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“Well, here I am, and you look ready. Let’s go,” she insists.
It’s not like I can put this off anyway. Management will want an update on my healing before it comes to a decision of whether to trade me or not.
We head down to the parking garage. Patty yawns as she pulls into traffic.
I’m a tight ball of nerves as my hands rest on my legs and they bounce.
“Uh-oh. What is the story with your ex? I’ve never seen you this antsy before,” she observes.
“She hasn’t really been involved in Syd’s life. Now she is engaged, and she wants to play house,” I say dryly.
“As in she wants custody of Syd?” she asks and even her voice sounds panicked.
“That is what she said, although she could change her mind next week. Still, I can’t be too careful with my daughter.”
“Of course,” Patty agrees. “No wonder you’re so nervous.”
We make it to the hospital, and I slowly make my way to the MRI section. We have to wait a bit for my turn. “You know you don’t need to stay with me. I’m a big boy,” I tell Patty.
“I want to hear what the doctor says. I want to make sure we are working on the right type of exercises,” Patty replies. I’ve hired Patty on a private basis since she is no longer working with the team. I’m doing everything I possibly can to heal because I don’t want to lose my work visa and go back to Canada.
“You really are going above and beyond,” I commend her.
“Well, since I’m not working for the team, I have time on my hands. I want to see you make it back to the ice for the preseason games,” she says.
“I want that too,” I agree.
I’m called in for my test. I head into the MRI machine. I can’t stop thinking of Syd and Ellie. I wonder where Sybil has taken them. It also pisses the shit out of me that Warren didn’t have the balls to come up to my apartment and introduce himself. I don’t know what to make of the guy, other than he sounds like a rich prick.
After the appointment, we meet with the doctor. Patty listens in as the doctor pulls up my MRI results and the X-ray they had me do.
“You’re healing very well,” Dr. Smith says as he reads the notes. “There is no bone damage, so you are very lucky. The area of separation has also decreased. So, whatever you are doing is working.”
I blow out a breath.
“How is the pain level now?” Dr. Smith asks.
“It’s manageable. I’m not taking anything for it, but I’m still limping like an old man.”
“Keep working the hip muscles. The bones and tendons need to fuse back together. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were completely mended in the next couple of weeks,” Dr. Smith continues.
He then discusses a few exercise options with Patty. After that Patty excuses herself from the room and I’m glad she does.
“I was wondering about sex. When will I be cleared for that? I just got engaged and. . .”
The doctor smiles. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
“To be on the safe side, I’d say to give yourself a good three weeks. Sex can obviously put a lot of strain on the hip bone and muscles,” he explains.
“Makes sense. Three weeks it is,” I reply. I don’t even know why I asked the question. Ellie and I can obviously not have sex. We need to keep strict boundaries if this arrangement is going to work. I wouldn’t have sex with anyone else either. Even if we are saying vows because of an arrangement, it’s something I take seriously.
I thank the doctor and he schedules me in for a follow-up in three weeks.
I think of my parents. They had gotten married while they were in college and loved each other dearly. They had a hard time getting pregnant. My mom basically gave up the idea of becoming a mom in her early forties, and that’s when she got pregnant with me. They were both loving parents and gave me everything they could. That’s why Sybil’s behavior always sickened me. I felt responsible for choosing a terrible mother for my child.
“All good?” Patty asks when I walk up to her.
