Page 159 of Begin Again, Part 2

"The doctor said I should try moving around a bit. And I want to go for a walk. But I don't think I can make it on crutches," he explained, blowing kisses on Aiden's cheeks. Their son's delighted squeals drew the attention of the nurses passing by. They popped their heads inside, venturing deeper into the room when they saw Aiden. They were all familiar with him now from his visits throughout the week, and they fussed over him for some time until a code blue went off on the intercom, and they scrambled out of the room.

"So, can we go now?" Liam asked, and Eden nodded.

"I'm assuming you'll push yourself?" She pointed at the wheelchair. "Aiden is heavy as it. The two of you in that chair—"

"You won't go to heaven at the rate you're going," Liam complained. "You've been mean to me since I woke up, and you know I'm sick."

"Oh God, I can't wait for you to get better, so you'll stop playing the sick card," Eden said as she rolled him out of the room and closed the door behind them.

"So, where to?" she asked while they waited for the elevator.

"The pond in the west gardens," Liam replied. "It's not far from here."

Eden wheeled them into the elevator, and as Aiden waved at everyone, she couldn't help but think he was Liam's son through and through. He wasn't even two yet, but had perfected the art of working the room. Half the grannies were smitten with him by the time they jumped out of the lift.

The early June afternoon chill hit them hard, and Eden was glad she'd bundled Aiden up in a bulky jacket despite his protests.

"Are you cold?" Liam turned and gazed up at her.

She was, but she shook her head because this walk seemed important to him. After being asleep for so long, she didn't blame him for wanting to get some fresh air. She'd brace the cold if being out and about made him happy.

"Look at the jacarandas over there!" Eden pointed at a grove of centuries-old trees blooming with purple flowers.

"You like them?"

"I love them. I wanted to plant one in my backyard."

"My parents have a few," Liam said.

"I know," Eden replied. She'd seen them the last time they had lunch with his folks.

"Let's check them out," he suggested.

"But I thought you wanted to feed the ducks?"

"Nah," Liam shook his head. "I think those trees are perfect."

"Of course, they're perfect. They're jacarandas!" Eden squealed with joy as she pushed him and Aiden down a winding path, going as slowly as she could because even the smallest bump made Liam wince.

"Did you get a chance to collect my package?" he asked.

"Yep," Eden replied as she stopped and looked through her handbag. She pulled out a small, dull-looking box. "Next time, don't send me to pick up your drugs. That place is dodgy."

If she hadn't been to the industrial part of town before, she would have been terrified out of her wits. But the place where she had to collect the package wasn't too far from Franco's, so finding it wasn't hard.

"Did you look inside?" Liam asked as he took the box from her.

"No." Eden shook her head, explaining, "Plausible deniability and all if the cops stopped me."

Liam burst into roaring laughter, but he quickly caught himself, gasping for air as he held his side tightly.

"Are you okay?" Eden asked, leaning over to check on him. "Should we go back? I think we've walked enough for one day."

"No," Liam refused to turn back and pointed at the trees. "We're almost there."

After a few more steps and an even slower pushing pace from her, they were under the trees. Eden looked up in wonder and held out her palms as the purple petals fell around them like confetti.

"Make a wish," she brought her palms close to Liam's face, and he closed his eyes as he gently blew the petals away.

---