“Could you let them know today, Patricia?” Tom asked. “We’d like them to start as soon as Mr. Heart is discharged.”
“Of course,” Patricia confirmed. “I’ll call both of them this afternoon. And I’ll let you know when I have their start dates locked in. Have you thought about home setup yet?”
“We were going to talk about that on the way out,” Linda admitted.
“I’ll have Brock and Stuart stop by Heart House before the discharge so they can walk through the space with you and recommend anything you may need,” Patricia offered. “Hospital beds. Handrails. Bath chairs. The works. They’ll know exactly what to put where.”
“Thank you, Patricia,” Linda told her. “Really. For all of this.”
“Mr. Heart is one of our favorite patients, Miss Heart,” Patricia replied warmly. “Take care of him.”
The three of them walked out of the hospital into the warm late morning. Linda took a deep breath and felt some of the morning’s tension loosen in her shoulders.
“I think Brock is going to be wonderful for him,” Maggie commented as they walked toward the cars.
“He is,” Linda agreed. “Uncle George liked him from the first answer.”
“The football and ice hockey sealed it,” Tom chuckled.
“Of course it did.” Linda rolled her eyes and shook her head. Her uncle loved his sport.
They reached Linda’s car, and the three of them stood for a moment in the warm afternoon air.
“Right,” Linda continued, more practically now. “We need to talk about the house. Uncle George can’t go up to the penthouseon a cane for at least three months. He’s going to need to move into Heart House for the recovery.”
“I agree,” Maggie said.
“The sun lounge at the back,” Linda thought aloud. “The one with the glass doors that open onto the deck overlooking the bay. We can turn that into his room. It’s downstairs, the light is beautiful, and the bay view will lift him every morning.”
“And the bathroom,” Tom recalled. “Your mom had that bathroom installed off the sun lounge for you kids to use after the beach. It’s a nice, big, full bathroom with a bath, shower, basin, and toilet. He’d have everything he needs without having to climb stairs.”
“Exactly.” Linda nodded. “It’s the perfect room for it.”
“I’ll speak to Martin when he’s back,” Tom offered. “We’ll need ramps installed at the front steps and the side gate, at a minimum. Possibly a small one at the threshold to the sun lounge from the hallway.”
“Good.” Linda put her hand on Tom’s arm. “Now, you. Go home and stop thinking about wheelchair ramps. You have a date later.”
Tom’s cheeks went a deeper pink under his stubble.
“Tom, are you blushing?” Maggie grinned delightedly.
“I am not,” Tom protested.
“You are blushing,” Linda confirmed.
“I am seventy-five years old,” Tom retorted. “I do not blush.”
“And yet,” Maggie sing-songed.
Linda and Maggie both reached up at the same moment to kiss Tom on either cheek.
“We are so happy for you, Tom,” Linda said. “Truly.”
“Have a wonderful time tonight,” Maggie added warmly.
Tom shook his head, but his small smile gave him away. He returned the kisses, gave Linda a one-armed hug, and walked off toward his truck.
Linda glanced at her wristwatch, and her eyebrows shot up.
