I blow a piece of hair out of my face. Easier said than done, Karly.
11
Jason
I don’t know what happened to make Karly soften toward me, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She’s still keeping things professional, but that way she has of challenging me and cheering for me at the same time is back.
Better yet, when the workout is finished, she doesn’t pack up her equipment and rush out like she has every other time.
She stays and chats with me on the porch where we can see the stables and horses out getting their exercise.
“I want you to start walking without the cane. I’m going to limit how long you go without it, but as you get stronger, it will be longer.” She smiles at me, and for the first time in a long time, it’s not that guarded smile of hers. “You’re doing great, Jason. I’m really proud of you.”
“Thank you, Nurse Berry. I couldn’t do it without you.” She shakes off my words, but we both know they’re the truth. There’s no way I would have come this far without her. “I’m pumped to get to ditch the stick for even a couple hours.”
She laughs then, and the sound is almost magical. “Oh no, don’t get carried away. We’ll start with a few minutes and work up to hours.”
I agree with her instantly. Right now, I would agree to anything to have her sitting here laughing and talking to me.
Derrick and Olivia come along and join in our chat. They sit on the porch swing, holding hands with each other.
“What’s going on? How’s therapy going?”
Karly brags on me to my brother and Olivia. “Well, Jason is probably not going to need me much longer. He’s been working so hard, and we are about to start weaning him off the cane.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Trent and Lacy were talking about moving their wedding. I’ll have to tell them there’s no need.”
“Move their wedding? Why would they move their wedding?”
Derrick shrugs his shoulders. “He’s been worried about you lately, and he knows how much you hate walking with the cane. They were considering pushing it back a few months.”
I’m stunned. I can’t believe Trent and Lacy would do that for me. “Well, tell them to forget it. Nothing’s going to stop me from standing up with him. Even if I have to use the damn cane. I’m just happy to be alive at this point. I can make it through the rest of it.”
Derrick and Karly look at me in surprise. And I am sort of surprising myself. But I’ve come to learn that I have a whole lot to be thankful for, and I’m going to do my best to quit holding myself back. I’m alive. I can walk. I have my family, and I have Karly. Well, for now anyway.
We sit and talk a little more about the wedding, and when Karly says she’s going to go back to the cabin, I offer to walk her.
“I know I’ve already said it, but I’m really proud of you, Jason. Not just because of how far you’ve come but your attitude too.”
I walk her out to the cabin once Derrick and Olivia continue on their way, and for a moment I nearly lean in and kiss her. It surprises me how much I want to. This is definitely something I could get used to. Having Karly close on my family’s ranch and finally happy with me, well, it starts to give me ideas.
Karly
For a second, I thought he was going to kiss me.
How pathetic am I? A guy tells his friends not to be crude jerks and I see a knight in shining armor.
I laugh at myself for getting caught up in the moment and excitement. He is still my patient, and I’m still his nurse. For all I know, he’s being nice to me because I do indeed help him and push him to do better. I hate to even think about leaving here and going back to the hospital grind of twelve-hour shifts. But even more than that, I hate the thought of not seeing Jason anymore. He’s definitely growing on me.
It may have taken some convincing, but I’m definitely thankful for this job. The paychecks I’ve earned from the Kellers have helped me stop the final notices I was getting and constant threats. Not to mention, I’ve not had to work so many hours. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been able to get sleep and catch up on laundry and my regular everyday upkeep.
With the latest paycheck I’ve officially caught up with the payments on my car. To celebrate I decide to go and get my hair done with the remaining balance of the check. It’s a treat for myself. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with wanting Jason to kiss me. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.