Chapter 3
"How did PT go today?"
Paige and her parents had barely settled around the dinner table when her dad started with the questions.
"It was exhausting, but good." Paige gave a thoughtful nod.
"You should have seen her when I picked her up." Mom served herself green beans. "She was wiped out."
"Gee thanks, Mom." Paige didn't need her mother confirming she’d looked as exhausted as she felt by the time she’d finished PT.
"You know what I mean, dear." Mom patted Paige's arm. "You're as beautiful as ever, but you looked like a limp rag this afternoon. I'm glad you took a good nap."
"Me too.” The three-hour nap had restored her energy. “I only hope it doesn't keep me from sleeping tonight."
She was stuck in a vicious cycle. Physical exertion wore her out, so she napped. But napping made it hard to sleep at night, which only left her more tired the next day.
"That's what your sleeping pills are for." Dad gave her a stern look.
"I know, but they make me more sluggish the next day."
Dad nodded in understanding as he buttered a roll. "What did you think of Dr. Rivera?"
Gorgeous. Charming. Kind. Killer eyelashes.
So many words came to mind but voicing them felt inappropriate.
"He's handsome," Mom said when Paige didn't answer right away.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Not that she'd ever admit to her father that she found her physical therapist attractive.
"And young," Mom added.
"Good thing he's not thirty years older, huh?" Paige's dad winked at her mom. "Or I might have some competition."
"No." Mom waved a hand in dismissal then she wiggled her eyebrows at Paige. “But when you finish PT, we should arrange for you to get to know Dr. Rivera on a personal level.”
“Oh please, Mom, no.” Paige was done with men.
Dad's gaze shifted back to Paige just as she shoved a bite of chicken in her mouth. "Well, now I know what your mom thinks of the new physical therapist, but what do you think of him, Paige?"
She took her time chewing as she debated how to respond.
She was tempted to echo her mom's words, because Gabe was definitely young and handsome.
And strong too. He had the kind of thick, wavy hair that made her want to plunge her fingers in and mess it up.
But she doubted that's what her father wanted to hear.
He was interested in Gabe's professional abilities.
"He seems to know his stuff," Paige finally said after swallowing. "He had me do a much broader range of exercises than the therapists at the rehab center."
He also rolled up his sleeves, exposing muscular forearms, and spent nearly twenty minutes helping her stretch at the end of her session and massaging her tight muscles. The therapists at the rehab center had never done that.
"You'll feel each and every one of those exercises tomorrow, I'm sure." Dad chuckled. "But you'll start seeing real progress soon in your ability to get around and do things."
"I hope so." Paige was tired of being an invalid, and even more tired of being treated like one.
Gabe was right. She was stronger than she thought. Surprisingly, she'd made it through two and a half hours of PT. Most of the exercises caused some discomfort, but it felt amazing to move again.
"Now that you're on your way to full recovery, what are your plans?" Dad asked as he cut a piece of chicken.
The question took Paige by surprise, because for over two months all she’d thought about was making it through each day.
Dad gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like we're trying to get rid of you already."
"You should be," Paige said. "You've been sitting by my hospital bed and visiting me in the rehabilitation center for over two months.
I'm as ready to get on with my life as you are, believe me.
" She took a bite of her mashed potatoes and let them melt in her mouth before she spoke again.
"I'm just not sure what that looks like right now. "
"It's okay, honey." Mom put a hand on her arm. "Emotional healing can take as long—sometimes even longer—than physical healing."
To avoid questions concerning her accident and Phillip's absence at the hospital, she'd told her parents she and Phillip had broken up. She'd led them to believe he'd dumped her, which was essentially true, since he'd set a wedding date with another woman.
"The school year is almost over. You have the whole summer to decide on your next steps." Mom changed the subject. "I assume you still have a position at your school to return to next year?"
When Principal Stevens heard Paige had been hit by a car and nearly died, he hadn't balked at giving her all the time off she needed, even when she ran out of PTO.
He'd found an excellent long-term substitute to fill in for her, and the other second-grade teachers had rallied around the sub, helping with lesson plans and providing support.
Paige had been miffed about being replaced so easily, but when she realized what a long recovery she had ahead of her, the disappointment turned into gratitude.
"Yes, I got an email from Principal Stevens this morning." Paige fiddled with her fork. "He assured me he'd hold my job for me."
But he also wanted to know if she intended to return next school year. Paige had wanted to respond, telling him of course, she planned to return, because she loved her job. But for some reason, she'd hesitated.
Was it because she still wasn't fully healed? Or because she'd enjoyed being close to family and didn't want to lose that? Returning to Seattle was one of the life choices she was currently questioning.
Something had been missing from her life ever since her cousin Riley moved back home to Providence last year. She'd thought it was because she was eager to get married and start a family. Something she'd hoped to do with Phillip.
Her grip on her fork tightened with the familiar twinge that seized her chest every time she thought about him. She forced thoughts of Phillip from her mind.
"I'm glad you still have a job to go back to after all these months," Mom said, "but I'll be sad to see you leave when school starts again. Seattle is just too far away."
"I know." Paige's gaze dropped to her plate.
Other than her job, there wasn't anything left for her in Seattle. Her hopes of marrying and starting a family with Phillip had been crushed.
Gah. Stop thinking about Phillip already.
Dad turned his attention to her mom. "And how was your day, dear?"
Grateful the conversation had shifted away from her, Paige tuned out while her mother, who was the high school principal, talked about how busy this time of year was and how she'd finally secured a guest speaker for graduation.
There's nothing waiting for me in Seattle except my job. But the only thing here for me is my family.
Would it be enough? With only one elementary school, she'd be hard pressed to find a job teaching in this sleepy little town.
I suppose I could try the Tri-Cities area.
She was still mulling around the idea of searching for a job closer to home when her parents shooed her from the kitchen while they cleaned up. Helpless and hopeless. That was her life now.
The front door opened as she settled on the couch. Her nieces, Kallie and Cassey, ran into the family room followed by their much-slower, little brother James whose toddling run looked like a drunk football player zigzagging toward the end zone.
"Aunt Paige!" Kallie, the outgoing one, ran full bore toward her.
"Kallie!" Paige's brother, Ben, darted forward to stop his daughter. "Remember you have to be careful around Aunt Paige."
Kallie skidded to a stop, and Cassey, who always followed her sister, ran into her. "Is she still broken?"
Paige's sister-in-law, Amy, crouched down by the four-year-old girls who weren't related by blood but could almost be twins with their blond hair and blue eyes. "She's not broken anymore, but she's still healing."
"Like my booboo?" Cassey asked, angling her elbow that sported a Band-Aid up in the air.
Paige laughed. "Exactly like your booboo, Cass."
"Do you need Mommy to kiss your booboo better?" Kallie asked. "My owies always feel better after Mommy kisses them."
Paige laughed. This was why she wanted to stay in Providence. She loved being surrounded by family.
An hour later, Paige was ready for a little less family and some fresh air. She heaved a sigh of relief when her phone chimed with a text from her cousin.
Riley: Want to go for a drive?
Paige: YES.
Paige loved her nieces, but they both kept insisting she help them color their picture. And Kallie's pointy, little elbow had been digging into her good thigh for the last fifteen minutes.
When Riley arrived, Paige hobbled outside and breathed in the fresh air.
Riley frowned, concern filling her face as she held the passenger door of her Jeep open for Paige. "Um…I didn't think about how we were going to get you up inside."
"We got this." After being cooped up in the hospital then a rehab center for over two months, Paige refused to let this little setback keep her from going for a ride. "Give me a minute. I'll figure it out."
She shifted this way and that before leaning back against the seat, handing over a crutch, and grabbing a hold of the handlebar with her good arm. She pulled herself up as much as her strength allowed. "Help me lift my left leg in."
Riley obliged, being careful not to jostle Paige more than necessary.
"Okay, now give me a boost up with the right leg." Paige's voice was strained from the effort.
Riley clasped her hands together and put them under Paige's foot when it came off the ground and lifted so Paige could pull herself onto the seat.
"Yay, we did it!" Riley gave her a high five before closing the door.
Paige sucked in a deep breath and wiped the beads of perspiration from her brow before Riley climbed in the driver's side.
Just Gabe had said she was stronger than she thought, but Paige wasn’t so sure. No yet, anyway.