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She sends me a couple more messages over the next hour. I don’t read them right then, but every time my phone buzzes in my pocket, it makes me smile.
*
After a while, the door swishes open, and Tyson comes in.
“Damon!” He steers his electric wheelchair up to me and high fives me. He’s a good-looking guy, heavyset, with dark, slightly curly hair. His spinal cord injury five years ago was incomplete, meaning that he retained some motor and sensory function below the waist, but for a long time his bowels, bladder, and sexual functions were impaired, and doctors told him he’d never walk again. He was in a lot of pain, and suffered from severe depression.
Gradually, though, over time, despite the doctors’ dark prognosis, he’s improved tremendously. Gaby’s constant and unwavering support has given him the determination to get better, and with the help of MAX, he’s regained a high percentage of the functions he lost.
“Hey, dude.” I grin at him. “How’s the groom feeling?”
“Like an over-tightened nut,” he says, turning the chair so he can slot into the empty space beside me.
“You want a coffee?” Juliette asks.
“Ah, yes please.” When he’s with strangers, he doesn’t like to be assisted, but he doesn’t mind us offering to help out.
“I’ve never seen you stressed,” I say, amused. “Not like this.” Obviously he was upset and angry after his accident, but he’s a placid guy who rarely gets wound up about things.
“I guess if anything’s going to ramp up the anxiety, it’s getting hitched,” James states.
“Gaby giving you headaches?” I ask.
Tyson lifts his briefcase onto the table, then leans forward and helps himself to a muffin. “Not at all. Getting hitched to her is the only reason I’m going through with it. It’s everyone else.”
“Don’t tell me,” Alex says, “is this to do with picking Kaitlyn up from the airport?”
Tyson glances at him. “Partly.”
“Has she cast herself in the role of abandoned woman?” Alex asks.
“No,” Tyson says. “She was actually very quiet and sad.”
I look at Alex and lift my eyebrows. He frowns and looks down at his laptop.
“Gaby’s a bit worried about her,” Tyson says.
“Well, Kait wouldn’t be our mother if she wasn’t trying to hog the limelight in some fashion,” Alex says, tapping on the keys. “I guess she thought weeping and wailing might be a bit over the top, so she’s going for wistful and depressed.”
“Or maybe she’s genuinely upset,” Juliette suggests, bringing over Tyson’s coffee.
“Not buying it,” Alex states.
“You’re very harsh on her,” Henry says.
“I have my reasons.” Alex gestures at Tyson’s laptop. “We’re thinking of Finn Macbeth for THOR’s first trial.”
Tyson nods. “I’m happy with that decision. At least I was twenty-one when I ended up in this.” He taps his wheelchair. “I was able to play sports and enjoy myself at school. The poor kid’s only eight.”
“The mum must be real bitter about that,” I say.
“Not at all. She told me she does her best to remain positive for Finn. She’s like a ray of sunshine. She’ll be great to have around.”
The guys all give a look that suggests they’re impressed at the woman’s attitude. All except Alex, whose expression remains skeptical. He finds it difficult to trust women. His mother really did a number on him.
I hope Kaitlyn isn’t going to cause too much trouble while she’s here. Gaby and Tyson deserve their day in the sun.
*
