Percy, page 5
“That’s an interesting proposition,” she murmured, frowning now. “I’m sure he would hate it. And you’re right. He doesn’t help. I’ve always looked after him.”
“Of course he would hate it, but it might make him a better person.”
She was quiet for a long time, and he wondered if he had somehow pushed it too far. It really was none of his business.
Yet he was interested in seeing how much people did or did not do for themselves. Granted, it was not easy to change, especially when the brother was the spoiled one, taking advantage of Giada—at least in Percy’s opinion. So the brother would not want that spoiling to stop, as things would get harder on him in his life. The brother wouldn’t want to endure the pain of dealing with the headache of doing something for himself, instead of having his sister take care of him.
Percy had an afterthought and shook his head. “Lots of times in therapy and in various communications sessions, like I’ll be going through here, if it’s possible to get away with not doing something,” he explained, “most people will do everything they can to avoid that responsibility. And the harder it is to change, the more that they find ways to get out of it.”
“Even though it’s pertinent to their healing?”
“Absolutely,” he stated, “because it’s hard to change. It’s hard to be responsible, especially for some people. It’s hard to grow up. It’s painful to change, and, when we have to do it ourselves, we must step up our education and take on the responsibility of being able-bodied again—or at least a step toward being able-bodied—and then people see us in a different light again. It’s sometimes easier to stay in the shadows and to be enabled by those around us.”
“Ouch,” she said, softly pushing him along the path. The sunshine beat down on them. “I hadn’t really expected this kind of conversation.”
“And you can tell me to shut up anytime,” he stated instantly. “I’m sorry. I’m really pushing boundaries here.” He tilted his head up to the sky. “It’s lovely outside.”
“About the boundaries, not at all. It’s a fascinating discussion,” she admitted, “and I hadn’t really considered it from my brother’s viewpoint. But, of course, for him, he’s always had either me or my mother looking after him.”
“Why is that? Isn’t he a grown man?” Percy asked.
“Yes, certainly he is. And, yes, you’re right. I mean, obviously after he fully recovered from his childhood accident, he’s had an easy time of it, and maybe it’s been too easy a time of it. But I don’t think he would appreciate that we’re arranging his future behind his back.”
“It’s nothing to me.” Percy let out a long whistle at the pasture and the animals in front of them. “Those horses are beautiful,” he murmured, as they now passed one building and were on this gravel path. “How far does this path go?”
“All around the property down at this end. The property covers acres that are undeveloped, where Dani takes the horses for long rides, and the path doesn’t go up there,” she explained. “Various places are accessible to walk, even off the pathways. This is just an easy path for the wheelchair.”
“It’s beautiful.” Indeed, Percy saw a few people walking to and from the residences as well. “I think living here would be spectacular.”
“Spectacular, yes,” she agreed. “I’ll have to give it some thought.”
“Is it something you don’t personally want?”
“I didn’t even think about it before now,” she noted. “I do for others so much in my life that it never occurred to me to do it for myself. And,” she added hurriedly, “it’s not a chore or anything that I object to doing. Please don’t think that.”
“No, of course not,” he replied. “Not part of a big Italian family by any chance, are you?”
She burst out laughing. “Absolutely I am. Although we’re not so big anymore. How did you know?”
“I just know that they often take care of each other in a way that a lot of other families don’t.”
“Yes, and a lot of role modeling goes on too,” she explained. “My mother was forever telling me to look after him.”
“Of course, and you’ve taken it to heart, and you’re still doing it.”
“I am,” she admitted. “Never really occurred to me to stop. I was looking forward to handing off the duty to his future wife. But it’s not for six more months.” She stopped at one corner of the fence. “Look at the horses here.”
“Is that a llama?”
“Yep, that’s a llama. There are a couple here. Also a little filly is in here somewhere, although she’s getting bigger. I think six horses are here now,” she noted. “And, of course, various other animals are all over the place as well. In case nobody mentioned it, we have therapy dogs, therapy cats, and an absolutely monster-size rabbit, which we bring around to visit the patients every once in a while. You’re not allowed to feed any of the animals, so don’t be tempted, please. Most of them are rescues and have digestive or health issues, so feeding them can compromise their own safety.”
“No, I certainly won’t feed them, but I would really love to see some animals again,” he said wistfully. “I always had dogs growing up. You don’t realize how much you miss something like that until you can’t have them.”
She walked just past him to face him, leaving his wheelchair where it was. “There’s no reason you can’t have them now, is there?”
“Well, not once I’m on my feet again,” he replied, “I certainly wouldn’t take on looking after a pet until I’m capable of doing it myself.”
She nodded. “Plenty of animals are here. We should get back, I’ll introduce you to Stan who is always looking for volunteers downstairs. So, if you ever want to connect on a non-permanent basis, yet want to help out another animal,” she added, “please feel free to go downstairs and to talk to Stan. There are always animals to feed or animals that just need cuddling.”
“I like the sound of that,” he agreed, “and I guess Aaron, when he’s completed his vet training, is coming back here, isn’t he?”
“He is, indeed. He’ll work with Stan, and Stan could use the help. He’s pretty swamped.”
“So, in other words, it’s a perfect match.”
“For Dani and Aaron too, I would think so. If you see the two of them together,” she stated, “you’ll know instinctively that it’s a good match. They complement each other. When they’re apart, they’re both good people, and they’re both fine, but you can see them glow when they’re together, where they just become so much more.”
“I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” he said quietly.
“Sure.” Giada nodded, tossing him a big smile. “Should be and are, however, are two different things.”
He grinned. “What about these horses? Do you get to ride?”
“Dani does organize some rides for the staff,” she replied. “We also have therapy riding sessions for the patients, if that’s something that interests you—and if you pass whatever challenges Shane says that you need. You can talk to him about it.”
Percy looked at the horses with interest. “It’s been many years. I used to ride a lot. But I can’t imagine even trying now.”
“But you used to be a Navy SEAL, didn’t you?”
He nodded.
“The thing is, what you used to do back then, so few people could even do at the peak of their careers,” she murmured. “So even half of that will be more than most people can accomplish. I have no doubt you’ll do absolutely wonderfully here.”
He felt his chest swelling in joy. “I hope you mean that. I haven’t been terribly good about believing Aaron. You have to understand how I’ve heard so many unfulfilled promises over the years that I got dulled to it.”
“Understood.” Giada nodded. “And you have a lot of work ahead of you, but I’m pretty sure that you’ll manage.”
“I’ll manage,” he murmured. “The question is, will it do any good?”
Chapter 5
Giada was amazed by Percy. His insight, his thought processes, it all made her think. And not necessarily in a way that she appreciated at first because she also felt a sense of loss at the idea of leaving her brother early. As if she wanted to spend as many days with him as she could before everything changed, before the family dynamic shifted. If she were honest, Giada wasn’t necessarily ready for her own version of an empty nest, but she didn’t know that she could explain that to Percy. Or that it was something that she had to explain.
Percy didn’t know her scenario, didn’t know her brother, and she didn’t really know Percy. And yet the conversation went a long way to making it feel like she was learning very quickly who he was on the inside. And Percy was a powerful man, even sitting in the wheelchair in front of her. She thought about his words as they toured the property around Hathaway House, as she showed him every place that they could get to with a wheelchair.
Then finally they returned to the main building, accessing the lower level with the clinic, seeing if Stan was about—but probably was busy, as usual—so headed toward the elevator. When Stan came out of his office and into the hallway, Giada pushed Percy over, introduced them, and explained who each man was.
Stan’s face lit up. “You’re Aaron’s friend.” Stan reached down to shake Percy’s hand. “Glad to have you onboard.”
“I don’t know how on board I am. I was convinced to be here by Aaron.”
“Of course, and that’s awesome,” he noted, with a smile. “Anytime you want to come on down here, feel free. The animals could always use a little attention.”
“I’d like that,” Percy said instantly. “It’s amazing how much that helps. Both them and me.”
“You guys are good for their healing too. Everybody in this world needs to know that they’re loved,” Stan noted quietly. “None of us are any exception to that rule.” And, with that, he looked over at Giada. “How’s that brother of yours doing?”
“Pretty good, getting excited about the upcoming wedding,” she noted, with a big smile.
“And yet it’s still months away, isn’t it?”
“It sure is.” Then she gave him a big eye roll. “Plans are changing on a daily basis.”
“I’m sure they are. There’ll be a lot of that between now and then.” Stan looked at Percy. “Are you coming up to the dining room for lunch?”
She watched Percy hesitate and withdraw slightly. “Yes, he is,” she replied smoothly. “I’ll take him up, introduce him to the system and how it works, help him to a table with whatever his lovely food choices are, and get him back to his room afterward.”
“I am kind of tired though,” Percy noted.
“Yeah, which is why we’ll get you back to your room right away.” She could see that he didn’t quite know how to get out of it. As she caught a surprised glance of Stan’s, she realized that he’d seen her maneuver too. She looked over at him. “You coming up then? We’ll go together.”
“That’s where I’m going,” he said. “I’m starving. Is it a theme day?”
“I can’t remember,” Giada replied. “I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been keeping track.”
“What do you mean by theme days?” Percy asked.
“They often do meals in themes, like Greek Day, Chinese, things like that,” Stan explained. “One of the best has been the Mongolian Day. Remember when they did those massive skewers of meat? Oh, my gosh, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
“Is the food always this good?” Percy asked curiously.
“Absolutely,” Stan stated. “I swear that’s why most of us live here.” And he started to laugh. “That’s not quite true, but obviously I’m hooked because it’s my own clinic. However, the system, the way it’s run here, the people we help,” he noted, “it’s pretty hard to find anything quite like this.”
“Which is why, of course, you guys are all still here,” Percy guessed.
“Exactly. I’ve been here almost since the beginning,” he said. “And I think I hear the Major up there. If you ever get a chance to talk to that old hoot, you’ll probably enjoy it too.”
“Dani’s Dad?”
“Yeah,” Stan replied. “Have you ever met him?”
“No, but Aaron’s talked about him though.”
“I imagine he has. I mean, the Major will be his father-in-law, after all,” Stan noted.
“That would be something to consider, wouldn’t it?” Giada asked, with a laugh. “The Major is quite a character. I can’t quite imagine him being family though.”
“Right?” Stan nodded. “His heart is in the right place.”
“I think everybody in the family has their heart in the right place,” Giada added, as she pushed Percy’s wheelchair back to the elevator again. “I’ve never seen such empathy and care and passion.”
“You know what happened to her though, right?” Stan asked Giada, as he pushed the button for the elevator.
“You mean, about her father and why they started this center? I heard the rumors, but I hadn’t really heard the story.”
“Well, if you want to know more, you can. All you have to do is tell the Major that you haven’t heard about it, and he’ll be more than happy to regale you with the details. Just make sure you have an hour or two to listen.”
She laughed, as she pushed Percy into the elevator. “You know what? There’s something special about having family like that around, who can tell those kinds of stories too.”
“Absolutely,” Stan agreed. “Believe me. The Major is a character all in his own right.” At that, the elevator door opened, and she pushed Percy, with Stan walking at their side, toward the buffet line.
“Oh, good, the line’s not too bad yet,” she stated, but then she looked out at the deck with so many of the tables full, “or maybe we’re just a little bit late.”
She pushed the wheelchair into the buffet line, knowing that, by Percy’s silence, he must be getting more and more uncomfortable around all the other people. She grabbed a tray, put it in his lap, and said, “You hang on to that one. I’ll hang on to this one.”
Stan grabbed one as well. He stepped before them and said, “We’ll go as a team.”
As soon as Dennis saw Stan, Dennis’s face lit up. Then he realized that Percy was here too, in his wheelchair. He leaned over and said, “Percy, my man. What can I get ya?”
“What have you got?” Percy asked. “I can’t even see everything yet.”
“We’ve got fried chicken, grits, biscuits and gravy,” he replied. “Plus we’ve got veggies and even some fried fish over here.” Dennis pointed farther down the buffet line. “So, what appeals?”
“All of it?” Percy asked hesitantly. “But I need dense nutrition.”
“Good,” Dennis noted. “So fish or chicken?”
“Chicken. I had it before, and it’s great.”
“Do you want a biscuit on the side?”
Percy nodded.
“And then we’ll fill the plate up with lots of veggies,” Dennis added, and that’s what he did.
Stan took one look at the size of the plate and said, “It’s a good thing that you guys get a good work out here because, my gosh, you’d be all heavyweights if you didn’t.” He looked back at Dennis and stated, “I’ll take half of what you just gave Percy.”
“Half!” Dennis replied in outrage. “That’s hardly worth shoveling onto a plate.” But he followed suit, handed it off, and then turned to look at Giada. “And you, missy, what would you like?”
“How about half of what you gave Stan?” she replied, with a big grin.
“Nope, nope, nope,” he argued. “You rarely eat here, so take advantage of this wonderful food. Do you want green veggies or a salad?”
“Salad,” she said instantly and watched as Dennis made a fresh salad right in front of her, then asked her if she wanted dark meat or white meat from the fried chicken. By the time her plate was full, she was just as amazed at the aroma. “It smells delicious,” she told Dennis, as she accepted her plate from him.
“It is. Let me come around and give you a hand.” He walked over, pushing Percy forward. “Up here we’ve got desserts and a big drink center,” he added, “so everything you could want, plus coffee and tea. What can I get you?”
Percy hesitated, then looked up at Dennis. “How about just water for now? Maybe a cup of tea and a dessert after I have plowed through this.”
“Good call,” Dennis noted.
Giada watched as Dennis maneuvered Percy right out onto the deck, where already a good thirty or forty other people were already seated. “Do you want sunshine or shade?”
“Sunshine, if it isn’t too-too bright,” Percy replied. At that, Dennis moved him to a large umbrella-covered table. “You pick whereabouts you want to sit at the table. You can get a little sun or a lot here.” And then he set down the tray Percy carried and said, “I’ll be back with water.”
She pulled up beside Percy and sat down next to him. “See? It’s quite the place.” He looked at her, and she saw Percy’s stunned amusement.
“No wonder Aaron doesn’t want to leave. This place is very special.”
“Yeah, they do like to take exceptional care of their patients and their staff,” she noted, with a grin. “And we do argue about budgets all the time.”
“No wonder,” he said. “I can’t imagine keeping it running at this level of quality is easy.”
“Not easy,” she agreed, “but important. Food is to feed and to help nurture and to heal. If you don’t have good quality food,” she says, “it won’t help you guys get back on your feet.”
The look on his face when he bit into the fried chicken moved her in a way she hadn’t expected, with such a sense of peaceful joy, as he sat here and just slowly worked his way through the chicken leg in his hand. She stopped eating to watch.
Finally Stan nudged her gently. “You should be eating your own food.”
She looked down at her chicken. She took a bite, and it was wonderful, no doubt about it. But to see somebody enjoy it in the same way that Percy had was just incredible. When he sat back and stared at the second piece of chicken still on his plate, he looked over at her and said, “I haven’t had anything this good in so very long,” he whispered.
