Chapter Ten
Forget learning how to walk well with a prosthetic. Tanner was going to learn how to run, bike, and most importantly, drive.
“Mom, please.” He ran his hands down his face, then let out a frustrated sigh. “Could you please drive just a little faster? Just a little.”
Ms. McKoy shot her son a look. The corner of her mouth turned up in a small smirk. “I hear wedding bells,” she sang.
Tanner snorted. “Aw, c’mon. It ain’t nothing like that. I just want us to get there sometime today.”
His mother served him a small dose of her trademark Southern charm – sweet with a nip of sarcasm.
“Sugar, what do you want me to do? Fly us there? I’m sorry, but this is as fast as I go.” She must have noticed his concern, though. She reached out and patted his arm, smiling. “Really now. There’s no need for worry. The doctors said she’ll be just fine. Remember?”
Tanner resisted the urge to roll his eyes. After all, his mother was trying to be comforting. Still, it hardly helped. “I’d rather hear what the doctors have to say for myself, thank you.”
“Well, what?” His mother pressured him. “Do you think Miss Phoebe was lying to us?”
“No. I don’t think she was lying,” he admitted, briefly smiling at her quirk of using the word “Miss” in front of a woman’s name regardless of her age. He thought back to Eva. “I just question how reliable any secondhand information is – especially from someone like Phoebe Coffey.”
As far as Tanner was concerned, no one could accuse the café owner of being a “people person.” From his conversations with Eva during their sessions, he had arrived at the conclusion that Ms. Coffey preferred Eva’s dog over her own employee. The animal had been awarded a special spot on the back deck overlooking the river, food bowls and chew toys to boot.
His mother ignored his sour suggestion. “I’m sure she would’ve acted more upset if it had been something serious.”
Tanner didn’t argue. Instead, he spent the remainder of the car ride staring out the passenger window, alternating between silent curses and prayers until they pulled into the hospital parking lot.
Finally!
He grabbed hold of a single crutch, leaving the other in the back seat, and popped open the car door.
“Do you need any help?” his mother asked.
“Naw, I got this.” Tanner placed the crutch on the ground followed by one foot. This was the moment he had been practicing for all week. Well, not exactly. He had hoped to show Eva the progress he was making at his next therapy session – the progression of wheelchair to two crutches, and now only one for support. He hadn’t realized he would be proving himself under such drastic circumstances, though. Still, what better time than now? If she was feeling down, maybe it would lift her spirits to see all the good change she was creating. He gently leaned on the crutch and pulled himself from the car.
The driver’s side door snapped shut beside him and his mother rushed around to his side.
“Here, let me help.” She moved to brace him, but he stopped her.
“Seriously, mom. I’ve got this.”
“I know you do, son.” She smiled up at him, then stepped aside. “And I’m very proud of you.”
“Thanks, mom.” He smiled back then took a determined step forward with the prosthetic leg.
***
“What’s cooking, good looking?”
The familiar voice caused Eva to slowly pry her eyes open. Her head throbbed with a steady pain, continually pulsating as if her heart had been relocated to the center of her brain. She raised a shaky hand to still the unwelcomed ache, fully opening her eyes to focus on the visitor.
“Bryan?” She tightened her dry lips and tried to swallow past the lump forming in her throat. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean what am I doing here?” He lightly admonished her. “You told the EMTs to call me. Remember?”
Eva slightly raised her head and looked around at her surroundings. Everything came back in a flash – the red truck careening into her lane of traffic, the ambulance as it arrived, and the paramedic asking her if there was anyone they could contact. She cringed, remembering her response.
“Uh, yeah.” She braced the sides of the hospital bed and fought to sit up. “About that—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.” Bryan sat down on the mattress beside her. He took hold of Eva’s hand and lifted it. Placing a firm kiss on the back of her fingers, he squeezed them with a quiet reprimand. “No harm, no foul. All is forgiven.”
“All is forgiven?” She yanked her hand away as if burned. Did he really think he could just come in here and talk to her as if she had been the one to blame in their relationship? He was sorely mistaken if he thought she was still the docile Eva who used to crumple under his glare. “What do you mean, ‘All is forgiven?’”
“Exactly how it should mean,” her ex replied. His condescending tone only served to make her head pound harder. “I assumed that you had seen the error of involving your parents in our business. Naturally, you realized no one else cares about you the way I do. That’s why you had the hospital call me instead of someone else.”
Eva clenched her teeth. She would not get nasty. She would not stoop to his level. She would not…
“Basura de hombre.” She gritted the words out from under her breath, not at all ashamed of calling him names.
Bryan chuckled. “Honey, you know I don’t understand any of that silliness. We live in America. Speak English.”
Eva sucked in air, wishing she could rattle off a thousand insults in Spanish, but knowing they would only fall on deaf ears.
“I said you’re trash,” she finally spoke. “How’s that for English?
Bryan crossed his arms and studied her for a moment. “You know, you would think you’d act at least a little grateful to the person who helped save your dog’s life.”
Eva’s hardness quickly melted.
“Hunter?” she asked. “How is he? Where is he?”
“He’ll be fine.” Bryan waved away her concern. “He had to be courted off to a local vet, though. They said something about a sprained leg.”
Eva grimaced. Here she was worrying about her bruised ego and a stupid headache while her poor puppy was alone, in a strange place.
And with an injury to boot!
“Like I said,” Bryan continued, “everything will be fine. I’ve already signed off on all the papers and have settled the bill with the vet.”
Eva let out a tired sigh.
“Bryan, I appreciate all you’ve done,” she began. “I really do… and I promise I’ll repay every cent you spent on Hunter’s care. The thing is, though, I honestly didn’t mean for you to come here. I only said your name because I was confused and it was the first one I thought of. But given our history? All is not forgiven.”
Her ex-fiancé stared at her for a long moment, then nodded with understanding. He stood and walked over to his briefcase sitting on the floor by the bed. Popping it open, he reached in and pulled out a packet of papers.
“Here’s everything from the vet,” he said.
“Thank you,” Eva smiled and reached for the documents. “Like I said, I’ll pay you back.”
Bryan shrugged. “If you want. You know where I live.”
Eva nodded and her ex collected his things. The door quietly snapped shut behind him and she was finally able to relax. She leaned her head back, wishing she had said some other name instead of his. Why hadn’t she said Cathy? Even Tanner with his dislike for dogs would’ve been preferable.
Eva groaned.
Now why did she have to go and think about him?
***
After leaving the hospital gift shop, Ms. McKoy headed to the vending machines for a cup of coffee while Tanner set off for the nurses’ station. He placed the vase on the counter and eyed them once again. It had taken longer than he would have thought to do something as simple as pick out flowers. Apparently, different colors had different meanings, and he would have got the red ones until his mother mentioned something about the words “red” and “passion.” Sure, he was attracted to Eva. He didn’t want to send the wrong message and scare her away, though. He had finally settled on a bright bouquet of yellow roses that reminded him of Eva – both golden and beautiful. The flowers must have been a good choice, too. They were currently attracting the attention of a nurse who sauntered over and fingered one of the petals.
“Oooh. Are those for me?” The nurse, appearing to be in her early thirties and wearing a name badge that read Maryanne, gave him a coy smile.
Tanner chuckled. “Sorry to say they’re for a friend of mine. Actually, could you tell me what room she’s in? Eva Perez is the name.”
“Oh.” Was he mistaken… or had the nurse sounded slightly rejected? It was hard to tell with the smile she pasted on. “She’s in 209 with her fiancé.”
Tanner stilled. “I’m sorry. Come again?”
The nurse gave him a strange look. “I said she’s visiting with her fiancé in room two-oh-nine.”
Tanner stared down at the flowers. He felt his temperature slightly raise, a mixture of anger and embarrassment coursing through him.
She was engaged!
He mentally scolded himself. What was he even doing here? It wasn’t like Eva had contacted him, or had someone else do so for her. The only reason he even knew about the accident was because she never showed up for his therapy. So his mother drove him down to the coffee shop in search of her…
Because you don’t even know where she lives, ya big dummy!
Tanner lifted his free hand and ran it down his face, wishing he had never come. He was a complete fool for thinking Eva would be interested in someone like him. Why would she? Because they had sent a couple of texts; got along well during his therapy sessions? She was a nice girl just trying to finish her degree. Bottom line, he had read into things way more than he should have.
“Sir, are you alright?”
Tanner glanced up at the smiling nurse. He cleared his throat.
“Uh, yeah. Everything’s good.” He turned to leave then thought better of it. “Listen. Could you do me a favor, and please give these to Ms. Perez?”
The nurse picked up the vase. “I sure will. Is there anything else you would like?”
She winked, her smile holding a hint of suggestion. It had been a while since anyone had shown interest in him. At least, in that way. Tanner rejected the idea of pursuing the invitation, though. Looks could be deceiving. Besides, for as much as he didn’t want to admit it, there was no getting around the truth. He had fallen for Eva. And now to learn she was already spoken for? The facts were far too sobering.
He gave the nurse a brusque nod. “That’s all. Thanks.”
Tanner turned on his good leg, and limped towards the vending machines with silent resolve.
A strong cup of something was in tall order.