3. Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Brooke
"Okay, you ready for Secret Santa?" I ask Luke as I walk up to take him to the event room.
"You don't have to do this. I’m just happy to be spending Christmas back stateside this year. I don't need anything over the top," he says.
"This isn't over the top. It's a simple gift exchange, and I'm not letting you out of it. Everyone needs a little holiday cheer, and who knows, the guy you get might need your Christmas cheer more than you need his."
"If you say so." He crosses his arms as I push him down the hallway in his wheelchair.
"Okay, look at it this way. This is your chance to help another guy out. Everyone is here for some reason, and you know that. Some guys have it worse than you. At least you will be able to walk when you leave. Not everyone can say that." I try to appeal to his practical side.
It works because he takes a deep breath and uncrosses his arms. "Okay."
I pat his shoulder, "Thank you."
It’s hard to ignore the heat racing up my arm from that simple touch. It's been happening every day when we do his exercises, and it's more difficult to ignore than you might think.
Lexi is running the Secret Santa, so when we get to the event room, I park Luke at a table and then pull up a chair to sit with him. But I’m also ready to help Lexi if she needs it.
After going over the rules and all the fun stuff, Noah and Lexi each walk around with a basket for the guys to pull names from. When it's Luke's turn, he hesitates and looks at me, so I give him a nod of encouragement, and he picks his name.
"Who did you get?" I ask.
"Alex," he says.
"Oh, he's a nice kid, and I stress kid. He was hurt on his first deployment out of boot camp. His family doesn't live nearby but will be here for Christmas. So, do you need me to take you Christmas shopping?" I ask him.
I know I shouldn't. Not because I can't take him shopping, because I can. He’s one of the few permitted to leave the grounds with supervision. I shouldn’t take him because it might feel too much like a date, or at least to me. With all the confusing feelings, I should put some space between us.
But I know I can't back out when his eyes go big and full of hope and excitement.
"I can go out in town?" He asks, like a kid asking if he can open his Christmas gifts early.
"Yes, with supervision, and as your nurse, I'm on the approved list," I tell him. "On my next day off, I’ll come to get you, and you can help me do some of my shopping, too."
"What about your other patients?" His excitement seems to dampen a bit.
"Well, they will be ordering online because they either don't want to go or aren't approved to leave the grounds," I tell him.
He nods, and the excitement is back.
"Okay, but be warned. It will be all things Christmas. We will even get our picture taken with Santa," I tell him.
"Fine," he grumbles.
"And we’ll get Christmas cookies and hot chocolate at the food court."
"I like cookies," he shrugs.
"I’ll play Christmas music there and back."
"I doubt you can be more annoying with them than my sister," he says.
I smile, "Challenge accepted. Now, let’s get you to your physical therapy appointment."
The rest of the day goes by in a blur as I think about all the Christmas things I want to do on our day out.
The nurse in me is also making checklists on what we’ll need and making sure he doesn't overdo it.
Before I leave, I go and find Lexi in her office. I knock on the door before stepping in.
"Hey, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I'm off the day after tomorrow, and I'm going to take Luke into town to go shopping for his Secret Santa. Since I planned to do my Christmas shopping then, too, it works out," I tell her.
She sits back in her chair and looks at me.
"I think it will do him some good to get out of here for a bit. But remember, he seems to have panic attacks with elevators," she says.
"Yes, his file says the car will be fine with the windows down, and I was thinking of going to that outlet mall with the food court and the carnival in the summer," I tell her.
"I think that's perfect. Make sure to fill out the forms and sign him out. You know the drill. Call me if you need me, but I trust you know what you’re doing."
As I head home, I think Lexi has a lot of trust in me. I hope I don't do something stupid to break that trust.
Luke
Today is the day Brooke is taking me shopping. I shouldn’t be so excited about this, but I am—not just because I get to get out of this place, but because I get to get out of this place with Brooke. I didn't even tell my sister because I know she'd want to take me herself or come along. But I need to do some Christmas shopping for her, too.
My other nurse that works, when Brooke doesn't, is here today, and she helped me get ready. I hated every minute of her touching me. Maybe, because it wasn't Brooke, or maybe, because it was just another woman, but I can't be sure. It gave me the motivation I need to figure out how to get myself ready on the days Brooke isn't here for me.
I had breakfast and am sitting in my wheelchair in the lobby, waiting for her. Looking around, I take in all the Christmas decorations she put up. The tree is one of the largest I've ever seen and decorated in blues and silvers. There are decorations from all the military branches, and lots of southern themed decorations, too.
I guess Oakside has a southern themed Christmas. I'm not sure what it means, but that's what I've heard. On the wall heading upstairs, is a photo of a man in uniform and under it is a shadow box with a folded flag and a few medals, one being a purple heart. I instantly know this man was killed in action.
When I wheel over to get a closer look, I see his name, Tyler Bates.
"That was my husband before I met Noah," Lexi says as she offers me a sad smile. "He died on deployment, but he always made sure I was taken care of. Enough so that I was able to buy this house. For a few years before I met Noah, it was just me living alone here. When we started Oakside, Noah insisted his memory be out in the open. He's the true reason we’re all here today."
All gave some, and some gave all.
You hear that quote in the military, but it never has meant more than it does right now.
"Here you are!" Brooke walks up. I turn to find her in jeans and a sweater, just like the first day. I've gotten used to her in scrubs, but I like her like this, too.
I look back at Lexi, who smiles at me. "Go enjoy your day of freedom."
Smiling, I head over to Brooke, who is bubbling with energy.
"Okay, I have a whole day planned, but if it becomes too much, you are to tell me. Do you understand and swear on whatever the holiest thing to you is?" She asks.
"I promise. Though, I'm not sure how it will be too much, if I’m sitting down all day. At most, my arms will get tired, and then you’ll just push me,” I shrug.
"Point taken. Okay, let's go."
I like that she doesn't try to push her way into helping me into the car. She lets me figure it out myself. It makes it easier that her car is a sensible four-door sedan, unlike the jeep my sister drives.
When I stop her from closing my door, she doesn't question it. I take a few deep breaths to steady myself. She gets in, starts the car, and rolls down all the windows. I must give her a confused look because she shrugs.
"It was in your file." Is all she says.
I close the door and buckle up. She doesn't ask why, but I feel like the question is hanging there.
"I was tossed from a Humvee. I almost didn't get out, so now confined spaces bring me back to that day. I'm working on it," I say.
"Listen, I get it. We all have stuff in our past that makes us who we are, good or bad. This is a safe space with me always. If you don't want to talk about something, we don't talk about it. But I'm always here if you need someone to, even if it’s just you ranting about something that doesn’t make sense to anyone but you, okay?" She says.
Not sure what to say, so I change the topic.
"While we're out, I would like to shop for my sister, if that's okay," I tell her.
"Of course, and your girlfriend, too, right?" She asks.
"What?" I ask, completely thrown off.
She thinks I have a girlfriend.
"The girl I saw you with when you checked in. I haven't seen her since, though." She says hesitantly.
I can't help but burst out laughing.
"That's my sister, Gabbie, and a world-class pain in my ass. She's in school and studying for finals. Once she's on winter break, she’ll be around more."
"Oh, sorry. I just assumed," she says.
"It's okay. For the record, I don't have a girlfriend or a wife. Do you?" I ask bluntly.
"I don't have a wife," she smiles.
"Boyfriend or husband?"
"Don't have one of those, either. I put all of my energy into Oakside once it opened, and that hasn't left much time for dating, which makes my brother happy," she smiles.
"Tell me about you," I say.
"Ask me anything, but be prepared to answer the same about yourself."
"Well, you know my parents are gone, and the only family I have is my younger sister, Gabbie. So, what about you?"
"My parents are gone, too. I have my grandma and my brother, who is married and has two kids."
"They live here?" I ask.
"Yep, we see each other at least once a week for dinner, if not more. You and your sister close?"
"Yeah, my parents died right after I joined the military, and Gabbie was in her senior year of high school. Her best friend's parents let her stay to finish out school since she had a full-ride scholarship. I sent them money to help out and Gabbie money so she didn't have to work and could focus on school. She's in her last year now and will be graduating early because she took summer classes."
I smile at the thought of how hard Gabbie has worked, but the smile fades when we pull into a shopping center.
"What is this? It looks like the North Pole exploded here," I say.
"They go all out for Christmas, and it's why I love shopping here this time of year. Come on."
Just like with getting into the car, she stands by in case I need help, but lets me do all the work, getting out of the car and back into my wheelchair.
"Don't think just because you can't walk that you won't be carrying my bags," she says.
I smile and know then this girl is something special, even if she’s trying to kill me with all things Christmas.