Page 37 of Inherited Light
“I know it’s easy to fall in love and be in love when you’re young, but eventually as the years pass, she’ll need surgery, possibly rehab, or other expensive pieces of equipment. I’m simply wondering if you’ve planned for those contingencies.”
I nodded with my lower lip caught between my teeth. “I know I’m young, but I would do anything for Cat.” I meant it, too. I would take care of her if she gave me the chance. “She might not be able to use her legs, but she’s electric,” I said holding my hands out. “I don’t know if you know what I mean.”
“You mean she has a special kind of light that spreads across even the darkest soul and gives them a reason to strive to be a better man.”
I nodded, shock forcing my lips open. He stood and patted my back. “I’m married to a woman who has been in a wheelchair for twenty years thanks to MS. I’m well versed in loving a woman, who even without the use of her legs, is better than I’ll ever be.”
I rubbed my neck as I played his words through my mind. “I’ll never be the kind of person she is, but she makes me want to be a better man. I don’t know if I deserve her love, but I’m sure as hell going to try.”
He tucked his computer under his arm. “Be there for her, listen to her, help her when she asks for it, and back away when she doesn’t. Those are the basics. I’m going to have my wife talk to Cat next week. It might do her some good to talk with someone who has been through what she has and is still living life to the fullest. I know she’s talented and puts up a good front, but I also know pretending life is normal when it’s not isn’t sustainable. I don’t want her to think she’s alone in this battle.”
I stood and brushed my hands against my pant legs. “She’s not alone, sir, but I’m sure she would appreciate speaking with someone who understands what she goes through. I know it isn’t easy, but I can’t relate to it on the same level your wife can.”
He stuck his right hand out for me to shake. “It’s not easy, but it is worth it when you find the person who completes you. There will be times when you’re absolutely petrified of losing her to the disease. It’s the rest of the time, the loving, life fulfilling moments which make you forget about everything else. You’re young, but I can see you want Cat in your life for a long time to come.”
I nodded once. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. You have my support, if you have questions, not about her medical condition, but about being a man in love with a special woman, Cat will have my number. Make sure you go get those x-rays on your neck before you leave here tonight. If you need a note off work for a few days I’m happy to write it.”
I shook my head carefully. “Not necessary, but thank you. I work for myself. I’ll just call in sick.”
He chuckled and I got the first smile out of him since he strolled through the door. “I’m glad we have an understanding then. You can go see her once you’re done with x-ray. Good luck, Lorenzo.”
I shook his outstretched hand. “Thank you for the advice. My family isn’t overly supportive of my choice to love Cat. I appreciate your words more than you know.”
He patted me on the back once and left me standing in the room alone. It took my sore mind a few seconds to comprehend I just told the doctor I love Cat. Not surprising, I suppose, my brain was just too scrambled to deny the truth tonight. As I wandered to the front desk I wondered when, or if, Cat would tell me the truth about her disease, her past, and her pursuit of happiness.
Chapter Twelve
“Sit still, I’ll carry you into the house and then come back for your chair,” I said as I parked in the driveway again, more than three hours after they hauled her away on a stretcher.
“I don’t want to move for hours,” she said, rolling her head toward me. “I feel like someone hit me with a bulldozer.”
I put the truck into park and ran my thumb over her cheek, which was starting to bruise. “I know you do. I wish I could make it better, but I can’t.”
She captured my hand against her cheek. “You have made it better, by being here for me.”
I leaned over and kissed her lips tenderly. She was okay and I didn’t care if I had a blinding headache. She was the only one who mattered right now. She needed someone to care for her tonight.
I opened my door, but left the headlights on, so I could see to get up the ramp and into the front door. I had her key in my hand and jogged up the ramp, relieved when it didn’t shake under my feet. I inserted the key and unlocked the door, making sure to type in the code to deactivate the alarm. Once the screen door was propped open I jogged back to the truck and opened her door.
“Ready, beautiful?” I asked.
She put her arms out and wrapped them around my neck. I lifted her, being careful of the boot she now wore on her left ankle. They told her to take the boot off when in bed and ice it until she could make an appointment tomorrow with one of the orthopedic doctors.
Once I had her settled on the couch I checked the bulb on the fixture outside. I grasped it and twisted, almost blinding myself when it flared to life in a large watt kind of way. I dropped my hand and fisted it at my side. Someone had loosened the bulb and waited for us to come home. It didn’t take Einstein to figure out who, either. If Xavier had anything to do with this, he would pay heavily for hurting Cat.
With the light on over the ramp now, I turned the lights off on the truck and lifted her chair out of the back. I locked the truck and rolled the chair into the house, then closed and locked the doors. When I moved the chair over near her, she had her eyes closed as she rested against the back of the small couch.
I knelt and brushed a piece of curly hair off her face. “Do you want me to recline this and prop a pillow under your knees? You can sleep here instead of your bed.”
She reached for me, her hands on my face, but her eyes still closed. “I want to, but my back hurts, so I better go to bed. I have an adjustable one. It allows me to elevate my feet and legs which will make the swelling go down faster.”
I put my hand over hers. “Before we do, I should tell you when I checked the bulb outside, it lit right up, once I twisted it back in.”
Her eyes opened and the depths of their chocolate creaminess melted my heart. “You mean someone did this on purpose?”
“It appears so. I want you to look around and make sure no one was inside the house and stole anything.”
