Chapter 30
Grace's heart did a happy dance in her chest as Damon motioned for her to follow him when they called him back.
She'd feared he'd make her stay in the waiting room, even though she ached to be by his side on this momentous occasion. They'd made some progress in the car, but she could tell Damon was holding back.
She held in a laugh as she thought about how the tables had turned since he came home for the wedding four and a half months ago.
She was still scared. Scared that he would walk away when she told him about her baby. Something she wished she’d found the courage to do a long time ago. She had to believe that they could work through anything. If she could get him to love her again and trust that she wouldn’t desert him.
Grace sat off to the side, trying not to be intrusive as Damon was fitted for his prosthesis and listened to the many explanations and instructions.
She caught herself biting her lip as he pulled on the Neoprene sleeve that looked like a sock then put on the silicone liner that would create stability with the prosthetic.
He glanced at her, the hesitation on his face saying he needed reassurance.
She gave him her biggest smile as she shifted to sit in the chair beside him.
"Now, it's not going to be a perfect fit," said Joel, the prosthetic technician who looked like he was in his late thirties. "That's why we call this a fitting. It's going to take some work to perfect exactly what you need."
After the liner with the locking pin was in place, Joel asked, "How does that feel?" He kept talking before Damon could answer. "It needs to be snug, but we don't want to cut off your circulation either."
"It feels good, I think."
Joel then showed him how to lock the pin into the prosthetic leg. "Good. Now, straighten and bend your knee." He had Damon do a few other simple movements to help him adjust to the feel of having a full limb there again. Then he gave him a broad smile. "Are you ready to stand?"
Damon's hand trembled as he swiped it over his brow. He gave a sharp nod.
"You might feel a little off balance or insecure at first—things you're used to, I'm sure. The important thing to remember is you're not alone." Joel got to his feet. "I'm going to hold one hand, and your wife will hold the other."
"I'm not—"
"She's not my wife." Damon's words were quick and sharp.
"Sorry," Joel gave a stiff smile. "Your girlfriend will hold the other."
Grace bit her tongue, waiting for Damon to set Joel straight.
"She's not my girlfriend either."
The words caused a sharp prick in Grace's chest.
“Sister?” Joel’s brows pulled together.
When Grace shook her head, Joel looked at Damon. “What are you waiting for man? A woman as pretty as her..." He winked at Grace. "...who's willing to stick with you through this?" He tilted his head toward Damon's leg. "You should put a ring on that already."
"Are we going to do this or what?" Irritation laced Damon's words.
"Let's do it." Joel held out his hand, and Grace did the same.
For a moment, she feared Damon would reject her outstretched hand. She breathed a sigh of relief when he finally slipped his hand into hers. It was neither as calloused nor as strong as she remembered. In fact, Grace detected a slight tremor.
She squeezed. "You've got this."
He met her gaze for a moment before giving her a tense smile.
"Good," Joel said. "Now just stand here for a bit, focusing on your balance."
He had Damon do a few small movements—shifting his weight from side to side, then forward and backward, and do a shallow squat—then asked, "Are there any spots in the sleeve that feel uncomfortable?"
They talked more about what Damon should and should not be feeling, made an adjustment, then got Damon on his feet again.
"Are you ready to walk?" Enthusiasm filled Joel's voice, but uncertainty still covered Damon's face.
He looked at Grace, and she gave him another broad smile as she blinked back the tears again. Finally, his lips lifted in a semblance of a smile.
They helped him take a few unsteady steps to the walking pad between two parallel bars that he could use for support.
Grace couldn't help the little cry of excitement that escaped her as Damon took his first steps by himself.
She pulled out her cell phone and took pictures and a video to share in his family chat.
Damon shot her a little scowl, but it was quickly followed by a smile. A genuine one this time.
Joel made Damon walk the length of the mat several times, coaching him on how to pivot to turn at each end. Then they talked about additional adjustments that needed to be made.
After almost an hour and a half, they walked out of the building, feeling giddy.
Well, Grace felt giddy, Damon looked content and almost happy.
When he scheduled his appointment to pick up what they hoped would be his permanent prosthetic next week, Grace volunteered to drive him again.
She almost cheered out loud when he accepted her offer.
Once they were settled back in her car, Grace looked at Damon. "Are we headed straight home? Or do you need to make any other stops?"
"No, I don't want to go home yet." Damon sucked in a deep breath. "I've been cooped up in the hospital, the rehab center, and now at home for two months. I want to do something."
"Like what?" Grace was game for anything as long as it meant spending more time with Damon.
"Let me buy you dinner as a thank you for driving me today."
Her elation took a nosedive. Grace didn't want him to buy her dinner out of obligation.
She wanted him to do it because he was dying to spend more time with her.
But she couldn't say no. She would eagerly lap up any attention Damon threw her way, all the while praying they could get back to where they were.
She glanced at the clock on her dash and laughed. "It's only three-thirty. A little early for dinner, don't you think?"
"Then...let's go to a movie first."
Grace's heart did another happy dance; the salsa this time. There was no holding back the smile that covered her face now. "Great idea. I'll buy the tickets; you buy the popcorn." She pulled her phone from her purse to see what was playing.
"I'll buy the tickets and the popcorn." A determined look covered Damon's face. "Then I'll pay for dinner afterward."
Was this a date?
Her pulse accelerated. He'd told her not to get her hopes up, but how could she not when he did things like that?
"It's the least I can do after you gave me such expensive and thoughtful Christmas gifts."
And her hopes were dashed again. Like waves against the jagged cliffs.
She could point out how much money he spent on Lily and all the puppy supplies but doing so cheapened both their gifts and would only make her feel worse.
She averted her head, blinked back the tears that flooded her eyes, swallowed her disappointment, and forced a smile. "So what movie are we going to see?"