Page 6 of Shielding Aubree

He caught Henley's gaze and swallowed. He looked more shaken that she'd ever seen him and made a mental note to talk to him later.

"Henley?"

She turned to see Aubree smiling at her. Not a full-blown grin but a smile, nonetheless.

"Do you think we could find some time in my schedule to work out in the pool."

Henley nodded. "Sure. I can take a look at the schedule tonight and make sure we get it on there for you. You'll have your schedule by breakfast tomorrow."

Aubree nodded and turned her head to stretch her neck. "We should probably continue walking if we want to see much more. I'm..." Her voice softened again. "I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be on my feet."

Henley turned, putting her back to the wall and gestured back the way they'd come from. "We'll see a few things on the way back and get you into your cabin so you can relax before dinner."

Aubree moved her walker back onto the walkway before she turned back toward the pool.

"Ruben?"

He smiled. "Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Ruben looked a little confused. "For what?"

"For holding my feet to the fire." She drew in a deep breath. "Since the accident I feel like everyone's been tiptoeing around me, trying to make things easier for me. And all it's done is letmyself off the hook when I should be pushing myself. I think... I think it's time to make myself a little uncomfortable."

Ruben smiled. "Just tell me what you need. I'll help where I can."

"Okay." Aubree opened her walker and braced one forearm in each cradle. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Ruben lifted a hand and took a few steps back toward the pool.

Henley chuckled silently before she spoke again. "I think you're going to make great strides here."

Aubree ducked her head for a moment and when she looked back up at Henley she was almost laughing.

"What?" Henley was curious. Very curious. "What's so funny."

"Me?" Aubree lifted one arm out of the arm rest of her walker and gestured at the device. "I'm just so happy to be taking any kind of step. Great strides? I think I've got something to work for now."

As they walked back toward her office, Henley saw Aubree tilt her head back to feel the sunshine on her face. She closed her eyes and smiled as if she was breathing in the feeling and enjoying it.

Henley hoped that tomorrow would be an even better day!

2

Aubree wanted to kick herself.

Well, if she could get up, she might have tried to do it, but as it was, she was sitting on the closed toilet lid, regretting her insistence that she could walk as much as she did.

Looking up into the mirror above the sink, she gave herself a glare. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Why did you do that?"

She didn't even really need to ask the question. She knew the answer.

She was always trying to be stronger. Harder.

And when she was rescued from the accident, everyone had their own opinions of what she should do. What shecoulddo.

The worst of it was because of her memory.

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