Woven Wishes (Whispered Wishes Book 4) (16 page)

“That doesn’t make sense,” she responded. “My mommy says I’m always with her in her heart
and
we live together, so I still don’t get why you left.”

Good girl, Soph. Make him squirm.

“It’s … complicated, but I honestly never meant to hurt you—or your mom. And I wanted to come back, Sophie, I really did, but with work, it was difficult for me to get away.”

Complicated. Was that the best he could do?

“My Nicholas works really hard, and he always comes back, even when he has to go on business trips. Back in September he came home early to take me to the father/daughter dance. And he’s been to all of my piano recitals. He
always
shows up when he promises to, and he
never
lets me down.”

Yay, Sophie!

“Well you’re a very lucky girl,” Scott said, taking the final gulp of his coffee before standing up. “Anyway, it was great to see everyone again.”

“You’re leaving?” Tessa asked, surprised. Apparently his ego could no longer take the lecture by the seven year old.

“Yes,” he replied. “I start my new job soon, and I need to wrap up some last minute things back home to get ready for my move. My bus will be here shortly.” Grabbing his jacket he turned toward his daughter. “Sophie?”

“Yeah?” she asked, barely looking up. Scott stood with open arms—the same way he’d greeted her earlier. Slowly getting out of her seat, she kept her distance and only mumbled, “Bye.”

“I’ll be in touch,” he said to Tessa and Nicholas has he headed toward the door.

“Wait up,” Nicholas called, grabbing the briefcase he’d brought in with him. He followed Scott out to the parking lot.

“Are you okay?” Tessa asked, lifting her up and onto her lap.

“Yes,” she said, “but if it’s okay with you, I don’t think I want to see Scott again.” Tears streamed down her face as Tessa held her tight.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, sweetheart,” she said, rubbing her back in small circles.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, sweetie?” She looked at her daughter’s tear-streaked face.

“I wish Nicholas was my real dad.”

Tessa smiled as she pushed her hair out of her eyes. “He already is, sweetheart. He already is.”

Chapter 34 – Holly

“Take me back.” Ben sat on the exam table, staring straight ahead. His physical therapist, Marc, had just spent the last twenty minutes massaging his legs to keep his muscles from weakening. Ben hadn’t felt any of it—not the pushing, not the kneading, not even the pinches Holly knew Marc had thrown in to test him. Nothing. Holly stood by Ben’s side the entire time waiting for any sign from her husband … even the tiniest flinch to let her know a sensation of some sort had reached his brain. But as was the case each day, twice a day, for what felt like forever, there was nothing.

“Babe, you still have an hour to go. You haven’t even started your exercises yet,” she reminded him.

“Exercises?” he said louder than Holly would have liked. He’d been in a foul mood all day, ever since his morning therapy session when he insisted on trying to
walk
assisted by parallel bars, despite Marc’s contention he was pushing himself too hard and setting himself up for disappointment.
That was an understatement.
As predicted, his legs wouldn’t move on their own. He’d been sulking all day over it. The other patients in the rehab room, upon hearing his outburst, turned to look at Ben. “Exercises?” he repeated, this time softer. “That’s a joke. Hol, I’m not doing anything. Every day since this cast has come off has been the same. I lie still like the slug I’ve become, and Marc here moves my leg up and down and sideways. How is that
me
exercising?”

“It’s exercising your spine and reminding your brain, so when movement does return, you’ll have an easier time getting back on your feet,” Marc told him.

“You mean if,” Ben corrected. “And so far, that
if
seems to be a more likely
not going to ever happen
. The accident was quite a while ago.”

“Your recovery is up to you,” Marc began. “The mind—”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, smirking. “Dr. Golden told me all about that hocus pocus mind crap. If it were true, I’d be walking by now.”

“I’m really sorry, Marc,” Holly said, giving her husband a nasty look. “He’s just having a rough day.”

“No worries, Mrs. Oakes, I’m used to it. Actually, Ben,” he said, bringing his face directly in front of his patient’s, “you know what? You’re probably right. This is all useless. You should just go back to your room now. I have other patients I could be helping who actually give a damn about their recovery.”

Holly stood next to the two men, completely speechless.
Marc was kidding, right? This was some kind of mind game psycho-babble people did when they wanted to get you to do the opposite of what you want to do. Wasn’t it?

“What?” Ben asked, looking at Marc then Holly. “What about my therapy?”

“It’s a waste of time. You said so yourself. In fact, you should probably just go home. There’s a waitlist here for rehab rooms, and they’re supposed to be filled by patients who will benefit from our services.”

“You’re not supposed to say that,” Ben told him, his tone straining with a level of fear and concern Holly had never heard in her husband’s voice before.

She wanted to tell Ben everything would be okay. That Marc was only kidding, that Marc was only saying these things because he was trying to get him to continue his therapy, but the truth was, she wasn’t a hundred percent sure that was correct. What if Marc, through his therapy sessions with her husband, had come to the conclusion that Ben really wasn’t ever going to be able to walk again?

“Who’s going to help me get my mobility back?” he continued, a gruff edge now adding in to the mix of his fear and concern.

“Well, nobody. But it’s okay because you’ve already decided you won’t be walking again. So here,” Marc pushed his wheelchair right next to the table where Ben sat, “good luck to you, pal. I’ll go get your discharge papers started.” He patted him on the shoulder and began to leave the room.

“Wait!” Ben called out.

Holly caught a glimpse of a fleeting smile cross Marc’s lips as he stopped at the doorway just before he turned back around with his previous stoic expression.

It was all a ploy.
She let out a long, silent breath, realizing everything would be okay.

“Yes?” Marc asked.

“I need help getting back into my chair.”

Defeat swept over Holly. Was Ben really so stubborn that he’d rather be crippled? What about the promise he had made to her in front of Dr. Golden?

“You have two arms that work just fine,” he replied. “You’re going to have learn how to use them to get yourself in and out of that chair on your own if this is the life you’re choosing. There’s not always going to be someone around offering to help you, you know.”

Shaking his head, Ben’s scowl deepened. “Hol,” he said, his frustration growing. He held out his hand. “Do you mind? I just need to hold on to you for balance.”

She studied her husband as he sat there looking completely helpless. As much as it pained her, she looked straight back at him and said, “No.”

“Excuse me?” he asked. “Hol, I need help.”

“I know, that’s why we have Marc. To help you with the therapy you promised you would endure. Remember?
For as long as it took, for as difficult as it would be, for not only you, but for us? For better or for worse.
He’s here to help you.”

Ben put his head back down and sighed. “And you promised to support me when I needed help.”

“I’m trying to help you, babe,” she said, the all too familiar sting of tears starting to well in her eyes. “Can’t you see that? Twenty-four/seven since the accident, all I’ve done is try to help you.” She knew he was speaking out of frustration, but it didn’t make his words hurt any less.

 “Forget it, I’ll do it myself.” Sliding his body sideways to line up perfectly next to the chair, he let out a loud grunt and struggled as he attempted to lift his body up and into the seat. Marc caught him before he fell to the floor and put him back on the table.

“Shit,” Ben whispered, a single tear now making its way down his cheek.

“It’s okay, babe.” Holly immediately ran to his side. “I’ll help you.”

“Here’s what I propose,” Marc said, looking Ben squarely in the eyes. “We’ll work on your arm strength
and
the proper way to get in and out of the chair. In exchange, you’ll keep your end of your promise to your wife and let me work on your legs. Deal?”

“I’m sorry.” Ben reached out to hold Holly’s hand. “Babe, I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean … you’ve been there for me every minute. You didn’t deserve … you don’t deserve—”

“I know. It’s okay,” she replied, resting her head on his shoulder.

“It’s easy to let your frustrations get the best of you,” Marc told him, “especially when you’ve been trying to work through this for as long as you have. But you need to trust me, Dr. Golden, your wife, and most of all yourself. They tell me you survived an accident you weren’t supposed to survive. That was the hard part. This part is easy, and like you said, I’m really the one doing all the work.”

Nodding, Ben squeezed Holly’s hand even tighter. “Okay.” He gave a determined nod. “You have a deal. Now let’s get to work.”

Chapter 35 – Tessa

Tessa paced nervously backstage as people raced around her: actors, hair, makeup, costumes, sets, sound, lighting. Every last detail had its own
person
on his or her own mission. It was a controlled chaos, but chaos nonetheless.

“Sweetheart,” Nicholas said, guiding her to the back room they’d set up as a post-production lounge, “everything is going to be perfect tonight. The cast is more than prepared, as is the crew. You’ve got a sellout crowd. There’s nothing left for you to do but shine. You, my love, have worked harder than anyone I know to get to where you are today. I couldn’t be prouder. Tonight is going to be a night to remember, with much to celebrate.”

“He’s right,” Ava said, already in the room, waiting to give her sister a hug. “I know you need to get back out there, but I asked Nicholas to steal you away for a few minutes so I could see you. Here, these are for you.”

The bouquet of roses her older sister thrust toward her were bigger than the size of her own head. “Av,” she said, trying to wrap her arms around all of the stems, “thank you. But you’re supposed to wait until after the show to give flowers. It’s one of those weird superstitious theater things.”

“Like
break a leg?
By the way, Tessa, I don’t think we should be saying that in front of Holly and Ben.”

“Ah, good point,” she agreed. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Speaking of,” Nicholas said, “I’m going to make sure Ben is set up okay. We have a spot cleared in the front row for his wheelchair. I’m so sorry Max couldn’t come tonight, Ava.”

“I am, too,” she said, mustering a smile. “Unfortunately, one of the other pilots called out sick at the last minute, so he had to fill in.”

“Well, no worries. We hired an amazing videographer, so he’ll get to see the show when he gets back in town.”

“Thanks, Nicholas. I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

“Darling, I’ll be right back. Try to relax, okay?” He kissed the only spot on Tessa’s face not blocked by the roses and headed out the door.

 “These are beautiful, Ava,” she said, inhaling deeply, “thank you again.”

“You’re welcome, and I wanted you to have them now. You should be celebrating all night. Not just after the show. Nicholas isn’t the only one who’s proud of you. I am, too.”

Tessa carefully placed the flowers on a side table and hugged her sister. All these years she’d waited for Ava to say those words. Her oldest sister, the woman she idolized, the woman she could never live up to, the woman she loved so deeply …
she
was proud of
her
. Whatever else happened that night, Ava’s words would be a highlight of her evening.

“Hey, can I get in on this love fest? I hope you don’t mind, but Nicholas told me where you all were hiding.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” Tessa moved over to let Holly in to their now group hug.

“I feel like rock stars,” she said, as they broke apart slightly but still had their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders.

“What are you talking about, Hol?”

“You know, like in all those concert documentaries we used to watch. The band always had a group huddle before they went on stage. Then someone said something inspirational, they thanked God, ran on stage, and rocked the house. Go ahead, Ava. You’ve always been good with that sort of thing. Plus, you’re sort of our leader.”

“Except, we’re not all going out on stage,” Ava reminded them.

“Thank goodness,” Tessa snickered.

“Hey, Tessa.” A woman wearing a headpiece popped her head into the doorway. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“No problem, Kay, what’s up.”

“I just wanted to let you know, everything is good to go. Oh, and the crew wanted me to tell you to break a—”

Tessa broke out into a loud fake coughing fit to stop her before she could finish her sentence. Looking confused, and rightly so, Kay shook her head and walked off.

“You okay?” Holly asked. “There are some bottles of water over there if you need it.”

“No, no,” Tessa said, giving one last robust cough for good measure. “I’m just fine. The theater is so dusty.” She spread her arms back out so they could get back into their group hug. “So something inspirational, right? I’ll go. Since this is sort of my gig. Thank you, to my fabulous sisters, for your unending support. I know I’ve asked a lot of favors from you both over the years.”

“A lot,” Holly said under a muffled cough, jumping to the side just as Tessa threw her elbow out toward her ribcage. “You’re right. It is dusty in here,” she teased.

“Mmm hmm,” Tessa responded. “I know I probably don’t tell you both enough how much I love, admire, and appreciate you, but I do. I wouldn’t be here tonight, if it weren’t for you both.”