Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
At the door, Gracie turned. “We play when you tome home, Daddy! I wants to swim wif you!”
Her words hung in the air. Richard’s expression became morose and withdrawn. I brushed the hair off his forehead.
“You will, Richard. With time, you will.”
He didn’t respond. Any lingering happiness faded, and the light dimmed from his eyes. He turned his head, rejecting my touch.
13
Katy
Maddox came out of Richard’s room, his suitcase in hand. He had been a tower of strength for me, and I was going to miss him. But he had a wife that missed him, a job that had been pushed aside too long on our behalf, and a life he needed to return to.
He dropped his case and swept me in for a hug. “If you need me, I’m a call away. I can be here in a day.”
“Thank you for everything,” I murmured, the words somehow inadequate.
He pulled back. “It’s not going to be easy, Katy. Be strong.” He glanced at Richard’s closed door, a faint scowl on his face. “He’s holding himself in.”
“I know.” I had seen a subtle change in Richard the past few days. He spoke less, snapped more, and barely acknowledged the future. I watched him with the therapists. The determination I had seen the first day he woke was dimming. I encouraged him—everyone did—reminding him it would take time and patience, and although he nodded, I worried he didn’t believe us. If he gave up, he had no chance of recovering.
“I’ll check in on him. And you.” He pressed a kiss to my head. “And the munchkins. Kiss them every day for me, yeah?”
I was unable to speak. He cleared his throat and, after another hug, walked to the elevator.
I watched him leave, knowing how much of a difference his absence would make in our life.
My phone rang, and I hurried to the waiting room to take the call. Attending to Richard, trying to arrange changes to the house, and make sure I saw the girls kept me busy and exhausted. Richard became agitated and upset when I wasn’t there, barking at the staff and causing problems. The girls were now with Mrs. Thomas since her husband was away on his annual golf trip and she insisted she was too lonely rattling around her empty house. I went there every day to check on the work being done at our place, see the girls, and spend time with them to give Mrs. Thomas a break. She laughed when I told her, saying that the girls had so many visitors, she was lucky to see them at all.
I listened to the information the contractor was giving me, not caring about the cost, only having it done and ready before Richard came home. Fifty thousand dollars meant nothing if Richard could get upstairs. I had thought about turning the family room into a bedroom for us, but Laura had suggested it might send Richard the wrong message.
“Moving your bedroom to the main floor says permanence, Katy.”
I had sighed and leaned my head on my hand. “And an elevator doesn’t?”
She shook her head. “It can be useful. Think if you ever broke your leg and had to get up all those stairs to the bedroom. Or when Graham and I get old and spend the night. We’re not getting any younger, you know.” She winked.
I looked at the plans. We’d lose a large closet on each floor, but the contractor had also pointed out a good place to add more storage on each level. It seemed the best solution and the space was perfect.
“I can secure the permits needed and start as soon as they’re clear, Mrs. VanRyan. I need to order the elevator today.” Mr. Brown’s voice interrupted my musings.
“Of course. If you can bring the paperwork to the hospital, I can sign it and get your deposit.”
“I’ll see you later.”
I hung up and sat staring out the window. Richard was short with me today, often ignoring my questions and being snippy with the nurses and physio people. He hated everything about the hospital and the reason he was here. I couldn’t blame him for wanting to be home; however, I didn’t like it when he spoke to people rudely—not that any of the staff seemed to be bothered. Still, it bothered me, stirring memories of the Richard I first knew and loathed.
With a sigh, I stood and brushed some lint off my pants. I pulled on the waistband with a grimace. They were getting looser. My appetite was still off, and I wasn’t sleeping well. But at the moment, my concentration was on Richard, not me. I pushed my hair off my shoulders and returned to Richard’s room. I heard his raised voice, and I hurried inside, wondering what problem had occurred while I had stepped out.