Chapter 14
One Month later
Mary rolled into her kitchen to find Willow already at the table, her own wheelchair positioned perfectly under the lowered counter section, a cup of coffee steaming beside her laptop.
When Casper had first approached her about Willow staying during her recovery, Mary had instantly agreed.
She valued her independence, had finally gotten settled into her new house, but didn’t mind a temporary roommate who needed accessible housing.
She had spent two years trying to fit into a world that didn’t always make it easy for someone in a wheelchair, so she wasn’t about to turn down the offer to help someone else.
“Morning,” Willow said with a bright smile. “I made coffee. Hope you don’t mind that I raided your creamer stash.”
“Help yourself,” Mary said, maneuvering to the coffee pot. “How are the ankles feeling today?”
“Better, I think. Still can’t put weight on them, but the swelling’s going down.
” Willow gestured to the hospital-grade wheelchair that Casper had arranged for her to borrow when it became clear she would need mobility assistance during her recovery.
“I have so much more respect for what you do every day. This is exhausting, and I’ve only been doing it for two weeks. ”
Mary poured her coffee and moved to join Willow at the table. “It gets easier. You build up the arm strength, figure out the most efficient routes through spaces, learn all the little tricks that make things faster.”
“You make it look effortless,” Willow said. “I’ve been watching you. The way you move through this house, the way you’ve set everything up… it’s like a perfectly choreographed dance.”
“Years of practice,” Mary said with a smile.
“And having a house that’s actually designed for wheelchair access makes a huge difference.
My apartment was better than most, but this”—she gestured around the spacious kitchen with its carefully planned layout—“this is what accessibility should look like.”
Willow had moved into the guest bedroom with her laptop, her manuscripts, and a determination not to be a burden, a trait Mary recognized all too well in herself.
Willow was easy to live with, and Mary loved getting to know the lovely woman Casper had fallen for.
She was quiet when writing, funny and engaging when they talked, and respectful of Mary’s space and routines.
And having another wheelchair user in the house, even temporarily, created an unexpected camaraderie.
They’d compare notes on transfers, laugh about the ridiculous things able-bodied people said, and trade tips on managing daily tasks from a seated position.
“Bert is coming over for dinner and is getting Casper to help with the grill,” Mary said.
“If the weather holds, we can eat on the deck.” The deck had been one of the renovation projects for the house.
It was a wide, accessible space with a gentle ramp and railings at a height that allowed someone in a wheelchair to reach comfortably.
“Those two are over here a lot,” Willow said with a knowing smile. “And Bert… well, I’m pretty sure Bert’s been in love with you for months.”
Mary felt heat creep up her neck. “We’re friends.”
“Uh-huh. Friends who look at each other like that. Friends who coordinate their schedules so they can have dinner together all the time. Friends who—”
“Okay, okay.” Mary laughed, holding up a hand. “Point taken.”
“I’m just saying,” Willow continued, her expression softening, “what you two have? That’s special.
And watching you together, watching how Bert adapts to your needs without making a big deal about it, how he’s learned your routines and anticipates what might be difficult without being condescending—that’s real, Mary.
That’s the kind of partnership people dream about. ”
Mary took a sip of her coffee, processing Willow’s words.
Having Willow stay with her had given Mary a new perspective on her relationship with Bert.
Watching Casper with Willow, and the way he’d learned to help her without hovering, the way he’d researched wheelchair techniques and accessibility issues, the way he treated her temporary disability as just another challenge to navigate together…
Mary could see parallels to how Bert treated her.
“He bought the house across the street,” Mary said quietly. “There were other houses available, closer to the compound. Less of a fixer-upper. But he bought that one specifically.”
“Because he wants to be near you,” Willow said. “Because even if he hasn’t said it out loud yet, he’s already building a life that includes you at the center of it.”
That evening, when Bert’s vehicle pulled into his driveway, Mary watched him climb out, and he immediately look toward her house. Their eyes met across the distance, and he smiled that warm, genuine smile that made her heart skip, and he headed toward her.
“Hey,” he said, climbing the deck stairs and settling into the chair beside her wheelchair. “How was your day?”
“Good. Willow and I had coffee this morning, Casper brought lunch, and we’re planning on what to fix when you grill tonight.”
“I’ll go get the steaks,” Bert said, standing.
“You know you don’t have to—”
“I’m here because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
And there it was… the thing Willow and Casper kept insisting was obvious. The way Bert looked at her, the way he showed up every day, the way he’d reorganized his entire life to be closer to hers.
Maybe they were right. Maybe this friendship was becoming something more. Maybe it already was something more, and they just hadn’t put words to it yet. But maybe soon.
Two Months Later
Mary was exhausted in a way that went beyond physical tiredness. Willow had moved into the house Casper bought, but she never lacked for company with Bert across the street. Yet their relationship hadn’t changed beyond friendship. And maybe it never would.
The past months had been intense at LSIMT, with increasingly complex operations requiring intricate coordination.
She’d handled it all with her usual efficiency, but the cost was showing.
She was short-tempered, sleeping poorly, and found herself staring at budget spreadsheets without actually seeing the numbers.
Logan noticed because the boss didn’t miss anything related to LSIMT. He called her into his office on a Wednesday morning and closed the door, which was never a good sign. “Mary, you need a vacation,” he said without preamble.
“I’m fine,” she protested automatically.
“You’re not fine. You’re running yourself into the ground, and it’s starting to show.” His tone was firm but kind. “When’s the last time you took more than a day off?”
Mary tried to remember and couldn’t. “I don’t know. A while.”
“Exactly. So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to take two weeks off, starting as soon as you can arrange it. That’s not a request, Mary. That’s an order.”
“But the budget review—”
“Will still be here when you get back. Bert can handle the urgent stuff, and anything else can wait.” Logan leaned forward, his expression softening.
“You’ve built incredible systems here. Everything runs smoothly because of the foundations you’ve put in place.
But you need to take care of yourself, or you won’t be able to take care of us.
So take the vacation. Go somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Rest. Come back ready to work again.”
Mary wanted to argue, but she knew he was right.
She was burned out in a way she hadn’t been since the early days of her recovery, and she needed a break.
Not just from work, but from the careful dance she and Bert had been doing ever since they’d met.
She needed space to think, to process, to figure out how to be content with what she had instead of constantly longing for what she couldn’t have.
That night, she sat at her computer and started researching accessible vacation options. She’d glanced over at her bookshelf, and her gaze lovingly roamed over her copy of Anne of Green Gables. She had read the books obsessively as a girl and dreamed of visiting Prince Edward Island.
Turning back to her computer, she found a small luxury, adults-only river cruise through Maritime Canada, specifically designed to showcase Prince Edward Island and the surrounding provinces.
The ship was small, with only forty to fifty passengers, and the intimate setting appealed to her.
And most importantly, it was fully accessible.
The itinerary was perfect. They’d visit Charlottetown, see Green Gables, explore the red sand beaches and rolling countryside that Lucy Maud Montgomery had made famous. They’d sail through picturesque harbors, stop at fishing villages, and experience the culture and history of the region.
It was expensive, but Mary had saved money by living simply and working constantly. She could afford it. And more than that, she needed it.
She booked a solo, accessible cabin before she could second-guess herself, choosing a departure date two weeks away.
That would give her time to finish the most urgent work projects and make sure everything was in order before she left.
She told Bert the next evening while sitting on her front porch.
“That’s great,” he said, and he sounded like he meant it. “You deserve a break. You’ve been working yourself too hard.”
“Logan’s orders,” she said with a slight smile. “Though he’s right. I need some time away.”
“Maritime Canada,” he repeated, looking out at the dark street. “That’s a long way from Montana.”
“That’s kind of the point,” Mary admitted. “I need distance. Perspective. A chance to reset.”
Something flickered across Bert’s face, too quick for Mary to read. “How long is the cruise?”
“Ten days, plus travel time.”
“You’ll love it,” Bert said, his voice warm despite whatever emotion was moving through his eyes. “Prince Edward Island is supposed to be beautiful. And you love those Anne of Green Gable books.”
Mary wasn’t surprised he remembered that detail from their conversation months ago. That was Bert. He remembered everything about her and paid attention to the smallest details.
“I’m excited,” she said, and realized she meant it. “It’ll be good to have some time to myself. To think about things.”
“Think about things?” Bert’s gaze was sharp on her face.
Mary looked away, afraid of what he might see in her expression. “Just work stuff. Life stuff. Nothing specific.”
It was a lie, and they both knew it. But Bert didn’t push. He just nodded and changed the subject to safer ground.
The next two weeks passed in a flurry of preparation.
Mary worked long hours to finish projects and create detailed instructions for Bert to handle anything that might come up in her absence.
She packed and repacked her suitcase, researching accessibility at each port and planning her excursions with the same attention to detail she applied to LSI operations.
And through it all, she spent time with Bert. Dinners and movie nights and quiet conversations on front porches. Storing up memories of him like she was going away forever instead of just two weeks.
The evening before she left, Bert came over with takeout, and they ate on her back deck, wrapped in blankets against the chill. They didn’t talk much, just sat in comfortable silence watching the stars emerge.
“I’ll be over at zero four thirty to take you to the airport,” Bert said when it was time for him to leave. He stood at her door, looking down at her with an expression that made her chest tight.
“I’ll be ready,” Mary promised.
He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too,” she said softly, meaning it more than she could ever say.
He reached inside his pocket and handed her a box.
Surprised at the gift, she opened it to discover a necklace with a lighthouse pendant.
Her brows lifted as she looked up at him.
The necklace and key chains were pieces of equipment that held a transmitter in the pendant, something the Keepers carried on missions in case they needed it for a client.
But the Keepers themselves had a tattoo of a lighthouse with a tracer embedded in the light, just underneath the skin.
“Bert, you know I have a tattoo.”
“This is special,” he said. “I’ve modified it, and you’ll be the first to have it.
The tracer is more sensitive and can pinpoint exactly where you are.
And not only LSI but I can also get the signal on my phone, even inside a building, telling me which level you’re on.
I… I thought your trip was a good time for you to try it out.
It’s for emergencies or if you just want to get ahold of me immediately.
And no matter where you are, I will always be able to find you. ”
“Thank you,” she murmured, looking down at the piece of equipment that she knew he had designed specifically for her.
She realized what he wasn’t saying… I’ll be available to you anytime, anywhere.
The gift was precious, and her heart warmed as she looked up at his face.
“You won’t mind if I test it out just to see if you respond? ”
His lips curved gently. “I would be lost if you didn’t.” He hesitated, like he wanted to say something more, but then just bent, kissed her forehead, and left.
Mary watched him cross the street, watched his lights come on, and felt the familiar ache of wanting something she couldn’t have.
Tomorrow, she’d leave for Canada, for Prince Edward Island and sights she’d read about since childhood.
She’d have ten days to sightsee, meet new people, discover new territory, and regain perspective.
Mary finished packing, trying not to think about the man across the street or the way his eyes had looked when he’d said he’d miss her.
Tomorrow was a new adventure. A chance to breathe and reset and come back stronger.