Page 10 of Break Line

Two days later, Nathan was released from Honolulu General Hospital to Kauai Rehabilitation Center. He would have to learn to maneuver himself with a wheelchair and with crutches while his leg completely healed. After that, he would be fitted for a prosthetic limb.

The day he was discharged and driven to the airport, Nathan couldn't shake the depression. Hopefully, things would begin to turn around and he could make progress at the rehab center. Nathan needed to have his girls with him. He couldn’t wait any longer. As much of an adjustment as it was for him, he knew it would be an even bigger adjustment for his children as well. In another week, it would be June, a good time to start their new life together. He decided it was time to make the call.

“Hello, Vera?” He held the phone between his shoulder and ear as he tried maneuvering the wheelchair into the dining hall.

“Hello, Mr. Fletcher. How are you recovering?” Her voice was pleasant and comforting. Finally, a connection with the outside world.

“I’m doing better thank you, Vera. I was just wondering…are you still available for the nanny position?”

He pushed himself up to the first table, where one of the staff came over with an order slip. He read the choices as he listened to the other end of the receiver, marking his selections then smiling at the server as he handed it back, whispering, “Coffee, black and a glass of water also, please.”

“Pardon, sir?”

“Oh, I was just about to have my lunch. About the position. . .”

“Oh yes! Looking forward to meeting your two little ladies. When will they be arriving?”

“I’m going to make the call this afternoon to arrange for their flight, but I wanted to make certain that you were still available. I’ll let you know when they will be here. For the first few weeks, that means that you will have full care for them while I am still in here.”

“No problem. Won’t be the first young ones I’ve cared for.”

“Thanks, Vera. You are the best!”

“Would you like for me to bring you your briefcase or some books?”

“Thank you, Vera. Yes, that would be great. There are two books in the side drawer and my lesson planner will be on top of the desk. If you could bring those in my briefcase along with my laptop, I would greatly appreciate it. I’m at the Kauai Rehabilitation Center. The address is . . .” He motioned to the server to ask the address.

“I know where it is. My niece, Kini, works there. You will meet her when you start your rehab. I’ll bring those things over this afternoon.”

“Thank you, Vera. Oh, and is there any way you could possibly sneak some of those macadamia cookies you bake into my briefcase?”

“Of course. Already got a batch made for you.”

That brought a smile to his face, which disappeared quickly when the server brought his lunch tray to him. Those cookies couldn’t show up fast enough. Some sort of casserole stuff with chunks of carrot and celery, he thought it was probably chicken, with big wide noodles. It all looked like a congealed paste with a nearly fluorescent sauce that bound it together. A small bowl on the upper right held a few scraggly leaves of lettuce with some shaved carrot and a single ring of red onion. To the left, was a bowl of applesauce. How could you go wrong with applesauce, right?

With one spoonful, he knew how. The tasteless gritty substance masquerading as applesauce passed his taste buds, making him want to eject it.

He sipped the coffee as he contemplated the rosemary potatoes on the side of the casserole. It was one of his favorite sides, but these looked overcooked and had a rather grey pallor that suggested they were left over from a previous time.

Nathan finished his coffee and pushed himself away from the table, snagging the plastic wrapped package of saltines and the package of graham crackers as well.

“Mr. Fletcher, you need to eat something, so you’ll have the strength to get through physical therapy.”

He waved her off, covering his mouth. “Not now. I think my meds are messing with my stomach.”

It was a lie, but he wasn’t going to make a scene in front of the other patients there. It would be rude to blurt out You expect me to eat this garbage? I wouldn’t even feed it to the pigs! He’d keep those thoughts to himself.

“Oh. I can get you a soda if you’d like.”

“Yes, please. I’ll just take it back with me. I think I’ll go lie down until my head stops spinning.”

She offered a weak smile as she took the tray, and returned with the requested soda. It was a lidded plastic cup filled with ice.

“Hopefully you’ll feel better for our evening meal.”

He nodded then turned the chair in the general direction of his new digs. Maybe he could get Kai to smuggle him some kau kau. First things first though, he had to call Irene and Dave, his former in-laws who currently had guardianship of his children.

Back in his room, he got out the notepad from the rolling tray. He had always been on good terms with Dave and Irene. He scrolled through his favorites, to click on Irene’s number.

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