked, hope in his voice.
She stared at the sandwich. The fact that Elliot wanted to be with her made some of her world start to feel right again. She smiled. “I might be back in the next hour. Is that early enough?”
“It’s only six-thirty now, so if you’re back anywhere between seven and eight, that would be perfect. I’m sure there will be leftovers available, or we could get something from Dennis or the kitchen staff. Besides, I’m not that hungry yet anyway.”
She glanced at her watch. “Okay, I’ll try to get back within the hour.” She hung up the phone and called a waitress over and asked her to wrap up her sandwich to-go. She finished her coffee and packed up. She still had to hit the grocery store for a few special snacks and treats to keep in her room. It only took her about twenty minutes to finish the things on her list. She was doing well on time as she drove to her last stop for fuel.
She walked into her place, unloaded her purchases and took a few minutes to check her email messages. She washed up and then headed to the main center. On the way, she pulled out her phone and sent Elliot a message. Where are you?
In my room. Where are you?
Heading to the dining hall.
His response came right away. I’ll meet you there in five.
She laughed, her heart light. So nice to know she had somebody to meet. Somebody who cared. Somebody who wanted to be with her. He really was a special person.
She stood in the doorway to the dining hall and scanned the room. Only a handful of people still sat here. Elliot hadn’t arrived yet.
She grabbed a cup of coffee and stepped outside on the deck where the day’s heat still hit her like a brick wall. She decided it was a good night to eat inside for a change. She chose a table for two off to the side and sat so she could watch the entranceway. She didn’t wait long before Elliot walked through the door.
He made his way slowly toward her on his crutches. He was walking but with a bad limp.
She motioned to his leg. “Is that much worse?”
“No, but I’ve got some chafed spots on my sole from putting too much pressure on it.” He pulled out the chair and sat down, tucking the crutches off to the side. Then he covered her hand with his and said, “Are you okay?”
She raised her eyebrows and smiled warmly. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He shrugged and sat back, letting go of her hand. “You went to beg for me to use the hot tub, and you went through all the trouble of getting a horse therapist to come in. I want you to know I appreciate that, and I hope something wasn’t said to upset you over it all.”
She shook her head. “Not at all. I have a great working relationship with Dani. We can talk about most issues. In fact, she told me not to pressure you about the horse therapy as you have enough on your plate to focus on. And I totally agree with her. So I’m sorry that I pushed you about even watching the therapy.”
“No problem,” he said, visibly relieved, “but thank you for that. I’m excited because she told me the hot tub would be an option if I felt I needed it. She also said I wasn’t to abuse the system because only two orderlies are on duty at that hour, and they also have other duties to perform. But this is huge to know that when I wake up in the night full of knots, I’m free to use the hot tub.”
She nodded. “Maybe tonight that’ll be something we can look at.”
He smiled. “I don’t want to look forward to it because that also means I’m waking up in severe pain.” He laughed. “On the other hand, it sounds like a really nice benefit for me, and I appreciate it.” He glanced around and said, “Shall we get some food before we can’t anymore?” He grabbed his crutches, and together they slowly walked to the buffet area. Dennis waited there with trays already loaded for them.
Sicily smiled. It had been Italian night, and she was very partial to lasagna. Without thinking, she picked up her tray and returned to the table. She set it down and realized he hadn’t followed. She walked back over as he placed a cup of coffee on his tray.
“You might’ve tried the tray before you put down the coffee,” she said jokingly. “Once the coffee is on there, that makes it so much harder.” She picked it up and carried it ahead of him. She didn’t wait to see if he was upset or not at her taking his tray and stepping out in front with no discussion. But she hoped he’d take it the way it had been intended.
As she sat down again with him, he placed the crutches on the floor beside them.
“Thanks,” he said quietly. “I always think I can do more that I can. If I’d tried to carry that, I would have ended up falling on my face.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered, except you might have hurt yourself.”
He nodded but didn’t say anything.
“Accepting help can be difficult. There are enough times when you have to do things on your own that you should consider the help when it’s available. Remember that.”
He gave a short nod and dug into his meal.
So often relationships were all about this, working through each other’s buttons that were pushed and finding a happy place in the middle. As she had done with Dani earlier. Sicily chuckled and leaned back, and when he stared at her, she said, “We’re starting to sound like an old married couple.”
Surprise lit the depths of his eyes. “Why’s that?” he asked lightly. He put down his fork and picked up his glass of water and took a drink, but he studied her.
She smiled. “Helping each other without needing to be asked or told and understanding each other’s moods and perceived contrariness. Understanding when somebody’s upset and giving them a moment.” She pointed at him. “Somewhere along the way, we crossed a line from being patient and employee to friends.” She gestured with her arm in a wide arc. “Did you ever notice how all the employees tend to sit on the other side of the room, and all the patients are on this side?”
He turned and looked around, a thoughtful expression coming over his face. He nodded. “I’ve never noticed that before. He glanced at her. “Does it bother you?”
She shook her head. “No, but I realized today that other people have talked about us. Not gossiping but it’s been noticed.”
Elliot nodded. “I imagine they have, for no other reason than concern for a trend starting here with so many relationships forming. What is it now? Five?”
“Counting us, yes.” She smiled—a bright, truly happy smile. Because if she did like one thing, it was the thought that her relationship with Elliot might end up growing into something special, the way Sandra’s, Hannah’s, Sidney’s and Dani’s had. “You know? I’m good with that.”
Hell, he was more than good with that. He’d been perturbed, not ashamed, but his self-confidence had taken a hit when he realized he couldn’t carry the dinner tray while walking with crutches. He’d carried one yesterday with only a single cinnamon bun on a dessert plate. It was a small step forward, but he hadn’t even considered that earlier success when he was in line at the buffet with Sicily now. Yet she’d come back, picked up his tray and carried it, saving his pride at the same time. Then she had even joked about it. Yeah, she was his kind of
girl.
He smiled at the thought. He raised his gaze as she cut into her lasagna. There was something about her … She was the take-home-to-Mom kind of girl. She was also a nurse, a professional who cared about people, and she had no trouble stepping out of the role and being a friend to one in need.
“What are you looking at?” she asked self-consciously. “Do I have pasta sauce on my face?” She wiped her mouth with her napkin.
That sinfully rich mouth. He sighed, forcing his gaze away from those plump lips. “No, you don’t,” he said gently. “You’re perfect.”
She stared in surprise, and he realized how much emotion he’d conveyed in those few words. He gave a big happy sigh and added, “I meant it.”
Heat washed up her cheeks.
He’d never seen anyone blush the way she did. It was heartwarming and fascinating.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, but she dropped her head to hide her embarrassment.
He chuckled, feeling more alive and younger than he had any right to feel. “I do like my life right now.”
Her head shot up, and she stared at him, then gave him a slow dawning smile that came from deep inside, and by the time it bloomed fully, he was even more under her spell.
Her smile was so endearing and honest … Well, he’d already been sliding down that slippery slope of attraction, but now—he’d fallen hard. He knew there was no going back after this.
If he couldn’t convince her they were meant to be together, then there would be a lot less joy in his forever-after.
The problem was, he didn’t have much to offer. At least not yet.
Chapter 12
The next Thursday Sicily left her office, excited that the day for the horse therapist had arrived. She raced back to her apartment, had a shower and dove into bed. She hadn’t expected to feel such excitement buzzing through her. The horse therapist would be here around one o’clock, and that gave Sicily plenty of time to sleep. Well, at least, she hoped. The patients were excited too. She was grateful for that. Five had signed up, and that was about all the horse therapist could handle today. Depending on how this first session went, Dani and the horse therapist and the medical staff here at Hathaway House would see how much more they did after this. There was no real way to know until they went through the process.
She hadn’t brought it up with Elliot again after telling him how she wouldn’t pressure him further on that topic. She had earlier placed strings on his attending, and that wasn’t fair. She hadn’t meant to, but that had been the end result. Through most of his life he had kept that scared-of-horses secret under wraps. It wasn’t like there was any right way to go through life. Everybody had some kind of weakness.
Her alarm woke her up at noon. She got dressed and grabbed a cup of coffee at the cafeteria, then headed outside to the pasture where the session would take place. Nobody was here yet. She checked her watch and frowned, but when she glanced up, a horse trailer slowly made its way toward her down the drive. She grinned—right on time.
Word must’ve gone out that the horse therapist had arrived because by the time the trailer pulled up and parked, Dani, Stan, and several of the patients had made their way outside. Excitement filled the air. She chuckled when she saw the anticipation on Dani’s face.
“Anything to do with horses and I’m happy,” Dani said, almost dancing in place.
Stan chuckled. “Very much so.”
Sicily waited until the therapist hopped from the truck and walked over to Dani. The two women exchanged handshakes. Sicily stayed close enough that she was part of the group. She introduced herself to Amy, the horse therapist, after the pleasantries were exchanged.
Amy motioned to the trailer behind her and said, “I’ll get Copper out.” She returned to the horse trailer and brought out a beautiful chestnut gelding.
“This is Copper. He’s eight years old and has been doing this for about four years now.”
Dani stepped up and introduced herself to the animal.
Sicily watched a look of complete adoration come over her boss’s face. It was beautiful to see. Sicily stepped up beside Dani, and the horse lifted his beautiful soft velvet nose. Copper sniffed Sicily’s hand as she stroked his long nose. “He’s beautiful,” Sicily said.
Amy laughed. “Yes, he is, and he knows it. He has quite a vain streak.”
The women laughed. “He deserves it,” Dani said.
Amy looked around at the other horses standing by the fence and smiled. “You’ve got quite a few of your own here too, don’t you?”
Dani smiled. “And if you don’t already know, there is always room for one or two more.”
“At least you have the space for them. I do hate to see horses in small pastures without room to run.” She led the gelding into the pasture set aside for the day’s session and walked him around for several minutes, letting him get used to the feel and the change in the area. “He’s used to traveling a fair bit. But it’s always a good idea to let him have a couple minutes on his own.” She unhooked his lead and let him go.
Sicily was surprised. “Won’t it be hard to catch him again?”
Amy laughed. “No, not Copper. He will come when he’s called. He loves people. So the minute another person arrives, he’ll be here to greet them.”
Sicily watched Amy check her watch. They did have ten to fifteen minutes before the first person was scheduled. A second truck pulled in. Amy said, “That’s one of my helpers. You can never have enough hands when you’re working with horses.”
“Or when working with patients,” Dani added with a smile. With the new arrival, things got a little busier. They had a specific ramp set up for patients to mount the horse. They had the list of patients to get ready. Sicily was fascinated. She stepped out of the way as she wasn’t even on duty, and Dani already had the staff on hand, ready to help.
Charles was the first patient. He had lost his full leg from the hip and part of an arm. He was also struggling with some spinal injuries. He had made phenomenal progress, but he’d also been at Hathaway for months.
Sicily hopped onto the fence and sat on top, watching as Charles was helped onto the horse and secured with some strapping she hadn’t seen before, then was slowly led around the yard. She was surprised when a second horse was brought into the pasture, not having seen it inside the horse trailer with Copper. The assistant hopped onto its back and rode up beside Charles. A discussion ensued between the three of them, then Amy walked along as she took Copper and Charles for a slow, steady walk down the fence line. Amy kept an eye on Charles’s posture, and from the look of pure happiness on his face, he appeared to be enjoying himself thoroughly.
Before Sicily realized it, the hours slipped away. Patients came. Patients went. Not everybody walked up to the fence line and spent their time on the horse, like Charles did. Shane was here when they brought out Andrew. He had both arms, but his back injuries made it difficult for him to lift his huge frame. Shane, on the other hand, quickly helped the large man into the saddle. Amy’s assistant got off her horse and walked to the side of Andrew and helped navigate him and Copper through the pasture.
Sicily joined Dani, who had remained to watch the entire afternoon, and asked, “How do you think it’s working?”
A big smile washed over Dani’s face. “Wonderful. Some of the men will be quite sore tomorrow.”
“As long as they are up to being sore.”
“Exactly. It’s all about balance.”
By the end of the afternoon, there were smiles, a whole lot of happy people with no accidents, no spills, and no injuries. Including Sicily. Amy and Dani were having a private discussion by the time Copper and his buddy were loaded up. Sicily wandered back to the dining hall to find dozens of staff and patients lined up along the deck railing, watching.
Sidney walked over to join Sicily. “I’m so jealous. They looked like they were having so much fun out there.”
Sicily nodded. “They seemed to be happy. There were a lot of smiling f
aces out there.”
“It’s about connecting to the animals and having a chance to ride. Most of these people have probably never ridden a horse before. This is not exactly an easy introduction to it, but even emotionally their spirits should be so much happier after this.”
Sicily nodded. “I think that’s what it’s all about. Making them feel good. Making their muscles work in a different way.”
“Anything we can do to make the body engage is huge. People don’t realize it, but even shifting chairs forces muscles to work. When you sit in the same chair over a long period of time, the body gets accustomed to it. It doesn’t like change, and then, when you do shift to a new chair, it can complain pretty loudly.”
“Hopefully these guys won’t have too much pain from their afternoon ride.”
As Sicily found out later that night, not only were there no ill effects on the riders, but those who had had some prior trouble sleeping fell asleep like babies with smiles on their faces. She caught one before he was nodding off to give him his medicine. His smile said it all.
“Riding the horse today,” he said, “was just magical.”
“Then I’m glad we set this up,” she said.
He rolled over and closed his eyes. She turned off the light on her way out. Inside, she found it hard not to be pleased and delighted. She’d helped bring this about, and that was a good thing. She carried on down the hall, finishing her rounds at Elliot’s room. “Hey, how are you doing?” she asked as she walked inside.
He raised his gaze, but it was dark and shuttered.
She stopped and studied him. “You okay?”
He nodded. “I’m fine.”
She walked over and placed his medicine on his night table. “Did you get a chance to see the horses arrive?”
He nodded. “I saw them arrive, but that’s all.”