Page 46 of Spark
“At the grocery store.” I follow them through the house, past the new baseboards I finished installing yesterday while Finlay was at work, and into the kitchen. The baseboard install took a lot out of me, and working with my immobilized leg extended as I alternated between kneeling on my good leg and sitting was a cumbersome process. The look of surprise and pleasure on Finlay’s face when he came home and saw the finished project was worth it though. "We ran out of coffee. He left about ten minutes ago."
True to his word at the hospital, Finlay has been pampering me. He took some vacation time the first two days I was here and then worked from home the rest of that week so he could make sure I was okay. We watched movies and home improvement shows together, and snuggled a lot in his amazing bed.
Olive points to the get well card she gave me last week. The drawing of me, as a stick figure, with crutches, a cast, and a giant heart over everything, has been hanging on Finlay’s refrigerator since their visit. "If you’re feeling better, it means my card worked."
That piece of art is something I’ll always cherish. Just as I do with the drawings my niece and nephew give me. "Yep. You helped fix me. Thank you, Olive."
"You’re welcome. I’ll make you another picture now, so you stay better. My daddy says you’re still 'covering." She pulls a pad of construction paper and a pack of crayons from her tiny backpack.
My heart is melting at her sweetness. "I am. And I think your picture will keep me going."
At the kitchen island, Cam brushes his fingers over the petals of the flower in the center of the huge bouquet Finlay gave me. The yellow and white daisies mixed with roses and sunflowers brighten up both the kitchen and my spirits whenever I see them. "I’m sure Fin’s got ways to keep you moving in that direction too."
"He does. But I’m not going into details." Although he went back to work this past week, Finlay has continued spoiling me by bringing me flowers and treats and taking care of me with massages every night. “Let’s just say he’s been very good to me.”
"Cool. I’ll text him and tell him that we’re here and we’re buying you guys dinner tonight. We can all eat together. What do you feel like having?"
"Cookies!" Olive chants, raising both fists into the air in a one-word cheer. She turns her imploring gaze to Cam and smiles sweetly. "Please?"
Cam ruffles her hair. "You can have those for dessert. You need real food for dinner. How about Chinese? There’s a great restaurant close by. Finlay should have a menu in one of the kitchen drawers."
"Can we get wontons?" Olive heads right for the drawer and pulls it open. "And egg rolls. Uncle Fin always gets me egg rolls."
"Of course." His thumbs fly over his phone screen. "All right. Finlay knows we’re here.” A chime follows Cam’s words and my friend glances back at his screen. “He just responded and told me to make sure you’re not doing any projects, Teo. I’ve heard about what you’ve been getting up to this week."
"I can’t help it. I’m antsy." I think about the toolbox in the other room and how Finlay will see the evidence when he gets home. He keeps reminding me that I’m recovering, but spending part of this second week working on some of the home projects on his list has helped me escape from my worries, and let me feel productive. "But in case he’s waiting on an answer, you can clearly see that I’m not currently holding any tools or doing any projects."
"You look much better than when we saw you early last week." Cam takes the menu from Olive with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
The chair scrapes against the floor as I pull it out. Maneuvering my leg to rest across another seat, I lower myself into the chair and grit my teeth against the ache in my knee. "The swelling in my knee is almost gone, though I still have tenderness in the area."
"And the head?"
"My neck finally doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m still doing the exercises the doctor gave me, and I don’t seem to have any lingering issues from the concussion."
"That’s great." The look of pure relief on Hercules’ face touches me. "So you should be able to go back to work and everything after next week?"
"My doctor needs to clear me to resume activity. I have an appointment next Friday. But I think she will." I give into superstition and cross my fingers under the table. I’ll take luck any way I can get it. "Owen stopped by last night to check on me. He said that regardless of getting an all-clear from the doctor, I should still stay away from rugby for another few weeks. People who play contact sports need to be especially careful that they’re fully healed before playing again."
"Makes sense." Cam nods. "Don’t worry. You take as long as you need."
Owen also said the timetable for healing could be weeks or months, and if I start pushing myself before the neck strain is healed, I could end up with chronic pain and permanent injury. I don’t want that. I don’t even want to entertain those thoughts. I need to change the subject. “What are you thinking of ordering? I’ll eat anything.”
Cam glances at the menu again. "Maybe I’ll order one of each of the dinner specials. That should be enough food and a good variety."
"Sounds good. Thanks, Cam." With my good leg, I push out another chair for Olive to join me at the table with her crayons. While Cam puts the order in, I watch her draw lines and circles in purple and pink.
Hercules takes a plastic cup from the cupboard and fills it with water. “So, our favorite physical therapist thinks you’re on the mend?”
"For my neck, yeah. Owen showed me a few of the movements the doctor will want to see before she clears me to resume activity, and I was able to do them without pain."
He walks over, gives me a high-five, and places the cup in front of Olive. "That’s the best news. The way you went down… We all thought, well, it wasn’t good. You’re lucky."
"I feel pretty lucky. I just want my life back to the way it used to be."
"You’ll get there." Cam sets his phone aside then begins unpacking one of the coolers. He unloads containers of chicken, some types of noodle casseroles, meatballs, and packages of pasta.
"You guys don’t have to keep bringing food. Finlay and I were spoiled all last week."
