Page 55 of Two Hearts Reunited

“You could be that way for the next several days,” Brian warned him, handing over the iPad he was carrying to Anya. “Here, Anya. You can get him signed out while I help him into the bathroom.”

“You’ve got both a cane and a walker available to use, Eric, in case you feel like trying on your own,” Anya said. “In fact, that’s why I covered the wooden floors with the large decorative rugs. It might be as long as a week before you feel comfortable enough though. All that time on the plane didn’t help, I’m sure.”

Anya signed several electronic release statements on the iPad, handing it back to the driver. “Do I need to compensate you, Ben?”

“Nope. Jake took care of all of that,” he said, heading back toward the open patio doors.

“Of course, he did,” Anya answered dryly.

She heard Ben laughing as he revved up the van.

Leaving the French doors open wide, she slid over the screen. It was still pretty warm for September.

Heading over to the bed, she pulled back the comforter so Eric could go right to sleep. He’d looked pretty exhausted. She’d give him his meds and let him rest a while before trying to get him to eat, she decided.

Brian finally walked out of the bathroom with Eric leaning on him rather heavily.

“He’s pretty tired,” Brian admitted.

“I noticed. The bed’s ready for him to lay right down. I won’t feed him until later,” Anya said.

“I’m standing right here you know,” Eric muttered. “I’ll be fine. I just need a little nap.”

“Suuure you do, bro,” Brian said soothingly.

“Shut up, will you?” Eric growled.

“He’s been a little surly,” Brian said, winking at Anya.

“I can see that,” Anya agreed, assisting Brian as he half hoisted Eric onto the bed.

“Quit picking on me,” Eric muttered.

Brian and Anya laughed.

* * *

About four hours later, Eric was yelling, “Anya? Where are you?”

She rushed from the office through the hallway and into the bedroom, which was unfortunately situated at the very end of the house.

“Is everything okay?” she asked worriedly.

He looked a little embarrassed. “I need to use the bathroom again. I was going to try and do it on my own, but I’m too weak, darn it.”

“You can’t worry about things like that, Eric. I’m here for better or worse. Remember?”

“I do,” he muttered, sounding sheepish as she walked to the side of the bed where he was sitting upright.

She wrapped an arm over his back and beneath his arm to steady him, having him step carefully from the bed. It wasn’t nearly as difficult as she thought it might be, so she frowned.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Am I too heavy?”

“To the contrary,” she replied. “You’ve lost a lot of weight. How about a French Dip from the Crystal Rock Tap for dinner?”

“That sounds great. I hope I can stay awake long enough,” he answered, entering the bathroom.

“I’ve already ordered. Everything should be here soon. I was hoping you’d be hungry when you woke.”

---