Page 42 of The Long Walk Back

He walked towards her then. Slow steady strides, as surefooted as any man. He put his arms around her, his warm skin bringing out goosebumps on hers. He lowered his face to hers, and stopping just before he touched his lips to hers, he asked again.

‘Well?’

She could feel the heat from his lips near hers. Her whole body was warmed by his touch.

‘It’s not that simple,’ she protested weakly. ‘You have so much to deal with, and the whole thing is just a mess. You don’t know the half of it.’

He released her, and she thought he was going to back away, but instead he bent down, lifting his trouser leg. She could see the metal of his prosthetic underneath.

‘This is what I have to deal with. I can stand on my own two feet, Kate. The rest of it we can figure out. The only thing I need to know is whether or not you actually want this. All in.’ He stood up, giving her a little smile before heading to the door. He pointed to the papers on the bed. ‘Try and get some sleep, okay?’

Before she could form an answer in her own head, he had flicked the lock and slipped out. She locked her door back up and went back to the papers. She knew where he stood now, and she knew he was laying his cards on the table. In his own way, he was telling her he wanted them, no matter what. Today hadn’t spooked him. He’d been there for her. Been nice to Jamie’s grandparents. Looked after them both without passing comment.

She just had to take the leap with him. The problem was, it wasn’t that easy to leap into the arms of a man when her arms were already laden with all the excess baggage of her life. She felt like she was dragging Neil along with her, a ghost figure in the relationship, and now Cooper had even met her ex-in-laws. Awkward wasn’t the word. They didn’t know the full story yet, and Neil was obviously in hiding. When it came out, the shit would hit the fan. Did she want Cooper to have to deal with that, too? He didn’t do relationships. To be in one with her was… difficult. What you had was a Shakespearean tragedy in the making, not the ideal conditions for a tentative new relationship. It was when she noticed she was dripping water on the listings from her still wet hair that she gave in and went to bed. It would still all be there in the morning. Maybe it would look better then.

Kate rapped on Trevor’s door, uniform on and hair pinned back. She felt like she hadn’t slept, but she had done some thinking.

‘Come in,’ Trevor’s voice came from behind the door. She didn’t give herself the chance to back out and she walked straight through, taking a seat in the chair opposite him and putting the files from her arms into his in tray.

‘Morning, Trevor, I’ve done all the charting up to date. I’ve a client vacancy now too, with Sean Wright being discharged, so if you have anyone, I’m happy to see them this afternoon.’

‘Great, I don’t have one today, but I will have a look at the admissions waiting list this afternoon.’ He sucked in a breath. ‘Kate, I am really sorry about yesterday.’

She waved him off. ‘It’s fine, honestly. It turned out well. It was a miscommunication really.’

‘At least Jamie saw his grandparents,’ he smiled, looking relieved. ‘How do you feel about it?’

She bit at her lip. ‘Good, but I’ll feel better when we are settled somewhere new. Me having a panic attack in reception wasn’t exactly professional.’

He waved her off. ‘He’s a patient. You were a worried mother in that moment.’ He pinned her with one of his big brother looks. ‘I might not always agree with your decisions, Kate, but you’re a damn fine worker. I don’t think you should beat yourself up about it.’ He steepled his hands together, resting his elbows on the desk. ‘Do you think Neil will visit now?’

She sighed. ‘God, I don’t know. I wouldn’t stop him. His parents are going to find out some things though. I think you need to know, in case it causes issues for Jamie.’

‘Things like what?’ he asked.

‘Well, there’s the accident. I don’t think Jamie remembers. Neil was on the phone that day, do you know that?’ His expression confirmed it was news to him. She’d been such a mess at the time, she’d kept it all in. ‘Handsfree, so not illegal, but he was distracted. Not watching the road. It was his fault, and Jamie paid the price.’

‘Jesus,’ Trevor breathed. ‘Thanks for letting me know. I’ll get you that patient info, but in the meantime, go see him.’

She winced. ‘He’s in physio, with Thom— Cooper.’

Trevor nodded. ‘I’m aware. It’s fine. He’s not your patient any more, Kate. As long as nothing comes up, I’m good with you seeing your son.’

‘Did I ever tell you what a good friend you are?’

Trevor laughed. ‘A better friend would bring presents.’ She laughed, heading off to find her two favourite men.

‘Aww, I missed it?’ The physio suite was empty when she got there. Cooper was on his way out, an open newspaper on his lap.

‘Yeah,’ he laughed. ‘The new physio took him for something to eat. He worked so hard he put me to shame. Trevor find you? He was looking for you earlier.’

‘I’ve seen him already. He said I could come see you. Jamie still wanting you to play with him later, or is he too tired?’

‘I’m still going. I ordered some stuff online too, it should be here soon. It’s a Lego thing. I think he’ll like it. Thought we could build it together, it would make a change from just playing on the computer.’

Kate thought of Jamie and how he would be so excited to do that with Cooper.

‘You like him, don’t you,’ she stated. It wasn’t a question.

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