Page 106 of Finding Us

“Do you need that?” I ask Frank. “You’re not using the wheelchair anymore. You haven’t in months.”

“Yes, but the reality is that I’ll eventually need the wheelchair again as I age and the disease progresses.”

I guess I’ve been in denial. Seeing Frank in better health, I’d convinced myself he’d somehow been cured of his MS, even though I know that’s not how it works. At some point, his health will get bad again and he won’t be able to walk or take care of himself anymore. I don’t know when that day will come, but it’s out there and I can’t do anything to stop it.

Garret notices my shift in mood and reaches under the table, resting his hand on my leg. It’s amazing how just that simple gesture makes me feel better. Like he’s here for me and always will be. We’re a team now and whatever happens to Frank in the years ahead, I won’t have to face it alone. Garret will be there with me, just like I’ll be with him to help with whatever challenges he’ll be forced to face.

“When do you think you’ll start building?” Garret asks.

“We’re hoping sometime in August,” Frank says. “The builder said the house could be done around the middle of November. I’m hoping we can get moved in before Thanksgiving. If so, we’d love to have you two spend the holiday with us.”

“We could do that,” Garret says without even giving it a thought. He looks over at me to agree. We haven’t talked about Thanksgiving or where we’ll spend any of the holidays, but I’m thrilled he wants to go to Frank’s house for Thanksgiving.

Frank seems surprised. “So should I plan on it?”

“Yes, we’ll be there,” I say. The waitress stops by our table and as Frank asks for more salsa, I lean into Garret and whisper, “Thank you.” His hand is still on my leg and he gently squeezes it as he takes a bite of his taco.

“Chloe’s coming for Thanksgiving, too,” Ryan says when the waitress leaves. “She wants to have dinner at home instead of going out like Dad and I usually do. She’s offered to make the whole meal.”

“Is she a good cook?” I take some chips from the basket and drop them on my plate.

“Very good,” Frank answers. “She’s made dinner for us several times. She enjoys cooking so she really wanted to do this. She’s already planning the menu.”

“She’ll be happy to hear that you two are coming,” Ryan says. “She’ll be able to make more food.”

The waitress brings us another bowl of salsa and I spoon some over my chips. “So are you going to her parents’ house for part of the day?”

“No. Her sister moved to Florida back in May so her parents are going down there for Thanksgiving.”

“When are you ever going to marry this girl?” I shove a chip in my mouth, keeping my eye on him to see his reaction.

He coughs on his food, then takes a drink. “That came out of the blue.”

I laugh. “Sorry, I didn’t think that would freak you out so much. You got some commitment issues, Ryan?”

“No.” He wipes his mouth with his napkin. “We just don’t feel we need to rush into it. I mean, it’s fine for you guys but Chloe and I just want to wait.”

“Chloe doesn’t want to wait,” Frank mumbles, taking another napkin from the stack the waitress left us.

Ryan looks at Frank, annoyed. “There’s no rush. I don’t need to marry her right away.” He nudges his dad and laughs a little. “Besides you’re not ready to get rid of me yet, are you?”

“Someday you’ll have to move out. You can’t babysit me forever.”

Ryan shifts in his seat. “I’m not babysitting you. I just don’t like the idea of you living alone. You can’t—”

Frank clears his throat, stopping Ryan mid-sentence. “The weather here has sure been nice. Iowa’s been so hot and humid. It feels good to be in some drier air.”

Obviously Frank and Ryan are having disagreements about their living arrangement. I’m guessing Frank’s building this handicap-accessible house so he can live alone. He wants Ryan to have a normal life, not one in which he has to live with and take care of his father.

But Ryan doesn’t see it like that. He never has. He’s never seen Frank as a burden. Ryan just accepts that it’s his job to take care of his dad. He tried hiring outside help and it didn’t work out, so now he feels he’s Frank’s only option.

Now I get why Frank made that comment. And I think he’s right. I think the real reason Ryan’s putting off marrying Chloe is because marrying her would mean he’d be moving out and leaving his dad all alone and he’s clearly not ready to do that yet.

“What do you think, Jade?” Garret’s been talking this whole time but I have no idea what he said.

“About what?”

“About these guys flying out to see us in October for your birthday.”

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