Jake shrugged, wearing a half-smile; seemingly pleased by Luke’s reaction.
Grudgingly, Luke admitted to himself, at that moment, if he could’ve left the van under his own power, he would’ve. He’d dreamed about this house, this place, when he’d been overseas. For the first time in months, he was experiencing emotions he hadn’t known he was still capable of feeling.
All of a sudden, he was sick of feeling sorry for himself. But the guilt…well, he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to get past it.
Luke was having trouble keeping his eyes open. The events and excitement of the last few days–leaving the hospital, his time on the plane, everything was catching up with him. No—he wasn’t really very strong yet–was he?
Luke was dozing off, when Steve finally wheeled him over the deck and into the house, where Luke vaguely noticed his surroundings. But, except for being furnished, the home was just as he remembered it inside. After he was wheeled into the huge master suite on the ground floor, and hoisted into a king-sized bed, Luke dropped off soundly to sleep.
****
Luke awoke to the quiet murmur of voices, carrying in through the wide-opened door of the bedroom. The sound of a woman’s voice had him sitting upright in the bed.
Just as Luke was about to call out, Jake Loughlin entered the bedroom. “Well. Good to see you’re finally awake. You slept over twelve hours, you know,” Jake added dryly. “It’s the middle of the morning.”
“Damn,” Luke said, peering out through the window.
“Alright Luke, before you get a chance to revert into whining mode–I’ve got some things I need to say.”
When Luke scowled at Jake, and began to speak, Jake quickly held up his hand to stop him. “Please, Cuz, not yet,” Jake moaned. “I’ve only had one cup of coffee. It’s been kind of a long week already, hanging out with you in D.C.”
Luke blinked. But after a moment, he had to smile. Jake was right–not only had he been a lousy patient these past several months, he’d been doing nothing but whine, moan and complain to Jake and Dan, who were only trying to help. “I’ve decided to quit feeling sorry for myself.”
“Well–that’s a start,” Jake muttered. He sat on the end of Luke’s bed with his coffee in hand. “But you need to think about forgiving yourself, too, Luke.” Jake must’ve noticed Luke’s discomfort, because he quickly shifted away from the subject. “But meanwhile, here’s what your future looks like–at least from my point of view…”
CHAPTER
NINE
When Jake finally returned to the kitchen after speaking with Luke, he had a smile on his face “That went pretty well. And at least he waited until I was nearly done talking before he fell asleep again.”
Kelly frowned. “Are you sure he’s alright? Maybe he left the hospital too soon?”
Steve answered her question. “Nah, Kelly–he’s fine now physically–he’s just exhausted. But that should all change soon, once he begins with a regimen.”
Kelly nodded agreeably, before turning back to Jake. “Did you get the chance to talk to him about the airport?”
Jake nodded. “He looked a little surprised at first–maybe a little sad, too. But I think that might’ve been because he was thinking about flying.”
Kelly agreed. “It’s gotta have him depressed, knowing he’s never gonna be able to fly again.” She stared at Jake, puzzled, when he suddenly grinned. “What?”
“It’s just that I’ve been looking into that, Kelly, and it might not be a total impossibility,” Jake answered, smugly. “Flying, that is.”
“Really?” Now smiling from ear to ear, Kelly asked softly, “But you didn’t want to get his hopes up?”
“Exactly. There’d have to be an aircraft specially designed–a single engine. And with all the traveling I do–well–it might be worth the expense for me. But Luke’s got a long way to go with healing first, before I can even consider taking the next step with a project like that.”
She hesitated, before taking in a deep breath, and finally asking her next question. “He still didn’t ask about me?”
Jake stared at Kelly with concern. “No, sweetie.” Reaching over, he patted her awkwardly on the shoulder.
It was hard not to let the news bother her.
Jake sighed. “I guess I’d better get moving. I’ll stop by later today, Steve–just to see how things are going.” He turned to Kelly. “I’ll be sure to check in with you too, Kelly, before you begin your job next week. You’ll need to come in and fill out some paperwork either today or tomorrow.” Jake raised a hand in farewell as he strolled out through the door.
Steve cleared his throat to get Kelly’s attention. “I know that it’s not really any of my business, Kelly–but what you really need to do, is to just give Luke a little more time. Once he begins to get stronger, and he feels better, it should improve his mental state. And seeing a shrink should help. I know this from my experience with other patients. Let’s just wait until he’s ready.”
Steve began neatly rearranging the bottles of pain relievers and anti-inflammatories laying on the counter. Kelly had dropped by the pharmacy earlier to pick up a huge tub of topical antibiotic. The ointment still needed to be applied to Luke’s healing burns on a daily basis to help prevent infection.
All of a sudden, Kelly began blinking, as she tried hard not to cry. “It just seems like it’s been so long already. It’s driving me crazy, just knowing he’s in the next room. I want to be with him so bad.” She put her hand over Steve’s. “Thanks so much for all your help, Steve. I can’t believe we were lucky enough to find someone with your qualifications.”
Kelly had hired Steve Ryder at the recommendation of Dr. Donnelly, the local physician who’d be monitoring Luke. Steve had dealt with his own share of tragedy, though–he’d recently lost his wife after her long battle with lung cancer.
He gave her a rueful smile. “Ehh–I’m just glad to be here. As sorry I am about what’s happened to Luke, I think I’ve needed this challenge. I wanted to get away from home for a while, too. It’s been a long couple of years.”
Kelly met his eyes with quiet understanding. She began to finish unpacking the food she’d brought earlier, and, finally, she sighed, as she stared at the emptied paper sacks on the counter. “Have I brought you enough to eat, then?’
Steve grinned. “Plenty. What’d you do–buy out the entire grocery store?”
She laughed. “I guess I did go a little crazy? But the cabinets were bare.” Kelly began folding the paper sacks. Once they were neatly folded, she opened the door of the pantry, and slid them onto a shelf set up for recycling. Returning to the kitchen, she took a final glance around before gathering her purse and keys.
“That chicken and rice that you left last night was excellent,” Steve said, smiling.
“Thanks. I taught myself how to cook when I moved into an apartment at college.” Kelly grimaced. “With all the trouble my mom seemed to have cooking when I was growing up, I’d always assumed it’d be difficult–Mom was such a lousy cook.”
Steve began to laugh. “I’m not much good at it myself. But are you sure you want to do that–come and cook for us every day?”
Kelly nodded, as she voiced her concern. “I hope it’ll be alright? I just want to be close to him. It’ll just be for dinner, since Jake said he’d make arrangements for breakfast and lunch to be sent from the inn.”
“I’m putting Luke on a strict daily schedule,” Steve answered matter-of-factly. “I don’t see it as a problem, at all, if you want to just come between four and five each day. I can keep Luke away from the kitchen while we’re busy with his rehab. Whoever designed this house thought of everything. Adding that huge exercise room at the back of the garage with a bathroom, along with a hot tub, was inspired. It’ll be perfect for Luke’s therapy, and he won’t have to manipulate any stairs. He won’t even know you’re here. Besides, if you’re here every day, it’ll be easier for me to keep you and Dan updated.”
N
ormally, Kelly tried hard not to think about the future, but today she was depressed and in need of reassurance. “Do you really think Luke will finally want to see me?”
Steve hesitated. “Of course, this is all speculation, Kelly–after reading his files–but I’m pretty sure it’ll happen eventually. Everyone needs someone, and before this happened, you were apparently it for him. But it’d probably be better for me to wait until after I get to know Luke a little better to say these things to you–and it wouldn’t hurt for me to get advice from his shrink, too.” He hesitated. “I heard that you were considering a support group for yourself as well?”
Hesitantly nodding her agreement, she gave him a rueful grin.
“That’s probably an excellent idea.” Steve motioned toward the bedroom with his hand. “Right now, I’d better wake him up. He needs his meds and some food, along with a bath too. The sooner we begin a schedule, the sooner he’ll adapt and quit whining.”
Kelly smiled. “Alright. I’ll be sure to call you, before I come by to make dinner tomorrow.”
Steve was already on his way towards the bedroom with Luke’s ointment and medications.
Kelly began to laugh as she headed outside through the door. She just couldn’t seem to help it. There was something about Steve’s attitude that had her suddenly feeling more hopeful.
CHAPTER
TEN
It’s been nearly three weeks now, since Luke had arrived home. It was a sunny day in June, and Kelly sat staring dejectedly through the window of her new office inside the Dragonfly Pointe Inn. When two additional levels had been integrated above the inn, office space and conference rooms had been included here on the third floor–since this wing was located immediately above the sometimes noisy restaurant and bar. Kelly had a lovely view overlooking the lake and nature walk.
But she wasn’t noticing the clear blue sky, or the kids who were running along the pathway outside, pointing with excitement at a pair of mischievous squirrels.
She’d just spoken with Steve. Kelly was so disappointed to hear that Luke still hadn’t asked about her. Did he even know she was living here in town? Did he even care? They’d had something so special together–and by refusing to acknowledge her existence, Luke was making everything that they’d had together appear fleeting and intangible.
And, supposedly, Luke was depressed too. He was going through the motions–exercising, visiting his doctors, going to a shrink. But without accepting any support from friends and family, it probably wasn’t gonna get much better with the long road of recovery ahead.
As an idea suddenly sprung to her mind, she sat upright in her chair. She’d better talk it over with Steve first, she decided, reaching for her phone.
****
Kelly only wished that she could be the one to deliver him to Luke. Eight-weeks old and the cutest and smallest of the litter, Duke was a black lab mix. And luckily, he was nearly house trained. She only hoped that Duke wouldn’t be too much of a burden for Steve, until Luke was finally able to take over the responsibility of the puppy’s care.
Kelly had adopted Duke at the local no-kill shelter, which, coincidentally, Jake’s wife had founded fifteen years earlier. Not only had Danielle helped her choose a puppy, she’d given Kelly advice about food and supplies that the puppy would be needing.
Or, rather, the things that Steve and Luke would need. The most important item on the list had been a large cage. Kelly hadn’t liked the idea at first. But then Danielle had brought up a very important point–since he’d be manipulating a wheelchair, and eventually relearning how to walk, Luke didn’t need a puppy running around underfoot.
Kelly had set up the time of delivery beforehand with Steve, to make sure Luke wasn’t around. Jake had business in Eau Claire, so he’d driven Luke to the hospital where he’d be having a routine battery of tests today.
When Kelly pulled into the driveway of the cabin in her father’s truck, Steve was obviously relieved when he saw the preassembled cage in the bed of the pickup.
Kelly stepped quickly out from the truck, and walked around to the other side. Opening up the passenger door, she pulled the pet carrier out by its handle.
Strolling down the driveway from the garage, Steve grinned, staring at the black-haired pup. Wriggling in the cage, his tail was wagging non-stop. “Cute.”
Kelly grinned. “I’ve been calling him Duke–but only cause I couldn’t think of anything else.”
“That cage is a great idea.” Steve hoisted out the cage, along with the large tray, from the back of the pickup. “Let’s set Duke up in the kitchen.”
For the next few minutes, Kelly and Steve worked in companionable silence. Kelly left the pet carrier in the kitchen, and returned to the truck for the food and supplies. After laying down the tray and spreading out some newspapers inside, Steve rested the cage inside the tray.
“Want to take him for a walk?” Kelly asked.
Steve grinned at the pup. Struggling to escape, he was sticking his nose out as far as he possibly could through the openings of the carrier door. “Why don’t you walk with him first? I have a feeling that Duke and I’ll be spending a lot of time together, anyway.”
Kelly laughed.
“Besides–I can set out some food and water for the little guy–so he can have it once you two get back.”
Kelly bent down, releasing Duke from the carrier. When the puppy began licking her frenziedly across the face, she began to laugh. Squeezing the wriggling bundle of fur, while attempting to hold him steady, she was finally able to attach the leash to his collar.
The puppy was yanking hard on the leash. Steve had a huge smile on his face when Kelly escaped outside through the door. Taking her time and allowing Duke to get his bearings, Kelly immediately headed along the pathway, and over the bridge, until she reached the pool overlooking the bay. The guesthouse had access from the main road, so Kelly had visited here several times over the last few weeks. Even though it was convenient to live with her parents–since the house was huge and her parents were never at home–Kelly had considered moving here into the guesthouse.
But not if Luke didn’t want to see her. He was getting around better in his wheelchair now, and she’d hate having to avoid him.
When Kelly decided to return to the house, it was a matter of following, tugging and eventually chasing Duke through the woods when the leash jerked out from her hands. “Oh, you silly dog,” she moaned, when she finally caught up with him. Luckily he hadn’t gone far, since his leash had snagged on the lower branches of a pine. When she picked him up off the ground, the puppy started licking her face again. Her irritation vanished–she just couldn’t seem to help it–he was just so damned cute. She laughed as she struggled to hold him tight in her arms, the entire way back to the house.
Once they reached the house, obviously awaiting their return, Steve slid open the door so they could come back inside. Kelly grinned, bending down, removing the leash from Duke’s collar. Instantly noticing the food and the water, Duke scrambled across the floor, slipping and sliding and bumping into the bowls. Duke jumped into his huge water bowl and began to drink.
Kelly grimaced when Steve rolled his eyes. “Guess I’d better use a smaller bowl, and save that one for later,” he said.
“Might be a good idea,” Kelly answered, grinning wryly. “I suppose I’d better get moving. Luke will probably be coming home soon.” While she was walking outside with Steve through the door, she peeked behind her at the pup. Duke was scooping out his food from the bowl with his paws, and eating it off of the floor. “Good luck with getting Duke settled.”
Following the direction of Kelly’s gaze, Steve shook his head in resignation. “Yeah–I have a feeling that I’m gonna need it,” he answered dryly.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
He was only going through the motions. Luke stared out sightlessly through the window of the van as Jake finally pulled into the driveway of the cabin. Everyone was trying really hard to do whate
ver they could to help him. Luke was even pissed at himself for not being more grateful.
He yawned. Damn, it’d been a long day.
After sliding open the door, Jake set the lift into motion. “You’ve sure been quiet,” Jake said, rolling the wheelchair upward on the ramp toward the deck.
Still somewhat distracted, Luke peeked over his shoulder, and stared at Jake straight in the eyes. “Thanks, Jake.”
Jake raised a brow.
“I know–I don’t say it nearly often enough.”
“Just get better–and don’t give up. That’s the only thanks that I expect from you, Luke.”
But it was definitely getting more difficult to get motivated on a daily basis. And he couldn’t figure out why–he had a fantastic trainer to assist him, the best equipment, and his dream house to shack up in temporarily–everything he could’ve ever asked for, when he’d been stranded in the hospital, not knowing or caring about the future.
Except that he couldn’t fly anymore.
And that he couldn’t–no he wouldn’t–have Kelly. There’s no way on earth he’d let her be tied down to a cripple for the rest of her life. She was young and beautiful, and now that she’d graduated with honors from Wisconsin, she’d have her entire life ahead of her. She could do anything she wanted to do.
Who knows how many medical issues would come up–not to mention the surgeries he’d have to go through, over the next few years.
And he wasn’t even sure if his shrink was helping him out much. Luke’s nightmares were becoming worse. He’d been fighting the support group thing–but Steve and his shrink had both insisted that he needed to begin attending meetings next week.
When Luke rolled his chair into the kitchen, he sensed something was up immediately. Besides, Steve had a dopey smile on his face.
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