Chapter 10
Harlow leaned back in the wheelchair, every muscle in her legs screaming in agony. “That was fun.”
“Maybe not fun, but a necessity.” Doctor Maddox clicked the end of her pen and began scribbling. “I believe with focused effort, resting and not overdoing it or pushing too hard we’ll have you up and walking around within weeks. Full recovery will take a little longer. I’ll guesstimate close to six months for a complete recovery.” She outlined an ambitious plan. “If you’re in agreement, we can start next Monday.”
“Monday sounds good. I’m free as a bird,” Harlow said. “I was hoping you made house calls.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t. ”
She frowned. “The ride to the mainland was a little rough, not to mention coming here will draw some unwanted attention.”
“Unwanted attention?”
“Nosy reporters, curiosity-seekers, paparazzi, fans,” her father said. “Surely, you’ve heard of Harlow Wynn.”
“I would be lying if I said I’ve never heard your name. In fact, I’ve watched several of your movies. All very good, I might add. I want you to feel comfortable. You’ll need to put in one hundred percent effort to get better without being distracted.”
“It will be rough,” Harlow predicted. “Mackinaw City isn’t exactly a major metropolis, but it is on the map, meaning people will start camping outside your office, harassing your staff, not to mention annoying your other patients.”
The doctor set her clipboard on the desk. “One of my associates makes in-home visits. If you’re interested, I can check her schedule. She’s one of the best therapists in the area.”
“Yes. Please.” Harlow waited for the doctor to exit the examination room. “I didn’t ask, but is it okay if someone comes to the house for my therapy?”
“One hundred percent all right,” David said. “In fact, I think it would be better for everyone concerned if it can be arranged.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Tears welled up in Harlow’s eyes. She made a silent vow to make it up to him for all the extra work and trouble she was creating.
If only her mother was still around. Lingering questions over the suspicious fire and her mother’s death suddenly bubbled to the surface. Her parents’ contentious relationship. Overdue taxes. Being audited by the IRS. Not long after the audit notice, the lodge caught fire with her mother trapped inside .
Coincidentally, her father’s files burned with it. Files the IRS had requested. Of course, they could have…should have been kept online, but according to David, the paper copies were in the office and went up in flames.
The last straw, at least for Harlow, was when the insurance company denied the claim. When pressed, her father had pushed back, refusing to discuss it.
She still remembered her final night on the island, still mourning her mother’s death and confronting her father. Hot, angry words. Hurling accusations out of heartache and heartbreak. Excuses. Blame. He’d even had the nerve to insinuate Ginger might have been behind it.
Who in their right mind would believe the woman had caused her own death? She wasn’t depressed, wasn’t upset. In fact, in the days leading up to the fire, things seemed to be back on the right track. Her parents were no longer arguing and even getting along .
Unless…it was all an act.
David’s expression softened. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”
“Everything kind of hurts. I was thinking about Mom.” Harlow stared at her hands, folded in her lap. “I still miss her.”
He grew silent for a long moment. “I don’t know if you believe it, but I miss her, too.”
The conversation ended when the door opened. Doctor Maddox reappeared. A young woman Harlow guessed to be in her late twenties followed her into the room.
“Harlow, Mr. Wynn, I would like to introduce you to Kennedy Jameson. She’s a colleague of mine who is available for in-home therapy. She’s willing to fit you into her schedule.”
The women shook hands. “Harlow Wynn. I’m a huge fan of yours. I heard about your accident. ”
“Thank you. It’s been a little rough. I’m hoping my visit here means I’ll soon be on the road to recovery.”
“Doctor Maddox briefly filled me in. I would be happy to add you to my schedule. We do charge extra for travel time, expenses, etc.,” Kennedy explained.
“And I’m willing to pay the extra charges,” Harlow said. “How soon can you fit me in?”
“The bad news is I’m booked solid for the next twelve weeks.”
Her heart plummeted. She should’ve known the process wouldn’t be easy breezy.
“Having said that, if you’re not opposed, I can schedule your appointments after work hours, at the end of my day, early mornings, during my lunch break or if I have a cancellation,” Kennedy said. “In other words, if you’re flexible, I think we can make it work. ”
“Seriously?” Harlow pressed her hand to her chest. “That would be wonderful. Thank you so much. Yes. Please sign me up.”
“I’ll let you take it from here.” Doctor Maddox backed toward the door. “I look forward to seeing you again soon, Harlow, waltzing through the front door as if you’re strolling down the runway.”
“I can promise you I will.”
After the doctor left, Kennedy outlined Harlow’s rehabilitation plan. She handed her a stack of papers. It included websites with information for patients who had suffered muscle contusions.
“I would like to assess your condition and feel confident we’ll have a clear idea and work out a game plan after my first visit.” Kennedy wrote out a prescription for a heavy duty pain reliever. “You might not need this. The number one priority is to give your muscles time to heal, meaning don’t overdo it.”
“When…can you fit me in? ”
“Tomorrow won’t work.” Kennedy pulled a notepad from her pocket. “How does Thursday at 5:30 sound?”
“Perfect.” Harlow rattled off her father’s address. “Thanks again for making house calls.”
“You’re welcome. You’ll have to pre-pay for the first appointment,” Kennedy explained. “All in-home visits are pre-paid.”
“No problem.” Harlow was so ecstatic, she was tempted to hug the woman. Shoot, if Doctor Maddox hadn’t already left, she would’ve wanted to hug her too.
These women…doctors…were going to help Harlow walk again. After days of being in limbo, she had a plan. Something told her she would need to get her strength back as soon as possible.
Little did Harlow know she would also need to get her emotions in check to face Robert. Her husband was making plans of his own. Plans which would affect her future.
**** *
David wheeled his daughter out of the examination room and into the front lobby.
Eryn sprang from her chair and hurried toward them. “How did it go?”
“It hurt like the dickens. With a lot of rest along with some physical therapy, I’ll soon be back on my feet.”
“But Harlow won’t be running marathons anytime soon,” her father warned.
“Nope. My first PT appointment is the day after tomorrow.”
“Here?” Eryn asked.
“At home. One of the physical therapists is squeezing me into her schedule. She’s agreed to come to Mackinac Island and will be at the house this Thursday.”
“Sweet.” Eryn lifted a hand, giving her bestie’s palm a victory slap. “We need to celebrate. ”
“Breakfast or lunch is on me,” Harlow said. “Pick your favorite mainland restaurant.”
With their hired driver on standby, they were soon on their way to the cozy café Eryn suggested, offering an unobstructed view of the Mackinac Bridge. Before exiting the vehicle, Harlow donned her ball cap and sunglasses.
She pulled a compact from her purse and studied her reflection in the mirror. “How do I look?”
“Like someone enrolled in the witness protection plan, trying to hide their identity,” Eryn joked. “The aviator tinted-black sunglasses are a dead giveaway.”
“They’re all I have.”
David reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of cheap plastic sunglasses. “I thought you might need these.”
Harlow wrinkled her nose and studied the white frames. “These look like men’s sunglasses. ”
“Because they are.”
She slipped them on and studied her reflection. “They cover half my face.”
“Even better,” her father teased.
Harlow pulled them off and inspected the splotched lenses. “How do you even see?” Using the edge of her blouse, she began cleaning the lenses.
“I don’t wear them often, considering I hardly ever drive.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Eryn quipped. “I think they’re perfect. You look very un-Harlow-ish.”
The driver pulled up to the front door. Her dad sprang from the vehicle and grabbed her wheelchair from the trunk.
Still sore from the mini workout the doctor had put her through, she gritted her teeth while David helped his daughter. “You gonna be okay? ”
“Doctor Maddox put me through the paces. I’ll be fine. At least I hope so.”
Eryn ran ahead to hold the door. Once inside and seated, Harlow let out a sigh of relief. The dining room was only half full. No one even glanced in their direction.
“See?” Eryn whispered. “The coast is clear. You’re completely incognito.”
“It feels so weird,” Harlow whispered back. “I can’t remember the last time I was out in public without bodyguards.”
“This is Northern Michigan, not Malibu,” David said. “Now, isn’t this much better than being followed and harassed?”
“One hundred percent.”
A server approached their table, glasses of water in hand. “Welcome to Bridge View Café.” She rattled off the specials while Harlow, with her head down, perused the menu .
Her stomach grumbled. Everything sounded good. Although it was still technically breakfast, the restaurant, decorated more like a diner than a café, offered everything on the menu no matter what the hour.
Homemade chicken noodle soup, omelets, even big juicy cheeseburgers, something Robert would never allow her to eat because she was constantly counting calories.
In fact, not a day went by when she wasn’t counting calories. Which meant, in honor of her absent husband, she was going to eat whatever she wanted. “I’ll have the quarter pound burger with two slices of sharp cheddar cheese and a side of onion rings.”
“Got it. What about drinks?”
“Vernors ginger ale.” Robert would be throwing a fit if he was there. Greasy cheeseburger with equally greasy onion rings and a sugary soda to wash it all down? The thought of how he would disapprove made her smile .
“I’m in the mood for lunch, too. I’ll have what she’s having. Your onion rings are the best.” Eryn smacked her lips.
“World famous, or at least Michigan famous.”
David placed his order and waited for the server to walk away. “When’s the last time you had a hamburger, Harlow?”
She thought about it. “It’s been so long I can’t remember. Robert is constantly reminding me to count my calories.” She patted her stomach. “I’m always… always watching my weight.”
Her father muttered something unpleasant about her husband under his breath and began talking about something else.
The food arrived hot and fresh. While they ate and chatted, Harlow could feel herself relax. She removed her ball cap and set it in her lap, freeing her ponytail and running her fingers through her hair. It felt odd eating a meal without people staring at her, whispering as they walked by, furtively snapping photos with their cell phones when they thought she wasn’t looking.
Had she been in Malibu, Harlow would need two security guards with her. Fans had tried scaling their privacy fence. Reporters climbed the trees outside their property. Using high-powered camera lenses, they snapped photos of the couple and then sold them to unscrupulous tabloids for ridiculous sums of money.
The leisurely lunch ended and Harlow discovered she’d devoured every single bite of her burger. “This is the best meal I’ve had in a long time.”
“Me too,” Eryn said. “Those onion rings are the bomb.”
“The fish and chips weren’t too shabby, either.” David reached for the check. Harlow quickly snatched it off the table. “Nope. My treat.”
The server returned to collect the payment and did a double take. Harlow knew the exact moment the woman recognized her…when she nearly dropped the stack of dishes she was holding. Her jaw dropped. “I…”
Harlow held a finger to her lips. “Shhh.”
The woman silently nodded. She ran to the back and returned with two more employees. They huddled off to the side, watching as their server dropped Harlow’s credit card and receipt off.
“I-I’m sorry, Ms. Wynn, but I…me and my friends—we were wondering if we could get your autograph and maybe a picture with you,” the woman stammered.
Harlow smiled. “Of course.” Slipping back into “movie star mode,” she motioned for the other two to join them.
Eryn snapped a few photos with their cell phones. Afterwards, Harlow signed a trio of paper dinner napkins.
“Thank you.” The server pressed the napkin to her chest. “You are as sweet and nice as you are in the movies. I heard you were in town, but never in my wildest dreams did I think you would show up here.”
“You’re welcome.” Harlow reached for her ball cap and placed it back on top of her head.
“Perhaps we’ll see you around again.”
Her father shoved his chair back and hurried around the table, quickly helping his daughter into her wheelchair. “I already called for the car.” They still had time to escape before the diners inside the small café realized who she was. “I see it pulling up now.”
Eryn gathered up their things and began making her way toward the exit. She abruptly stopped in her tracks. “It’s too late.”