Chapter Twenty-Eight
Eric was coming home. Anya could hardly believe it.
But poor Brian. He’d been over in Germany for nearly three weeks and Ashley had been left here alone to contend with Arielle, although Anya had done what she could to help. Supposedly, her baby wasn’t due for another week or two. Ashley’s mom had immediately offered to come and stay with her, but after talking to Ashley had decided to wait until the baby arrived.
Anya was as ready as she could be for Eric’s return, transforming the new master bedroom that she’d set up in her grandparent’s former apartment into a retreat, even adding a small weight room for exercise in the bedroom that was closest to the cabin’s living room. Eric would become restless very quickly, she was sure, so they’d moved the leather sofa bed into the living room near the fireplace so it could be used once Eric was nearly healed.
Jake and Danielle had talked her into having all the exterior work done on the cabin so that she could begin interior renovations. Heating would be the next step.
They’d insisted on loaning her the money, and at this point, refused to discuss terms of repayment, although they’d mentioned an extraordinarily minimal interest rate.
Although she visited with Eric on Facetime several times a week, Anya would be so relieved when he eventually made it home and she could see for herself that he was doing okay.
Finally, it was the day that Jake would be flying Eric and Brian in to the Crystal Rock Airport on his private plane. A special van had been borrowed from the wounded warrior home, and Brian would be accompanying Eric back to the cabin.
Outside, when they arrived, Anya was pacing the grounds. Eric would be amazed at how much nicer the exterior of the cabin looked. Also, during the summer, she’d discovered that she really enjoyed gardening, something that her mom had never been into although Grandma had. Anya had managed to revive the wide rose bed as well as the arbor situated alongside the master bedroom, where French doors had been installed to replace the large window, and the old brick courtyard had been renovated.
A few minutes later, the driver finally turned the van into the driveway, so Anya motioned for him to back up onto the patio.
Stepping out of his seat with a smile, the driver walked around to the back of the van, opening the doors wide.
Peeking inside, Anya could see that Eric had been grumbling, probably because he was strapped into a gurney.
Since he looked so grumpy, she couldn’t help laughing. He was going to be fine.
“Somehow, I didn’t think you’d be laughing once I arrived,” he growled, definitely accusing.
“I was happy at the fact that you were grumbling, because that’s how I knew you were really going to be okay,” she answered dryly.
Brian started laughing too. “Hi Anya. I hear you’ve been keeping an eye on my girls.”
“I sure have Brian, and you’re all coming over here for dinner tomorrow night for a cookout after Eric’s had a nice long rest from the trip.”
“We’ll be here,” Brian said, stepping out from the van to assist the driver with wheeling the gurney into the bedroom.
Once Eric was inside the bedroom, he started yanking at the harness. “Will you two please get me out of this damn thing. I need to use the restroom.”
Anya grinned. “I guess you’re not going to be a good patient?”
“Come over here and kiss me, will you?” Eric growled.
Everyone was laughing as the driver unlatched the harness and Anya wrapped her arms around Eric, kissing him thoroughly. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” he muttered. “Brian, I’m kind of wobbly right now,” Eric said, trying to stand.
“You could be that way for the next several days,” Brian warned him, handing over the iPad he was carrying to Anya. “Here, Anya. You can get him signed out while I help him into the bathroom.”
“You’ve got both a cane and a walker available to use, Eric, in case you feel like trying on your own,” Anya said. “In fact, that’s why I covered the wooden floors with the large decorative rugs. It might be as long as a week before you feel comfortable enough though. All that time on the plane didn’t help, I’m sure.”
Anya signed several electronic release statements on the iPad, handing it back to the driver. “Do I need to compensate you, Ben?”
“Nope. Jake took care of all of that,” he said, heading back toward the open patio doors.
“Of course, he did,” Anya answered dryly.
She heard Ben laughing as he revved up the van.
Leaving the French doors open wide, she slid over the screen. It was still pretty warm for September.
Heading over to the bed, she pulled back the comforter so Eric could go right to sleep. He’d looked pretty exhausted. She’d give him his meds and let him rest a while before trying to get him to eat, she decided.
Brian finally walked out of the bathroom with Eric leaning on him rather heavily.
“He’s pretty tired,” Brian admitted.
“I noticed. The bed’s ready for him to lay right down. I won’t feed him until later,” Anya said.
“I’m standing right here you know,” Eric muttered. “I’ll be fine. I just need a little nap.”
“Suuure you do, bro,” Brian said soothingly.
“Shut up, will you?” Eric growled.
“He’s been a little surly,” Brian said, winking at Anya.
“I can see that,” Anya agreed, assisting Brian as he half hoisted Eric onto the bed.
“Quit picking on me,” Eric muttered.
Brian and Anya laughed.
* * *
About four hours later, Eric was yelling, “Anya? Where are you?”
She rushed from the office through the hallway and into the bedroom, which was unfortunately situated at the very end of the house.
“Is everything okay?” she asked worriedly.
He looked a little embarrassed. “I need to use the bathroom again. I was going to try and do it on my own, but I’m too weak, darn it.”
“You can’t worry about things like that, Eric. I’m here for better or worse. Remember?”
“I do,” he muttered, sounding sheepish as she walked to the side of the bed where he was sitting upright.
She wrapped an arm over his back and beneath his arm to steady him, having him step carefully from the bed. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as she thought it might be, so she frowned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Am I too heavy?”
“To the contrary,” she replied. “You’ve lost a lot of weight. How about a French Dip from the Crystal Rock Tap for dinner?”
“That sounds great. I hope I can stay awake long enough,” he answered, entering the bathroom.
“I’ve already ordered. Everything should be here soon. I was hoping you’d be hungry when you woke.”
Another forty-five minutes later, they were both finishing their sandwiches. Anya was relieved to see that Eric’s appetite was good. Apparently, that had been one of the biggest concerns at the hospital.
When they were finished, Eric’s eyes searched hers. “I’m so glad to be home. Is it bedtime? Can I please just hold you for a while?”
“I’d love that,” she said, smiling and giving him a gentle kiss. “Let me put away the food in the kitchen and lock up before I take a quick shower, and then we can just call it an early night.”
“Good,” he answered, giving her his first real smile since he’d come home.
“Meanwhile, I’ll turn on the TV,” she said.
“Okay. I might have to use the bathroom again. Tomorrow I’m going to see how far I can make it on my own.”
“Let’s not push it. Do me a favor and just make sure I’m in the room first, okay?”
He nodded. “I can do that.”