Percy, page 7
And the exercises that followed were ones Percy had never done before, but he felt the tension and the stiffness of the muscles easing by the time he was done. Twenty minutes later, Shane had him standing and effectively doing a variation of jumping jacks in the water. Which, considering he only had one foot, was a feat in itself, but, also considering that he was in water, it was doable. “Interesting,” Percy said, when they were done. “I feel better.”
“Now twist to the side.” With those words, Shane quickly demonstrated the move himself.
“That feels very much like a yoga twist,” Percy protested.
“Whatever works,” Shane said. “Remember. This isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about what works for you.”
“Got it.” Finally he sank back into the water. “Just even the heat helps.”
Shane nodded. “There’s something very healing about water and heat, isn’t there?”
“Absolutely.” He looked up at the balcony area off the dining room. “I guess it’s dinnertime, and that’s why everybody’s up there?” And, indeed, the balcony was full.
“Yep, sure is,” Shane agreed, “but I don’t want you worrying about getting up there for a meal.”
“That’s good, because, honest to God, I wouldn’t make it. But I am hungry.”
“Hunger is good, particularly after what you’ve been through,” Shane noted. “Too often the appetite turns off, and you don’t want to eat when you’re in so much pain.”
“Well, the pain’s eased now,” he said, “but how am I supposed to get food, especially when I’m soaking wet?”
“You don’t worry about it. I’ll get you some.”
“You’re wet too.”
He shrugged. “And that again is not an issue. I’ve got shoes and socks and a towel here. I’ll dry off, go up, and get you a meal.”
“And I can eat it in the hot tub?” he asked in surprise.
“As long as you promise to not dip your food in the hot water, like a two-year-old. Yeah, we’re adults here. You’ll do the best you can to keep food out of the hot tub, and we’ll do the best we can to get you back on your feet.” With that Shane hopped out, dried off his feet, and said, “I’m not even sure what’s on tap today. Any suggestions about what you would like?”
“Honestly I’m really hungry now, so I don’t care what it is, just make sure it’s lots.”
“Got it.” Shane turned and headed up the stairs toward the dining room.
Unbelievable to think that Percy was here now at this stage of his life in a hot tub, staring up at the beautiful Texas sky, waiting for somebody to bring him a hot meal. What had happened to his world? This would never have been his life in the VA centers. Yet he knew that the veterans’ centers were great for running a lot of people through at a fast pace. Kind of like public school. It was good for a lot of people, herding them through the channels that they needed to be herded through, but, for the people who didn’t quite fit or for the people who didn’t do well in that kind of a system, it wasn’t very good at all.
But you’ll never convince anybody that something had to change. It seemed like the lobbyists and the government officials just didn’t get it. Or maybe they did get it, and it was a case of it just didn’t matter to them. The numbers mattered, and whatever had to be done to get the majority through a system was what they would go with.
And maybe if Percy were a bureaucrat, he would understand it himself. But, being on the other end of that, well? That was a whole different story. And he was so very grateful to be here, even though it may not be for the same reasons that Aaron had shared. Still, Percy was grateful right now at this moment to be here.
He closed his eyes and just let himself relax.
Chapter 7
Giada couldn’t leave at the end of the day. She kept rehearsing what her excuse was to herself but finally gave in. “Okay, I can’t leave until I know he’s okay.”
She marched down to Shane’s office, only to find he wasn’t there. Worried, she raced to Percy’s room, only to find it empty. Now she was really stumped. She turned and looked up and down the hallway and caught sight of Dani.
Dani raised an eyebrow. “Problems?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I guess not, but … I stopped in to see Percy earlier, and he was in terrible pain, so I got Shane to help him. Now neither of them are here.”
“Shane may have taken Percy to the gym.”
“He did mention the hot tub, but I don’t think that was on tap for him. Shane told me that it was generally too early for that.”
“Shane makes those decisions on the fly,” Dani noted, “depending on the immediate circumstances. Go out on the deck and look over. You never know.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s intruding to show that you care about somebody,” Dani noted.
Giada flushed. “Well, I mean …” Then she gave up her excuses yet again. “Okay, I know. It’s stupid, but I find myself gravitating toward him.”
“And that’s a good sign,” Dani noted, with a gentle smile. “He’s a nice guy.”
“I know he is a nice guy. I just … it feels strange. Usually the only person I’m worried about is my brother.”
“I don’t think your brother really needs to be worried about anymore,” Dani stated, chuckling.
“And yet somehow I still find myself in the position of a mother hen,” she muttered.
“And that’s because you come with a big heart, and now that your brother will be off on his own and doing well, just make sure you’re not looking for another project,” Dani suggested, with a slight warning.
“Hmm. I never really considered my brother a project.”
“And I’m sure you’d never consider having a relationship as being a project either,” she admitted. “But us mother hens have a tendency to collect people around us who need help. Maybe, for a time, you need somebody who doesn’t need help.”
“I don’t even think it’s that. I think it’s just my nature,” she explained, with a smile. “Even when I was little, I was always patching up people and making them feel better and bringing them tea.”
“And that,” Dani noted, “is a joy because that just means you come from a good heart.”
“I would like to think so,” she said.
“Then go check the dining room and look over to see if they’re in the hot tub. Who knows? They could even be in the pool.”
“Maybe I’ll take a quick look,” she stated, “and then I’ll … I’ll head home.”
“Or you could stay for dinner and maybe make sure that he gets some food too.”
“Shane would see to that, wouldn’t he?”
“Sure he would, but you don’t know where Shane’s at right now.”
Giada wasn’t sure whether Dani was being deliberately manipulative, trying to get Giada closer to Percy or not. The trouble was, Dani had piqued enough interest in Giada that she wanted to ensure Percy was okay. She headed to the dining room and, sure enough, from the railing, could see Percy and Shane down below, both of them in the hot tub. She watched the two of them as they talked, did a bunch of exercises, and then Shane hopped out. She was at the top of the stairs when Shane came up.
He took one look at her and said, “You couldn’t leave without making sure, huh?”
She shrugged. “He was in a lot of pain,” she replied in a low voice.
Shane smiled gently. “Hey, when you’re here as much as we are, it’s easy to become attached to people and to worry about them. And it was a good thing that you contacted me, but, as you can see, Percy’s doing much better.”
“I’m glad to see that.” She shrugged. “It is a relief.”
“I’m about to get him some food, so he can eat it at the hot tub.”
“Can he do that?” she asked. “Like, wow. Never occurred to me that that would be a thing.”
“Well, it’s not exactly something that we encourage, but he’s relaxing, and his muscles are doing fine right now. So I’d just as soon he spends a few more minutes in there, rather than panicking about getting dressed and getting up for a meal, before it’s over.”
“Oh, I didn’t even think about that. I guess things like that are a stress for people who struggle to get where they need to be on time, isn’t it?”
“It is, indeed,” Shane agreed, “and stress management is key—for our patients and our staff. We do everything we can to minimize it.”
“You’re a good person, Shane,” she said impulsively.
He looked at her in surprise. “You’re just now finding that out?”
Her laughter pealed free. “Oh, my. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just this place here always surprises me with how human everyone is.”
“Remember that,” he noted. “We’re all human, and that’s both good and bad. Now I’ll get some food for him. Any idea what he wants?”
“I’ll come with you,” she offered. “I was trying to remember the things that he said he liked, but I don’t remember anything he didn’t like.”
“That’s what he told me. Just make sure it was lots.”
“Sounds about right,” she agreed. “He does seem to have a good appetite.”
“And that’s the best thing ever,” Shane murmured. “We need nutrients, and food is the easiest and most enjoyable way to get them.”
“But you have to get lots that way.”
“Hence the nutrient-dense foods,” he noted, “and often we work with the kitchen to ensure that there is always a balance of nutrients in the meals.”
She nodded. “The food they produce is magnificent.”
Shane grinned. “Dennis is very good at maneuvering healthy plates full of food for everyone.”
“He is kind of amazing, isn’t he?” she noted, as they stepped into line.
At that, Dennis looked over and asked, “Who’s amazing?”
She immediately answered, “You are.”
He batted his huge eyelashes at her. “Glad you finally noticed.”
She chuckled. “We’re here to get food for Percy.”
“Again?” he asked. “He won’t make it in?”
“He’s soaking in the hot tub,” she said, with a grin.
“Well, what are you doing out here then? You should be in the hot tub with him.”
She immediately shook her head. “I should be at home. We’re just here to get food for him. Shane wasn’t exactly sure what he would like.”
“Uh-huh. Well, Shane could have asked me too, you know?” Dennis mentioned, grinning.
She looked over at Shane, who just shrugged and admitted, “I probably could have. Didn’t think of it.”
But his answer was a little too glib. She, once again, wasn’t sure if they were maneuvering her into something or not. But she decided to ignore it.
“So what do you suggest for him?” Shane asked.
She looked down at the food. “Oh, my God, you have Yorkshire puddings.”
“Yep, and we’ve got prime rib to go with those Yorkshire puddings, plus gravy, mashed potatoes, the whole works.”
“He wants it all,” she replied instantly. “And I mean all of it.”
“You got it,” Dennis stated. “And I probably would have agreed with that too. Percy looks like he’s a big eater, who likes his home-cooked meals.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed, her mouth watering at the smells. When Dennis served up two big plates and handed them over, she looked at them and turned toward Shane. “This one’s for you, Shane.”
Shane shook his head. “Nope, sure isn’t. That’s one for you and one for Percy.”
“Oh, no, I’ve got to go home and feed my brother.”
“That brother of yours does not need to be fed. He’s an adult, about to become a married man,” Dennis argued, with a shake of his head. “Percy, on the other hand, needs to be perked up. He’s had a rough day.”
Instantly she nodded. “He has, hasn’t he?” But she remained torn. And, with two plates on one tray, it was very full.
Dennis noted that and shuffled her plate to a second tray. “Now that’s your tray, and I’ve got his. What else does he want here?” And he kept her moving through the buffet line, as they added to both plates. By the time she was at the end of the line, she stared down at the ladened tray. “I feel like you did that on purpose.”
“You have to move fast in this place,” Shane noted. “Before you know it, Percy will be snapped up by somebody else, and you will have lost your chance.”
She looked at him and gasped. “You are matchmaking,” she cried out.
He laughed and laughed. “Heck no. I’d never do something like that, but Dennis on the other hand? Now Dennis would.”
She turned to look behind Shane, but Dennis was busy with the next person already.
“Besides, you can’t turn away from all this good food,” he added. “Plus, Percy really would appreciate the company. I was hoping to have mine with my pretty lady.”
“Oh my. Yes, of course. I’ll stay and have dinner with Percy,” she replied. “Maybe you can deliver one of these trays, and I’ll stay with him at the hot tub.”
“And then I’ll come for him afterward,” Shane noted. “I did bring him in the wheelchair, and I don’t think he’ll have the energy to get out of the hot tub alone, much less back up here.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “How long before you’ll be back?”
“I’m having dinner with Melissa. How about I come in forty-five minutes?” he asked, with a raised eyebrow.
Giada nodded. “That should work.” And she wouldn’t be too-too late getting home then. She’d still have time to make her brother something for dinner. And, even as she thought about it, while working her way down the stairs carefully with her tray in hand, she had to wonder at the wisdom of even doing that tonight.
Dennis was right. Her brother should be looking after himself and, in theory, was perfectly capable of doing so. He just didn’t particularly like to. But, as she had told the guys quite happily, she didn’t have much longer to keep doing this, so whatever. Yet, in some ways, six months started to look like a very long time. Even if she did move out, early or not, where would she move to?
When she looked at the food on her tray and the beautiful grounds around her, Giada wondered if she really had any good reason to not ask Dani about lodging here. And maybe sooner than six months from now.
As she looked down at Percy, completely floating on his back in the hot tub, she realized that he would be here for at least that long, if not longer. Not that she had seen all the patients rehabbed by Hathaway House, but she recognized when a lot of work was to be done. And, with any luck, Percy would be as good as new when he left here. But, until then, it would take a lot to keep him on the straight and narrow.
And she didn’t want another “project,” but, at the same time, somebody like him? Well, he was worth the effort. She made her way across to the hot tub. She stopped and said, “Hello.”
Percy opened his eyes and immediately scrambled backward.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She turned, as Shane stepped up beside them. She explained, “I don’t know if it’s okay with you, but Shane and I brought dinner for you. And I thought I’d join you.”
Percy stared at her, and a slow smile dawned across his face. “I will never say no to the company of a beautiful woman,” he murmured.
“And I’ll never say no to the presence of an almost naked man in front of me having dinner either,” she teased, with a chuckle.
He burst out laughing.
Even Shane grinned, when he placed the tray down. “I’ll be back in forty-five minutes to collect both of you.” And, with that, he was gone.
When he woke the next morning, Percy realized he’d had his first decent night’s sleep in a very long time. He hesitated to move in case it triggered spasms, like before. But, as he slowly shifted, his movements extremely careful, he felt no pain, no twitches, no spasms, no nothing. Emboldened, he tried again and slowly pushed himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed. Still no pain. Eyebrows up, he managed to make his way to the bathroom, and, sure enough, he made it all the way without cramping up. He wasn’t sure if it was the hot tub or the testing or the interest of a beautiful woman or what it was, but he was forever grateful for it.
He’d be sure to tell Shane, when he got a chance. And given today would be more of the same—at least so Percy thought—he figured he wouldn’t have to wait very long for that opportunity.
Determined to have a better start to his day, knowing some people would say he should leave well enough alone, he managed to get dressed and into his wheelchair and slowly wheeled his way to the dining room for breakfast, realizing already that that much exertion might have been a little bit too much. But, hey, he was committed now, and it was pretty hard to get anywhere without that commitment here.
As he slowly meandered, several other people walked past, saying, Hi, Good morning, various other comments to Percy, talking to each other and to some other people he couldn’t see, presuming that they were talking on the phone. By the time Percy reached the dining area, he felt sweat on his forehead. Not good. He was already physically stressed, and that wouldn’t help. He slowly pushed himself up to the front counter. Dennis took one look and beamed.
“Well, I’m glad to see you here, kiddo,” he greeted Percy. “But the fact of the matter is, it looks like it was a bit too much, too soon.”
Percy nodded, his breath coming out in gasps. “It probably was,” he agreed. “You think you’re doing okay, and then you try something and realize that you really should have just stayed in bed.”
Dennis laughed. “Well, you’re here. We’ll get you set up with a nice breakfast, and then, if you need help going back,” he stated, “I can give you a hand.”
“But you’ve got a whole kitchen to run.” Percy waved his hand at the full tables all around the room and even outside.
“Doesn’t matter to me none,” Dennis stated. “We’ll see how you feel after you’ve eaten a good breakfast and sat and rested for a while. Then, if needed, I’ll get you back safe and sound. Don’t you worry.”
