Katie In Denver (In Denver Series Book 3) (12 page)

“I remember you. I remember you staying in the truck with me holding my hand, and I remember you with MJ in the hallway. I could hear you, Stephanie, when you were reading to me. I was so scared, but then I heard your calm voice, and I was able to be calm. I can’t thank you enough, you have no idea what that meant to me.” 

“Katie, you don’t have to thank me. You needed help, and I was there. I’m glad I was able to do something, to help in a situation everyone felt so helpless in. I want to be friends.” 

“Stephanie, I know you and Michal have some history together.”

Stephanie laughed. “No, we really don’t. We had a few drunken kisses and most of the time he would call me Katie. He never got over you, Katie. I wasn’t ever a replacement for you I was just someone for him to talk you. The entire time we dated there wasn’t a day he didn’t say your name or regret what happened. I think more than a girlfriend I was just his friend Once I realized he was in love with someone I realized that I needed to find my own Michael, someone that would only want me and me alone. That’s when I bumped into Mac, and it has turned out pretty great for us.”

I squeezed Stephanie’s hand. “Thanks for telling me. I can help you get some clothes on and get into your chair. The guys are cooking, and we can chat while we watch them slave over a hot stove.”

“I would really like that,” I say with a smile.

By the time we got to the living room, dinner was done, and MJ was home. The men were setting the table and getting the food served while Stephanie and I talked about craft projects she wanted to tackle and how stressful it has been to find the perfect house. She is getting ready to open her practice and can’t seem to find the perfect nurse or receptionist. I tell her all about my cousin Percy, who was a nurse for a few years here in Denver before joining the ship’s medical crew.

“I know Percy has been thinking of coming home, but ever since her mom died she has been kind of disconnected. I wanted to give her space and not pressure her, but she has been in Antarctica for the last three years, and I’m ready for her to come home.” 

I give Stephanie her number, and I also tell her about a school secretary that we had to let go this term because of budget issues. I pass along her number as well. I’m not sure either will be what Stephanie is looking for, but I want to help Stephanie in some kind of way.

Twelve weeks. That’s how long I have been in these god awful casts, and I am finally waiting at the doctor’s office for them to be cut off. I’m ready to start my rehab, get my strength back, and get healthy. I wait anxiously for Stephanie to come in the exam room. 

“Sorry, I’m behind, Katie,” she says with a smile. “I had to work in some emergency appointments. Are you ready to get these things cut off?”

“Yes, please! I have had three months of itchiness and my arm smells like a dead fish.” I can’t help but laugh since the last time I tried to hug MJ he told me I smelled like a zombie.

She carefully cuts off the arm cast first, and the smell is enough to make me gag, but Stephanie doesn’t ever flinch. I see Michael trying to hold his breath, but his face is turning purple. 

“Michael, can you please get me something to drink?” I ask trying to give him an out.

He nods and practically runs out of the exam room.

Stephanie murmurs, “He is such a wimp.” She cleans off my arm, and I move it around. It’s sore and moving it is hard, but I can’t believe how small and pale it is. She does the same for the leg, bagging all of the cast pieces up in trash bags and wiping my leg down.

“Holy shit it looks like I have a carpet on my legs! That is so gross.” Stephanie just laughs.

Percy pops her head in. “Stephanie, I have the next three patients ready for you. Do you want me to take over here?” she asks.

“Yes, please. She just needs a referral to a psychical therapist, and I have all her paperwork in her file.”

Percy comes over and finishes cleaning up my leg. Poor Michael didn’t have the sense to stay out of the room, and he looks like he might puke all over the place. 

“He has a weak stomach,” I say, rolling my eyes. 

“Well, it looks like your all set. I have something to ask you,” she says, biting her bottom lip. “Someone asked me out, and I wanted to ask your opinion before I accepted.”

“Who has you blushing and smiling?” I ask.

“It’s Ian. He asked if maybe I wanted to grab a drink this Friday, and I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

“Percy, go for it. Ian is an awesome guy, and he has a heart of gold,” I say, hugging my cousin. “You two would make a fantastic couple.”

“Okay, I will. Let me grab your cane and I will be right back. Stephanie wants you to use it until the physical therapist tells you to stop. It’s not permanent; it’s just until you get some muscle back.”

I knew this was coming, but I still feel like an invalid hobbling out to the waiting room. Michael sits in a chair with a rag against his forehead. I hadn’t even realized he left the exam room. The smell must have finally gotten to him. 

“Come on, swirly gut, I’m not sure how much strength I have.” 

He loops his arm in mine. “I got you, baby, you can lean on me. I won’t let you fall.” He kisses my lips gently.

My heart warms because this is the Michael I fell in love with all those years ago.

I only get to rest for two days before I have to meet my physical therapist. He is known around town as The Punisher; Galen McPhee is one of the most sought after therapists in Denver. When athletes are injured, they travel here to see him.  Michael hasn’t gone back to work. Instead, he spends his days helping me. When the bell rings to signify the end of the school day, I’m suddenly nervous. I’m not sure how much pain I can take, and they say this guy doesn’t let up. 

At home, I hear Michael talking and from the tone of his voice I can tell he is less than happy and then he walks into the living with Troop leader Ian following behind him with a cart of gear.

“Ian what are you going here?” I ask. I see that Michael is instantly pissed off.

Ian extends his hand. “Galen Ian McPhee. Psychical therapist.” 

“I don’t understand. Why do you tell everyone your name is Ian?” 

“I have been a troop leader for about nine years. The first year I heard every variation of GAY from the scouts, so I started using my middle name when I got assigned to the troop on the Res.” 

“So, you are The Punisher,” I say looking at Ian, who seems as mild-mannered and unassuming as anyone I have ever met.

He shrugs. “I get results. I know you want to get back to teaching by next year, and if that’s your goal I’m the man to work with. Michael contacted my office, and he asked for me because I’m the best. If you’re uncomfortable, I can have one of my associates come.”

“No, I’m not uncomfortable,” I say and then look at Michael. He sits in the armchair across from the sofa. 

Ian pulls out two sets of binders. He puts one set in front of Michael and the other in front of me. “This is your treatment plan and detailed instructions on your everyday exercises. I’m going to be coming three days a week for one hour, but it’s up to you to work your plan on the days that I’m not here.”

He turns to Michael. “I’m going to show you how to assist her so every exercise in this book; that’s what we are working on today. The first half hour I’m going to see what her abilities are, and then we are going to work as a team.” Michael leans forward grabbing the binders. 

“Okay, Katie, let’s stand over here and we can run a few tests.” After twenty minutes, I can’t take anymore and ask for a break. I feel like I’m going to throw up, the pain is so bad. 

Ian lays a mat on the floor and tells Michael he needs to get some comfortable workout gear on. Ian helps me down to the floor and waits for Michael to return. 

Ian works on my side that’s injured, showing Michael how to bend and move my legs and arms. He then shows me all the equipment he has in his cart. There is a foam roll and elastic bands, as well as different sized blocks. Ian shows Michael the print out for each exercise and the daily log either of us needs to sign off on when it is completed.

“OK, you know what you need to do. I will see you in two days.” This Ian is so strange; no personal talk, strictly business. He leaves, and Michael starts walking toward me when there is a knock on the door. It’s Ian again, but this time it’s silly Ian. 

“Hey, Katie, I came to visit,” he says with a cheeky grin. 

I shake my head because he acts like he wasn’t here three minutes ago. 

He sits and we catch up. He tells me how he has the major hots for Percy and how she finally gave him the time of day. After he had convinced her she was way hotter than me, that is. I can’t help to look toward Michael, who shakes his head no, confirming that I am the hotter of the two cousins. 

“Katie, when I’m here working with you, I’m not Ian. I’m not your friend; I’m here to get you well. I don’t want you to feel like I’m acting weird, but my focus is on getting you better not chatting.”

“I appreciate that, Ian.” We say our goodbyes and Michael walks Ian to the door. I hear them chatting by the door, but I can’t hear what they are saying. I feel tired, and my body aches, but I feel good. 

Michael comes and sits by me on the sofa. “Are you OK?” he asks.

“Yeah, I think I’m good. I’m tired and sweaty, and I want to take a shower.”

“Why don’t I start the tub for you? It will give you a chance to soak your muscles.” He gets up and heads to up the stairs to his bathroom. “We’ll use my tub; it’s bigger. I’m going to help you up the stairs.” It feels like it takes an eternity, but Michael never complains about how slow I’m moving. He helps me get undressed and into the tub. The smell of lavender wafts into my nose as I step in. Michael dims the lights and lights some candles. 

“I don’t have any wine, sorry, but I do have some sparkling grape juice if you’re interested,” he says. 

“I’m great I just want to soak.” 

“I’m going to give you some privacy.” He moves to the door and then I hear the gentle click of the bedroom door. 

Thirty minutes later, he knocks on the bathroom door to check on me. I let him know I’m ready to get out. He helps me get some yoga pants and a shirt on and helps me back to the living room. 

“Are you hungry, baby?” he asks from the kitchen. 

“I could eat. Can I go with you when you pick up MJ from school? I would like to pop in and see my students, and I need to sit with the principal and let him know I won’t be returning this year. As much as I want to get back to teaching I know it’s going to take the next couple months to get my strength back.”

“Sure, baby, we can leave in about an hour. That will give you time to do what you need to at the school, and then we can swing by your house to get a few more things.”

He steps over to me, taking a seat on the coffee table across from me. “I want you and MJ here permanently. I know that we have had this fight before, but I want us to find a house between town and the Reservation, and I want to get married, and I want to be a family with you and MJ. I want to wake up every day next you, and I want to help MJ with his school work, and I want to turn the tub for you when you have had a hard day at work. I want more kids, and I want all of these things with
you
, Katie, I want to have the life we should have started ten years ago. Tell me you want those things too.” I am trying to process everything Michael is saying, but my mind is running a little slow these days. 

Chapter 18

Michael 

Seeing Katie so defeated is breaking my fucking heart. I want to make everything better; I want to take away her pain, tell her everything is going to be okay, and kiss all her pain away. Picking her up and helping her shower, I see the hopelessness in her eyes. I have to do something for her. I have to find a way to get the light in her eyes back. Snuggling up with my family, I know this is what I need every day for the rest of my life. No more taking it slow. Katie and MJ aren’t leaving, they are never going to leave my side. I’m going to start looking for a house with a yard, and we can get a dog, and a pool, and a place to hang out with friends. MJ is going to get all of those things. I was stupid to let Katie go all those years ago, and I won’t make the same mistake twice. I hate to conspire with my son, but it’s time we pull out all the stops to make sure his mom knows where she belongs.