Page 41 of Falling Again
From her perch on the counter, Natalie surveyed the lake house. Everything was tidy, but it didn’t feel lived-in anymore. She wasn’t sure why her in-laws hadn’t been back this season, but she knew it wasn’t her place to ask. Since retirement they had been traveling more, and surprised everyone when they decided to stay in Buckeye Falls. Natalie would never tell Anthony, but she’d secretly hoped they would leave town. It’s not that she didn’t love them or appreciate their help with the kids, but Anthony deserved a chance to be mayor without his father’s input. It was challenging to work in his father’s shadow every day.
Her musings were interrupted when Anthony came back, with a harried-looking Dr. LeFeber. A stout man in his late fifties, he approached Natalie with a broad smile. “What seems to be the problem, Mrs. Snyder?”
Anthony stood behind the doctor, his hands on his hips. His cheeks were red from sprinting down the road. “Well, I was walking around the kitchen and tripped. My leg went one way and my foot the other.” To illustrate her point, she pointed her hands in opposite directions. If she added a little hum to her words, she’d look like the Scarecrow inThe Wizard of Oz.
Dr. LeFeber pulled out a chair and lifted her foot. “Good bandage work,” he said under his breath. Anthony started pacing behind the doctor, both hands balled at his side. Dr. LeFeber continued. “Even though this is a great wrap, I need to check range of motion.” He gingerly removed the gauze and frowned.
Natalie winced. “Do I need to go to the hospital?”
South Bass Island had a lot of things, but a state-of-the-art hospital wasn’t one of them. “No. I can tell it’s not broken. Just a minor sprain. I’m afraid you’ll need to stay off it for a few days. I’ll swing by mid-week to see if you’re improving. For now, I say rest, ice, and elevating it are best.” He offered Natalie a smile while he rebandaged her ankle.
“Thank you, Dr. LeFeber.”
Anthony rushed to the door and held it for the doctor. He added his own words of gratitude. Before Natalie could say anything, Anthony was back at her side. “I’m so sorry, Nat. Are you in a lot of pain?” His lips tipped down in a signature Anthony scowl.
Shaking her head, Natalie sipped from her seltzer and tried to slow her racing pulse. “I’ll be okay. I don’t want to ruin the trip before it even starts.”
“You didn’t ruin anything. We’ll get you fixed up.” For a moment, neither of them said anything. Anthony stepped closer and reached out, taking one of her hands in his and gently squeezing it. He traced his fingers over her knuckles, and Natalie shivered. Lord, she needed to get a grip if holding hands made her this dizzy.
“This is awful,” Natalie said. “I’ll be no help to you for a few days.”
“You’ll be perfect. Don’t worry.” When he turned to see his wife’s expression, Anthony chuckled. “Why don’t you focus on delegation? I’ll be all thumbs with packing up certain things, and you know I won’t know what to donate.”
Temporarily appeased by Anthony’s comments, Natalie relented. “Fine. I’ll sit here. But at least give me something to do.”
Anthony retrieved her purse from the side table and handed it to her. “Call the kids and tell them we got here safely. And check in with Alice. I doubt she managed to have the house overrun by hoodlums already, but I’d feel better if we check.”
“Good plan.” Natalie took her phone and watched as Anthony went to work. In a matter of minutes the car was unloaded, the sheets were removed from the furniture, and he had dinner started.
Natalie couldn’t believe her bad luck. How could she get injured within ten minutes of being at the lake house? She knew there was no use in complaining; she would follow the doctor’s orders and heal up so she could help Anthony.
In the meantime, she would sit back and relax, something she didn’t do enough of lately. Instinctively, her fingers itched to pull out her laptop and get some work done. But she’d made a promise to Ginny and Anthony. This was a work-free trip. They were going to help her in-laws and reconnect. In that regard, Natalie thought they were off to a great start. She would gladly take a second twisted ankle if it meant Anthony held her and took care of her. She only hoped it wouldn’t take another injury for them to mend their relationship.
*
To say Anthony wantedto their trip to start with Natalie injured would be a gross overstatement. However, there was one bonus of his wife being laid up for a few days, and it had everything to do with the fact that he could help her. If he got to touch her a bit more because of her injury, so be it. Anthony had told himself he needed a swift kick to get into action. Turns out the kick came from Natalie’s own busted foot.
Anthony knew Natalie well, which is why he wasn’t surprised to see her hobbling into the kitchen after he went to change into his pajamas. She waved off his offer to help, and he should have known she was up to something. When he came back to the living room and found the couch empty, Anthony discovered Natalie in the kitchen, using a pair of tongs to reach for something in the cabinet.
“I can get that you know,” he said, startling her so she dropped the tongs with a yelp. Anthony crossed the kitchen and lifted Natalie, placing her carefully on the counter. “What do you need?” he asked, watching her fold her arms across her chest. She looked exactly like Madeline when she didn’t get to have two desserts, her bottom lip jutted out just so.
“I almost had it,” she complained. “You scared me. Since when are you so quiet?”
Anthony laughed and reached for the bag of cookies they’d packed. Natalie loved sweets, especially in the evening. “I’ll get the cookies. You only have to ask.”
“I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Being a bother is watching your wife reinjure herself. Let me help you. I mean it, Nat.” Anthony looked at Natalie and sighed when she relaxed.
She dropped her arms and looked contrite. “Fine. I’ll ask the next time I need help. I just wanted a cookie.”
This time, Anthony couldn’t hold back his smile. “You sound exactly like Maddie when we caught her climbing into the freezer drawer for ice cream.”
The mention of their daughter brought a smile to Natalie’s lips, and Anthony wanted to kiss her senseless. She was still in her navy-blue sundress, but she looked more relaxed. Her hair was down, and her feet were sock-clad. She looked so gorgeous, yet so vulnerable. Anthony wanted nothing but to keep her safe and happy. And that started with a plate of cookies.
“Milk or wine?” he asked, knowing she’d probably want both. Watching her hesitate he suggested, “Both?”
Natalie nodded and reached for the plate of cookies. “Thank you.”
