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“Hello, buddy. It’s good to see you again.” I pet his little head, consuming myself with his cuteness when a clearing of a throat interrupts us.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Miss Jackson, I’m Harvey Fort, the owner of this center.” He extends an arm, holding his hand out for me to greet in a formal handshake.
Gently sliding my palm in his, I reply, “It’s Evelyn, please.”
He nods, but leaves our hands linked for a beat longer than any normal greeting, then continues, “Hazel told me about your meeting with Asher this morning, and I thought I’d come by and see for myself. That is if you’re okay with that?” He looks at me and my cheeks heat knowingly. Knowing that he saw me, and this ruse is all for Mrs. M.
I spend too long staring. When Josey said silver fox, I expected Patrick Dempsey or Eric Dane, not Jensen Ackles. This man is stunning; not far off my conjured-up version at all.
Shaking my head at Asher’s sharpyap,I come to and answer Mr. Fort. “Does Asher get to be involved with my therapy?” I ask, hopeful.
“He does. I can see he’s rather fond of you already. I have to admit, I was rather surprised by Hazel’s request. It’s not like Asher to take to anyone in this manner. That’s why he lives with me, not the rehabilitation patients.”
Shying away from Mr. Fort and paying extra close attention to Asher down beside me, I give my consent. “I’m happy for you to be here, Mr. Fort, and I’d love nothing more than to work with this handsome guy again.” I start talking in a cutesy voice as I’m referring to Asher. I can’t help it, he’s so devilishly cute.
“If we’re dropping the formalities, please, call me Harvey.” I gaze up, obsessed by the heated look in his eyes.
“As you wish,” I reply. I inner slap myself. As you wish.What kind of reply is that?
“Ah, Mr. Fort. Now that you’ve met Evelyn shall we continue?” She looks between the two of us, and we both give a curt nod. “Great. Let’s get started. Today, Eve, I want you to continue on the bars. I expect within the next week or so you’ll get your walker, so we’ll start transitioning you and getting you used to that as well. From there, we’ll try you on that for around a week, then see how you’re doing. How does that sound?” Mrs. M asks me.
I whisper under my breath, “Terrifying,” whereas Asher yaps a chorus of encouragement while stamping his front legs as if to say hurry up.
“It sounds like someone is ready to start. I’ll get you to move to the parallel bar like we did this morning, then I want you to repeat everything we tried while I stand close to you for support. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” A woosh of air leaves my parted lips as I mentally prepare myself to do this.
Yap yap.
“Yeah, boy, we’ve got this. Are you ready?”yap.Once again, reaching up for the bars, I pull myself from the chair, willing my sore muscles to get me there. Once up and resting my forearms on the bars, I change my weight distribution from my upper to my whole body. As I go, Asher paces back and forth in front of me like a worried watchdog.
My muscles cry as I take my first step. Then the next.
“Keep going, Eve, you’re doing great. Isn’t Eve doing great, Asher?” He barks uncontrollably, and I do this strange half laugh half cry in response to his support.
I’m about to reach the end of the rails when Asher must sense something is wrong. His bark changes as does his behavior. Without further warning, my legs are jelly and gone from under me. I collapse halfway to the floor before strong arms wrap around my torso stopping my fall. For a few moments, all I do is pant in fear as I don’t want to be broken anymore.
I’m brought to standing again on very unsteady and shaking legs when his voice speaks close to my ear. “I’ve got you, Evelyn.”
My body breaks out in goosebumps for entirely different reasons now. Harvey is standing so close that I can’t think straight.
Something soft rubs against my ankle, and I know Asher is worried for me. He’s been my saving grace today, and I can’t thank him enough; thanking him, however, will have to wait.
“It looks like you’ve got yourself a lucky star.” That deep, husky voice whispers over the shell of my ear. I know the only reason he’s still here is due to my inability to support myself. That’s what I’m telling myself.
“Mr. Fort, are you alright helping Eve while I get her chair?” Mrs. M asks.
“No. We won’t be needing that thank you, Hazel. I’ve got it from here. If you don’t mind.” Although Harvey is being polite, there’s no mistaking that the tone of his voice stated he was not asking but rather dismissing Mrs. M. I’m scared for all new reasons now.
“Are you sure, Mr. Fort? I don’t mind sitting in while you work with Evelyn.” I sense hesitancy in her tone as Harvey begins to let go of me.
Meanwhile, I’m left focusing on holding myself upright as the other two in the room have a polite back and forth match of, ‘I’m the one in charge’.
Looking over my shoulder, toward the door, I see Mrs. M walking out of the room, leaving me and Harvey alone. For a man I’ve literally just met, he’s making my head spin.
Asher has been awfully quiet through the whole ordeal, and I wonder if Harvey’s disposition is accountable for that. Taking a step toward the end of the railing where he sits in wait, I then bring the count to two, then three. My excitement starts to surface again as my determination takes over to reach my little furry buddy.
Right as I get to the end, he moves to the other end of the bars, where Harvey’s now standing with him.
