“My parents moved me and my siblings here from London when I was five, but the accent stuck.” He chuckled and his smile grew. His lips curled up higher on one side than the other, and he didn’t have dimples like Bryan, but he had full lips surrounded by a light brown beard.
“Excuse me, I have to get my walker out.” My body got stiffer when I said that. Would Chad balk, would he say something? Would he give me a horrified or pitying look?
He popped the trunk open, and before I could lay a hand on my walker, he pulled it out and set it in front of me. Closing the trunk, he waited patiently, his expression never changing.
“Um, thanks?” I told him uncertainly. I felt like I was floundering.
“Are you asking?” His words were not rude, but they did sting a bit. I opened my mouth to say something, to apologize, but he waived me off. “Don’t worry about it. I understand. My sister has MS.”
“Oh. I didn’t know.” Now I felt like a total bitch. Why hadn’t Bryan told me?
“She handles it like a trooper, like I heard you do.”
“I don’t have—“
He interrupted me before I could continue. “No, but you have another neuromuscular disease. You can’t compare which one is worse. They’re both bad, both do damage, both affect the body, and both suck.”
For the first time since I became sick, being around a stranger didn’t bother me. I wanted to cry. My nose and eyes burned, but I refused to let my tears fall. I was sure if they did, he’d panic.
“So, here are the rules. I won’t baby you, but you have to tell me if I’m overstepping. Bryan said you use either a walker or a cane depending on how you feel. Since you’re using your walker, I’m going to assume, it’s not a great day. I know the heat bothers you and can make everything worse, and so can stress. So being thrown into the lion’s den like today probably didn’t help you. The same thing happens to my sister, Megan. If you need help, ask. If someone is being an asshole, tell me. If you want to leave, let me know, and I’ll help you out to your car. And if you just need to lie down for a nap, I have a room ready for you.”
I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, and they fell one by one down my cheeks. To have a complete stranger do all of this for me, overwhelmed me. No one ever treated me like Chad. I could overlook his choice of hockey team for this. For the first time, I didn’t feel like I was drowning from the weight myasthenia gravis put on me.
“You okay?” His voice was soft and full of understanding.
Nodding, I sniffled as I attempted to stop crying. “Yeah. Sorry, I just…” Unable to continue, I swiped at the tears, wishing they would stop. His hand gripped my shoulder. He didn’t pull me in for a hug, or do anything that might frighten me or push my body off balance, but the pressure of his hand comforted me.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s a lot to take on, and I bet you’ve had a rough go of it.”
My head snapped up to meet his gaze. “Did Bryan…?” I couldn’t finish my inquiry.
Shaking his head, he explained, “He told me nothing except that you might need help and that you had MG. Your secret is safe with him.” His wink made me feel bad that I had jumped to conclusions. He gave my shoulder one last squeeze. “Shall we get you inside? You can take your time. I’ll go at your pace.”
Was I dreaming? Because everything felt like I had been transported to some make–believe world, and if that was the case, I didn’t want to wake up. I took a good hard look at Chad after I had wiped away the last of my tears away. I had already noticed the well–groomed beard that covered his jawline, but he also had tufts of shaggy sandy blond hair escaping his cap in the back. His blue eyes reminded me of the ocean in Cancun, and I almost wanted to drown in them. His six foot body was trim and built with more muscle than Bryan, making this guy look more like a bouncer than…actually, I didn’t know what he did for a living. In other words, Chad was HOT! And his personality gave him bonus points. If I had to choose someone other than Bryan to crush on, Chad made the short list. However, as good–looking as he happened to be, he probably had a girlfriend tucked away somewhere, and if he didn’t, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t make his list.
He must have been talking to me because he shook my shoulder gently and squeezed it again. “You okay?”
“Huh? I mean, yeah. Right as rain. Sorry, I was thinking about a few things.”
“Got it. Well, come on then. We’ll have some fun today. Did you bring your suit?”
“My suit?”
“For swimming.”
“Uh no. No one told me to, and besides, I think it’s probably best if I don’t. You know?” While he accepted my handicap with an open mind, others would probably not be as kind.
“That’s all right. My sister left one here and you two are about the same size. If you decide to take a dip, you can borrow it.” Chad outright ignored my decision not to get in the pool.
“But—“
Holding up his hand, he told me, “You never know. You might get in the mood to take a dip, and if you want to, you need to know you have that option available to you.”
“Uh…thanks.”
“No problem. Now let’s get inside and get something to drink. I left my friend Mark manning the grill when I went to see if you had arrived yet, and I don’t completely trust him. Last year, he cooked the burgers until they transformed into charcoal. I left him with one job today, to man the fire and gave explicit instruction not to start cooking yet. But knowing him, the meat is on the grill already.”
“You can go in without—“
He kept interrupting me. If Chad had a flaw, that would be it. “No can do. I’ll assist you up the stairs and we can go in together. Trust me, you’ll need help. My railing is a bit loose and I don’t want you falling. Bryan will have my ass if anything happens to you.”
I stopped in my tracks. “Is that why you’re being nice to me?”
His eyes grew wide and round, and he shook his head. “No, not at all. I’m being myself, but I’ve seen my sister struggle. So I guess you could say, I’m more in tune with what you may or may not need help with. I don’t need your boyfriend’s threats in order to be a gracious host. My mom is big on manners and can be scarier than Bryan.”
“Bryan’s not my boyfriend,” I said, confusion evident in my tone.
“He’s not?”
“No. He’s Mel’s friend.”
“Well, they’re both my friends.”
“No, I mean I met him through Mel, and he’s trying to get me out of the house more.” Too embarrassed to admit the real reason for Bryan’s interference in my life, I decided to keep that to myself. I had yet to tell Gia. If I hadn’t told her, I sure as hell wouldn’t spill my guts to a stranger. I was curious though. Why did he think Bryan and I were together?
“Oh. Sorry, with the way he talked, I assumed you were more than friends.”
Smiling, I tried to put him at ease. “It’s okay, but we’re only friends. Besides, I can’t blame you. Your ability to think might be hindered by your choice of hockey team.” I giggled when I saw his frown.
“Who do you root for?” I could tell he wasn’t too offended by my statement, and his demand lacked intensity.
“LA.”
“Fuck me! The enemy is coming into my house. Bryan will die a slow and horrible death for not telling me.” He winked.
“I know. He gave me no warning either. He deserves slow and agonizing torture.”
“Agreed. Come on then. We’ll go inside, get a beer…uh do you drink beer?” At my nod, he continued, “And we can plot his demise.”
I had made an ally out of the enemy. This day had turned into something surprising already.
After walking up the short staircase to the porch, I was relieved I had help. One false move with that banister and I would’ve fallen into his bushes. If only the good feelings continued when I entered the house. Chad hadn’t babied me or treated me like a broken person, but as soon as we stepped through the front doo
r, all eyes were on me and all conversation immediately ceased. If the radio had been turned off, a pin drop could’ve been heard.
My body reacted to the extra attention by sending my sweat glands into overdrive and speeding up my heartrate. Was it too late to turn around and leave? I wanted Bryan or Mel, but one conveniently lived in another city and the other disappeared.
“Everyone,” Chad called out, not that he needed to since we had everyone’s attention. “This is Emma. Emma this is everyone that has made it so far.” I fought the urge to push him since it was probably considered rude to attack the host.
But he did remind me, this crowd would grow. “Hi.” My voice squeaked in nervousness.
As if timed perfectly—they could have been synchronized swimmers—they turned around and carried on their previously abandoned conversations.
“You’ll be fine. They just have to get to know you,” whispered my overenthusiastic host.
Fine? He really believed that? “Yeah. You better go check on the meat before your friend burns it.” Plastering on my best smile, I swallowed my nervous energy and fear, and gestured with my chin toward the back of the house where I could see a cloud of smoke billowing.
If I could be grateful about my upbringing for anything, I knew how to pretend and perform under pressure. I might not be fine, I certainly didn’t feel fine, but no one else needed to know.
I slowly pushed my walker toward the kitchen. If I was going to survive, I needed something to wet my dry throat.
The first of the hurtful words were spoken in hushed tones as I grabbed a soda from the cooler in the kitchen. “Is Chad inviting charity cases now?” They were behind me. I had thought about sitting down in the living room, but now I didn’t want to turn around. I pretended I didn’t hear them, put the unopened soda in my jeans pocket, and walked out the open sliding glass door to the back deck where Chad and a few others were. Some were playing a beanbag toss game, others were just talking, and blessedly, no one had noticed me yet.
“Hey, Emma!” Chad shouted from behind the grill located to the right of me.
Shuffling over to him, I said, “Hi.”
“You sure you want to be out here. It’s cooler in the house.”
I knew for certain I did not want to be in the house. “I’m fine. Just needed to stretch my legs and get some air.”
His eyes narrowed on me and he looked as if he might call me on my bullshit, but instead, he pointed his spatula at the man beside him. “This is Mark. He’s an asshole, but I keep him around anyway.” He chuckled and winked when his friend shoved him. The push didn’t even phase him. He stood his ground and only his upper body moved slightly. “Hey! Behave or I won’t introduce you to Emma here. Asshole Mark, this is Emma. Be nice. She’s a friend of Mel and Bryan’s…and now one of mine too.”
“If anyone here is an asshole, it’s you,” Mark teased, sticking his hand out to me to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied nervously.
“I’d introduce you to my wife, but I’m not sure where she is right now.”
Mark’s appearance was the complete opposite of Chad. Where Chad had rippling muscles, Mark looked lanky and reminded me of one of the characters in those Revenge of the Nerds movies. The two men were about the same height, however, if a strong breeze swept through, I was afraid Mark would blow away.
“Probably in the bathroom again.” Chad’s joke had his friend rolling his eyes.
“You’re probably right.” Mark turned to me and explained. “She’s ten weeks pregnant and her morning sickness comes and goes. She’s already run to the bathroom three times and we only got here an hour ago.”
“Oh. Congratulations.” This time when I smiled, it felt genuine.
“You know you could have stayed home?” Chad offered.
Mark shook his head. “Nah. She wanted to get out of the house and argued when I suggested skipping it.”
I stood there listening to them banter back and forth for a few more minutes until Chad lifted a silver baking dish filled to the edges with burgers and hotdogs. “You ready to eat?” His grin was infectious and I found myself smiling back. “Let’s go inside and get our grub on, and if you need help making your plate, let me know. Think of me as your personal butler.”
Inside meant I would be around the people who made the rude comments earlier, but then again, they could have already come outside too. I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t. I had to pull myself together if I planned on surviving a full hour. Besides, I had heard worse things since MG took over.
No one said anything as we ate. People milled about, some walking outside and some staying in the cooler house. It was only when Chad would leave my side that people seemed to voice their disdain. While some ignored me, others chose to whisper loud enough so I could hear, but they never spoke directly to me. A couple of people pretended to run into my walker and would push it before saying, “You need to get that out of the way. It’s a health hazard.” When they walked passed me, they would mutter, “But then again, she is a walking disaster.”
Their words and actions cut me.
When my hour came to a close, I started to get up to leave, but Mark stopped me. “Don’t listen to others. They don’t know anything. I’ve heard them say that Chad should get rid of me as a friend because I bring him down, but we’ve been friends since grade school.”
“Grade school? Really? So you know all the dirt.”
“That and more. We were next door neighbors and our moms bonded over PTA and the fact their kids were only a month apart. So ignore the trash. I’m not really sure why Chad is friends with them, but I think a lot of them are clients and people he’s worked with. He’s a part–time personal trainer at one of the gyms in town and he is also a graphics designer. We co–own the company together.”
Mark’s speech helped settle my nerve a little, but I still planned on leaving. “Thanks, Mark. But I think it’s about time for me to lie down and…” I stopped speaking and left my words dangling on a cliff.
“I know he set up one of the rooms for you. Not sure which one though.”
It began as a small giggle and then I laughed. “Is there a reason I should stay?”
“Yep. You haven’t met my wife yet.”
“I don’t know if she exists. I haven’t seen her at all.”
“Who doesn’t exist?” A tall woman with bright red hair and green eyes sidled up to Mark. Her hair was curly and a little frizzy, and freckles covered her pale face. I assumed this was Mark’s wife.
Wrapping the woman in his arms, Mark kissed the side of her head. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I was lying down in Chad’s room and ate some crackers. My stomach has finally settled down.”
The way they interacted, the gentleness with which Mark handled his wife, all made me a little jealous.
“Do you need anything?” Marked rubbed her back, waiting to do her bidding.
“Nah. I think the nap helped a lot.”
Mark seemed so touchy feely, and I could tell he was very attentive, but since I had arrived, he had not been at her side. Why? Curiosity aroused, I asked, “Why didn’t you lie down with her?”
“That would be me. He hovers, and when he does that, I threaten to cut off his balls for ever touching me. And then I lock him out of the bedroom.” The redhead snickered.
I instantly liked this woman. “Hi, I’m Emma.”
“Ingrid. You’re the one Chad’s been expecting. Sorry I wasn’t here to greet you earlier. The baby and I had a disagreement. The baby won.”
All three of us laughed.
“I guess you finally met Ingrid. How are you feeling, Emma?” Chad interrupted.
“She’s ready for a nap and I wasn’t sure which room you have her in,” Mark spoke before I could tell my host I wanted to leave. Why was it so important I stay? I stayed my hour. I did my penance.
Rolling my eyes, I stated, “I was actually thinking about heading home.”
“If you’re tired, why don’t you lie down here and then if you want to go home, you can. I’d rather you not drive when you’re tired though.” Chad’s turn to convince me stay had arrived.
“I’m fine. I just...” My words fell away when I noticed the way his arms were crossed over his chest. I knew that stance and had seen it many times in people I had known throughout the years. He wouldn’t budge. Sighing, I accepted my fate. “Fine. Which room can I use for a nap?”
He led me to one of the guest rooms and after shutting the door and locking out the world, I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes. Tired and emotionally bleeding, I needed to find my center again and brush off their insults. I hoped they never found themselves in my situation; however, I wished karma bit them in the ass so they could see for themselves how their words affected others.
I slept for almost an hour without interruption, and when I awoke, I felt slightly better. I still didn’t like the people at the party. My nap wouldn’t change their attitudes, but at least I no longer felt like I wanted to rip out their beating hearts, and throw them on a grill to serve up on a silver platter.
Leaving my shoes in the bedroom, I went in search of my host and found him quickly coming down the hall headed straight for me. “Did you have a good nap?”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Now that you’ve slept a little, it’s time for the pool.”
“I don’t have a suit and it’s a pain in the ass to get in and out without help.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m here. I’ll help you with the pool. Although, if you want, I can also help you change?” He wagged his eyebrows.
“Maybe I should head home.”
“Do you really want to head home, or do you want to have a little fun. Come on. Try it. You might like it. And if you don’t, I’ll drive you home myself.”
This man didn’t know how to take “no” for an answer. “Fine.” As soon as I agreed, he draped a blank piece of cloth over my walker. He had been prepared. “Awfully sure of yourself.”
Exposed: Book One of The Love Seekers Series Page 17