Operation: Healing Angel

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Operation: Healing Angel Page 29

by Margaret Kay


  Diana watched him, praying that he would make it to the bars without incident. She and Doc stood on opposite sides of him, spotters in case he fell. Her heart was in her throat. She rejoiced and mentally said yes, keep going, with each step he took.

  “That was great,” she said when he made it to the bars. “How did you feel?”

  “Fantastic,” he said with a big smile. “I felt stable the whole way.”

  His eyes met Doc’s. Doc was visibly emotional. “I never thought I’d see you walk again, Shep.” His eyes filled with unshed tears.

  Shepherd hadn’t cried since the day his father died so long ago. Not even after he was shot and was told paralysis was a possibility. But tears came to his eyes. “Me either.” He schooled himself and swallowed his emotions. “Let’s get these exercises done. I’m starving.”

  He completed his bending and squatting exercises, something that was difficult for him. Walking backwards challenged different muscles and balancing. He held onto the parallel bars while he did several laps of walking backwards. He would continue to do these exercises three times a day until he became stronger at them.

  “Okay, that’s enough for today,” Diana said. “And tonight, we’re going to take it easy with the amount of unassisted walking. No quick movements and take it slow. I have a few chapters to read so I think a night of us both going to bed early to read will be in the plan.”

  Doc chuckled. “If that’s what you call it, going to bed to read.” He made air quotes when he said the word read.

  Diana felt her cheeks heat. “I seriously have three chapters to read.”

  Doc laughed harder.

  After he left, she made Sam sit at the table while she prepared dinner. “For the next two days, keep the cane with you and use it. And Sam, I don’t want you getting up and walking anywhere without someone nearby.”

  “The bathroom?”

  “Nope,” Diana insisted. “Even if you have to get up in the middle of the night to go, you have to wake me and let me walk in there with you. I won’t risk you potentially falling with no one there to help you.”

  Shepherd laughed. “If I wake up in the middle of the night and you come into the bathroom with me, I won’t be able to go with the hard on your presence will give me.”

  Diana smiled. “Sam, it’s for a few days till we know you won’t fall.”

  Shepherd stood and took her into his arms. He kissed her with every emotion he had for her, fueling the assault of his lips against hers. “How long will it take you to read your chapters? I like Doc’s idea for our reading time.”

  Tango

  The next morning, Shepherd went down to his office as Diana left for the day. She escorted him. He had the cane in his hand but didn’t feel he needed it. He took it slow per her direction. He lowered himself into his desk chair. He’d rarely used it over the years since he’d been in the wheelchair. He’d forgotten how comfortable it was.

  “I still want you to split your time between sitting and standing, though the length of time standing may need to be in increments as small as fifteen-minutes. Do not overdo it, Sam,” She warned.

  “I promise, I won’t. Cooper and Doc will be in. I’ll even have one of them wait in my office if I use the john. Now go to work and don’t worry about me.” He flashed her a confident grin. He held his phone up. “Cooper is already in. I will call him when I get up.”

  She pressed a kiss to his lips and headed towards the door.

  “And Diana, if I feel up to it tonight, how about we go out to dinner? I owe you that tiramisu.” He knew he owed her a lot more than dessert.

  “Let’s talk about it when I get back, see how you feel. Really, Sam, promise me you won’t overdo it.”

  “I promise.” He made the gesture of crossing his heart.

  She gave him a disbelieving smirk and then walked out of his office. He watched the open doorway after she left. So many emotions went through him since he’d walked the afternoon before. He still keenly felt each one of them, a gratitude that he could walk, thankful for all she’d done, a strong affection for her. Love, yes, that’s what it was. He loved her. He could not imagine his life going forward without her in it. She’d only been staying with him for a few weeks, but he couldn’t imagine going to bed without holding her in his arms. This realization hit him like a missile, obliterating his brain.

  “Hey,” Cooper called from the doorway as he entered.

  Shepherd’s thoughts were pulled out of his own head. He glanced at his watch to see how long he’d been staring off, considering his relationship with Diana and how much he cared about her. “Hey, as soon as I finalize a meeting time with Manning, I’ll send the invite to your calendar.”

  “Sounds good,” Cooper said. His view was fixed on Shepherd, taking in that he sat in his normal desk chair and that his wheelchair was nowhere in sight.

  Shepherd had of course discussed with Cooper that yesterday would be the day he walked. He’d messaged him after he’d walked as well. Cooper was like a brother to him. He realized that he should have asked Cooper to be there last night too. He just hadn’t thought about it being such a momentous thing before he actually did do it last night. “So, Diana doesn’t want me walking with no one else around, even to go to the latrine. I’ll call you to come be in the room, if that’s okay.”

  Cooper chuckled. “Can’t blame her for being cautious.” He paused and shook his head. “Damn, Shep, I can’t believe it.”

  Shepherd smiled and nodded. He stood, was stable on his feet, and he walked out from behind his desk and up to Cooper. He put his hand out between them. “Thank you, John, for everything you’ve done over the years.”

  Cooper shook his hand and then engulfed him in an embrace. “Damn, Shep, I can’t believe it,” he repeated. “Thank God, Vic’s dad had that stroke.”

  Shepherd chuckled. “I doubt either of them would agree with you on that, but yes, if he hadn’t, Diana wouldn’t have come into my life.” And he knew if she hadn’t, he most likely wouldn’t be walking.

  Throughout the morning, Shepherd came into contact with several others, who saw him walk for the first time. He was normally even tempered, but even he got emotional as each of his team congratulated him, hugged him, and celebrated his medical miracle. The one person he most wanted to see and celebrate with finally got into the office at thirteen hundred. Angel.

  He got an alert that she checked in that she was in the building. He knew she normally logged herself in as she rode the elevator up from the parking garage. He’d left his door open, and he walked towards it when he heard the elevator ding as it arrived.

  He was nearly to the doorway when he saw Angel as she stepped off the elevator. His eyes locked with hers and he took a few more steps through the door towards her. Angel stopped dead in her tracks. She dropped her bag to the floor and her hands flew up and she clasped them together at her chest. She breathed out loudly and tears filled her eyes. Her lips pulled into an emotional smile, to which she clutched one hand over her trembling lips.

  “Shepherd, oh my God!” She ran to him and swallowed him up in a fierce hug. She was full-on weeping when they separated.

  “Angel, please, don’t cry,” he soothed, stroking his finger over her cheek.

  Angel swiped at the torrent on both cheeks. “I can’t believe it. You’re standing, walking.”

  Shepherd embraced her again, allowing his emotions to flow through him. Yes, he was walking. He was standing and giving Angel a hug. He prayed this would finally give her the peace he wanted her to have regarding his injuries while protecting her. She deserved that and more.

  Diana’s last patient cancelled last minute. She was done early for a change. Her mom had already left, turning the front desk over to Taylor. “Hi Tay, I’m going to head out early. You can stay until we close, can’t you?”

  “Sure thing, Doctor Diana,” the young woman said.

  “Okay. See you Saturday.”

  She was excited as she gathered her things
up and headed out to her car. The sun was still out, and it was a warm eighty degrees. She would surprise Sam that she was home early. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be tied up. They had talked that morning about going out for dinner, that Italian dinner he owed her. Maybe they would be able to. It was only one day that Sam had been walking on his own, so she knew they would have to see how he felt before making any plans. She hoped he’d taken it somewhat easy all day.

  As she pulled out of the parking lot, she dialed her brother, Luke. Another idea had come to her during the day.

  “Hello,” he answered on the second ring.

  “Hey Luke, are you on duty?”

  “Yes, but I can talk. How’s it going?”

  “Good,” she said. “Hey, were you planning to go to the cabin over Memorial Day weekend?”

  “No, I’m on here at the firehouse this year, but I’ll get all of Labor Day weekend off instead. I talked to Mark last week and he should be able to come Labor Day too. Let’s try to all get together, one last summer bash.”

  “That would be great,” she said. “Okay, then, I’m planning to use it over Memorial Day weekend. And I want it to myself.”

  “Oh, do tell?” Luke demanded playfully.

  Diana laughed. “Yes, I have someone special I want to take there.”

  “I talked to Mom last night. She didn’t tell me you are seeing someone.”

  “That’s because she doesn’t know yet.”

  “Diana!” Luke scolded. “How could you not tell Mom?”

  “I will when I’m ready,” she said. “She likes him, knows him. She just doesn’t know I’m seeing him.”

  “That means he’s either someone who works at your practice or is a patient,” Luke remarked.

  “No fishing allowed,” she said. “I’ll tell when I’m ready.”

  “At least give me a first name,” Luke pressed.

  “Okay, it’s Sam.”

  “And what else will you tell me?”

  “I’m happy, Luke. He’s a great guy.” She couldn’t help the smile that spread on her face. She was close with Luke and was thrilled to tell him about her new relationship. Well, tell him a little.

  “I’m glad to hear that. You better be ready to introduce him before Labor Day. If we are all getting together at the cabin, you’re bringing him.”

  “Yes, sir,” she teased. She pulled into the parking garage. “I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “I’ll have firewood stacked and the boat ready for you to take out. I’m going up this weekend.”

  “Thanks, Luke.” She drove to the gate, through the two garage doors, and pulled into her parking spot in the private parking area. She was already used to the security procedures at this building and realized that she felt at home here. She took the elevator up to five. Angel was just leaving his office as she stepped from the elevator. “Hi. What are you doing in so late?”

  “I didn’t come in until one this afternoon. I had an OB appointment this morning and went shopping with my mom after.”

  “The shopping sounds like fun. How did the OB appointment go?”

  “I haven’t even started to dilate yet. He doesn’t think I’m going to go early, as I have hoped.”

  “You look tired. How do you feel?”

  “Shh, don’t tell Shepherd you think so.” She gave Diana a smile. “I feel almost nine months pregnant. Looking tired comes with the territory.”

  “Are you staying well hydrated?”

  “Yes, drinking so much water I feel like I’ve drowned,” Angel moaned. “Honestly, between Shepherd, Doc, my mom, and you reminding me, of course I’m staying well hydrated.”

  Diana smiled. “It’s only because we all care.”

  Angel gave her a quick embrace. “Thank you. And for the record, I’m glad you’re here. You’re good for him.” She nodded towards Shepherd’s closed office door.

  “I’d like to think so, too,” Diana said.

  “He’s free, go ahead in,” Angel said.

  Diana opened the door. Sam stood behind his desk. “Hi,” she greeted him.

  He smiled her direction. “Hi. Is it already that time?” He rotated his wrist to view his watch. “You’re early.”

  “Yes, my last patient cancelled. How was your day?” She asked. She sat her bag onto his desk and then came behind it and pressed a kiss to his lips.

  “It’s better now that you’re home. How was your day?”

  She smiled wider. She liked the sound of that, home. “It was good,” she replied. “No harness, standing on your own. Looks good. How do you feel?”

  “Strong. I took it easy today. I promise.”

  She pressed another kiss to his lips. “Good.”

  “I feel good enough to take you to dinner tonight. I had Angel make reservations.”

  “Are you sure?” She eyed him suspiciously.

  “Yes. I’ll even let you drive, and I’ll have you drop me at the front door if there are no up-close parking spots. It’s supposed to be a beautiful night, still seventy-five degrees when the sun goes down. They have this great patio to dine alfresco.” He kissed the top of her head, breathing in that light, fresh scent. He’d discovered that she also used shampoo and conditioner in the same aloe scent as her body wash.

  “I’d like that,” she agreed.

  They were seated at a cozy table at the corner of the patio when the sun dropped below the horizon. They had enjoyed a lasagna dinner and the server just set a large slice of tiramisu between them for them to share for dessert. They’d each sipped a glass of the house cabernet through dinner. It was a wonderful date night out.

  “Hey, I was thinking. Next weekend is Memorial Day weekend. I have no school Monday and I’m closing the office on Saturday so everyone can have a long weekend. Let’s go away. You’re due some time off,” she suggested.

  “Oh, Diana, I would like to.”

  “You said yourself that you need to delegate more. You could even have your phone and bring your laptop. You could stay plugged in while we’re away. Baby steps.” She flashed him a hopeful smile.

  “I know I am frustrating to be around.”

  “Not frustrating, challenging,” she said.

  He smiled an amused grin. “You’re being kind.”

  “Always.” She kissed him. “You said yourself, that you are not giving anyone all weekend off, just in case something comes up.”

  “How about if we go for two of the three days?” He suggested.

  “Or we could go all three days, two nights. You said you have three men you can delegate to. Let them each handle things one of the days,” she suggested. “Come on, Sam, you deserve the time away. We deserve the time away. And if anything comes up, you can come back to help deal with it.”

  He saw the hopeful expression on her face. She did deserve him away from the office for three days. He nodded. “Where do you suggest we go?” Shepherd asked.

  “My family owns this great little cabin on a secluded lake a few hours’ drive up north, in Wisconsin. It’s tucked away in the trees, way off the main road. It’s cozy and comfortable.”

  “Okay,” he hesitantly agreed. “Let me talk to my men and make sure that between the three of them they can cover the day to day.”

  “I’m sure they can. And you can still be somewhat of a backup, but I want most of your time,” she demanded with an exaggerated pout that he knew was for show.

  He chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Uniform

  Shepherd gazed out the window as the forest on both sides of the narrow, gravel path grew denser as they drove farther from the main road. It was a beautiful spring day. The trees all had their leaves, a dark green canopy was ahead and over them. The scents wafting through the open windows on the seventy-two-degree breeze were of fresh Earthy aromas of green leaves and flowering quince. He caught sight of several bushes at the edge of the woods.

  “I bet this is really something in the fall,” he said.

  “Yes, it is. I love to
come up here when the fall colors are at their peak. I have so many great memories of fall nights outside, the whole family sitting around the firepit, of swimming in the lake in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter.”

 

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