AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay.” That has to be nearly a year and a half old comment said on the day we buried Mom.
“Do you want to get your PT in now?”
“Sure.”
She looks at the device in my hand. “Are you going to tell me what you’ve been working on?”
I nod and turn the phone face down on the counter. “I messaged my nutritionist. I have had a meal plan for as long as I can remember, back into high school. Though that one included mac and cheese and ice cream. Have I ever told you about my love for ice cream?”
She looks up at me as if she’s never seen me before and this is the first time. “No.”
“I love ice cream. I don’t eat ice cream. Not often anyway. But I messaged her because I need a plan. One that might include ice cream but doesn’t include three thousand calories a day of protein and complex carbs.”
Her eyes bug out.
“It wasn’t like I was pudgy when we met.”
She swallows visibly. “No, you weren’t. You were…” A shiver runs through her.
Were.
“So I need a strategy for my new life, new activity level, new goals. We’re going to make that happen in the next little bit.”
She reaches out a hand, watching her fingers as they run down my arm. “That’s great. I’m sure you know more than you’re giving yourself credit for, but I’m glad you have someone you can trust.”
“What do you think my level of physical fitness can be? Hope isn’t a strategy. Give me reality.”
She thinks for a minute, hand still playing on my arm. “Tackles are out of the question. I think running right now is a long-term goal, but not something we should be striving for. And that’s only if you want it. We can manage the pain with targeted stretches and therapeutic exercises. I don’t see why full range of motion and ‘normal’”—she uses air quotes—“life can’t be achieved within a year.”
I don’t know whatnormalis. I never wanted it. It’s definitely never been a goal of mine.
But after the last few months, the idea that I could live a normal life, without pain, is attractive.
Given the right work, I can ride a horse again. Maybe. Pick up my nephew. Probably. Ride in my sister’s Wrangler without worrying about the bumps along the way. Mostly.
Normal wasn’t the goal, but it doesn’t sound horrible anymore.
“Can we speed that up?”
A smirk crosses her lips. “Perhaps. But I’d rather daily progress than push against a timeline.”
“What could I do that would slow that progress down?”
She pats my abs and pushes up on her toes for a kiss. “Glad to have you back, Layton Ranger.”
I lean down and give her what she wants. It’s what I want too.
“Let me know if you want an appointment too,” I say as she lowers back to her bare feet.
“For what?”
“With my nutritionist?”
“Why?”
“It’s not a dig, Pix. She’s a resource, and I’m offering if it’s something you want.”
She bites her lip and nods. “I’d like that. Thank you. What do I need to do?”
