Page 17 of Finding Solace
CHAPTER TEN
MILA
Afew weeks have gone by, and everyone has fallen into a comfortable routine. Every day Reid can do more on his own, and at every one of his therapy sessions, he has progressed faster than doctors anticipated. He has days when being in his chair frustrates him more than others. Take Alba and Gabriel's wedding for example. He was having a hard time maneuvering across the yard and snapped at me when I tried helping him out. He later apologized. I need to remember a man's pride is everything to him. Especially a man like Reid. He didn't like looking vulnerable in front of hisbrothers.
The swelling around his spinal cord has reduced significantly, and in turn, they've been able to determine in time he should regain complete function and feeling in both his legs that he had before the most recent accident. I'll be sad to go when he no longer needs me. I've become very fond of him. We've both been dancing around unspoken attraction for one another since before I started thisassignment.
Ava has become very attached to Reid since our stay here in his home. As soon as she get up in the mornings she is looking for him or calling his name. As soon as she's home from preschool it’s the same thing all over again. I won’t say she'll be the only one to miss him; I know I willtoo.
Weeks ago I poured some of my heart out to him, not too much, just what was weighing me down at the time. The whole situation with my parents and Grams had me on edge. I wasn’t looking to dump my worries on someone, but I instinctively felt like I could trust Reid with a little piece of me. When he pulled me into his lap that night and let me cry, let me release a portion of what I had been keeping bottled up for years, he showed mecompassion.
It's crazy how fast it all happened, but I think I'm falling for Reid Carter and it scares me. Besides Grams, the only person I know I can count on in my life is myself. What if he does like me in return? What if we did start a relationship? What if it doesn’t work out if we try? I couldn’t put Ava through heartache like that, especially when she adores him so much already, and what about my heart? I'm not sure I'm willing to hand it over to someone who as of right now has so much of a hold on it as itis.
This morning Reid finally got his cast taken off his arm. And after going through several rehab sessions of physical therapy for the past few weeks, I'm watching him walk out of the Doctor's office this afternoon using crutches, which means my time with him will be over soon and I think we both realize what that means. At least I know what it meant to me. "It's about time for me to pick Ava up from preschool. Mind if we swing by on the way back to your place?" I ask him as we make our way to thecar.
He makes his way around to the driver's side before I open the door, "Not a problem," he reaches for the doorhandle.
"What are youdoing?"
"Doctor said I could start driving again, so I'm drivin', babe. Go get your sweet ass in the passenger's seat." He informs me. Sticking his hand out, he waits for me to hand over my car keys. Digging into my purse, I take out the keys and hand themover.
Once we make it to the preschool center, Reid pulls up in front of the entrance instead of parking in a parking spot. "I'll wait right here for ya,babe."
"I won't be but a minute," I smile. I'm a few minutes earlier than usual, so when I get to Ava's class, I find all the little ones busy picking up toys and putting them back into the places they belong and overhear my daughter having a conversation with her best friend, a little-redheaded girl namedWillow.
"My daddy said I can bring a friend to my party." She tells my daughtereagerly.
"Weally? I wanna go… can I gotoo?"
Did she get invited to a birthday party I don’t knowabout?
"Hey, munchkin," A deep voice I recognize from behind me calls out, and Willow giggles then runs past me. I turn around to see her dad, River reaching for his daughter. "Hey, Mila. How you been? I haven't seen you around for awhile. How's your Grams?" Heinquires.
River lives down the road from Grams' house. He moved in about a year ago. He's a widower. He lost his wife while giving birth to their daughter. Willow and Ava get along so well that I sometimes drop her off to play on the weekends. Especially when I was taking night classes during nursing school. River is a good looking guy. Tall, dark brown hair and grey eyes. From pictures I've seen, Willow is the spitting image of her mother minus the grey eyes she got from herfather.
"Grams is doing okay. I've been helping a friend lately, which is why I haven't been home." I tellhim.
"Momma, Willow says I can go to a party," Ava tugs at the pant leg of myscrubs.
"It's not a party. I told Willow on her birthday I would take her and a friend to the bounce house downtown. She instantly started asking for Ava," Riversays.
"Sounds like fun. Give me a day and time, and I'll make sure she's there," I tell him. Happy with what they hear, both girls get the giggles and hug oneanother.
"Well, I have to get going. You ready, Ava?" Iannounce.
Running to her cubby she grabs her coat and lunchbox, then skips her way back over and takes hold of myhand.
"Willow and I will walk you out," River says as he hoists his daughter into his arms and carries her coat in theother.
We walk out of the building and right away Ava sees Reid sitting behind the wheel. "Reid!" she squeals withdelight.
"This the friend?" River questions with a raisedeyebrow.
"It's not like that," I roll my eyes then notice a blonde partially bent over talking with Reid on the driver side. Hearing Ava's laughter causes the woman to stand and glance in our direction over the top of mycar.
Claire.
I shoot daggers in her direction as anger starts to bubble insideme.
