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“Aw, you’re my favorite too.” She leaned forward and stage-whispered, “But don’t tell anyone else.”
When the session was over, he was surprised to find Lanie, Rose, and his father enter his room. Lanie and Rose came to either side of his bed and took his hands, but Dad stayed near the door, looking as uncomfortable as ever.
“The hospital has agreed to let us assist with the transport and get you settled in,” Rose explained.
Steven nodded, but before he could respond, several attendants came in. One handed Lanie and Dad some paperwork, which he assumed was his discharge papers. Two others moved to his bed with a wheelchair. He resisted the urge to glare at it.
It took both attendants to lift and transfer him to the chair. Rose dutifully took her place behind him and began to push. He hadn’t been out of his room except when more tests were needed, and Steven relished the cool air of the hallway. The elevator, on the other hand, jostled him more than he liked, and he cringed with each movement until they arrived on the main floor. When they reached the front of the hospital, a van was waiting for them. It had a wheelchair ramp and myriad belts to strap him in. Steven winced. Is this really my life now?
After he was all strapped in, Dad jumped behind the wheel and began the short drive to the rehab center. Steven appreciated the drive through the heart of Cedar Haven, passing Bea’s Diner and the middle school where Lanie worked.
Once they arrived at his new home, Steven allowed his eyes to sweep over the building. It didn’t look much different from the hospital, though it was noticeably smaller. Two stories tall, the facility had an array of windows on the second floor. He assumed that was where the patients’ rooms were. As the attendants unbuckled his chair and took it down the ramp, he noted the circular driveway they had parked in was similar to those he’d seen at hotels.
Rose pushed him toward the doors, which whisked open upon their approach. The lobby area was pristine if a little dreary. The scent of chlorine wafted down a corridor, and Steven frowned. Maybe they had a pool.
“We’ve found water aerobics to be a great form of physical therapy, especially for those with joint pain,” a voice said from beside him. He turned his head to find a man standing to his right in a red polo shirt with the name Chesapeake Rehabilitation on the left breast pocket. The man held out his hand to Steven, his gray eyes twinkling. “You must be Steven McAllister. I’m Marvin Anderson, the director of Chesapeake Rehab.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Welcome.” Marvin shook his hand before gesturing behind him. “Would you like a tour before we get you settled?”
At Steven’s nod, Marvin led them through the facility. In addition to the pool, there was a gym and a cafeteria along with areas for speech therapy, massage, and other treatments that made the place feel more like a medical spa than a skilled-nursing facility.
Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. He could certainly think of worse places to spend the next two weeks.
“And this,” Marvin said as they came to a stop outside of a door, “is your room.”
Rose pushed him through the wide doorway and into what looked like a presidential suite in a hotel. A wave of nausea came over Steven. How were they going to afford that? His insurance wasn’t anywhere near as good as what he’d had at the law firm in Baltimore.
She leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Your father is paying. He insisted.”
That sounded like something his father would do. Guilt gnawed at Steven’s gut. His father had retired years ago and lived on a fixed income. While Dad had a very comfortable lifestyle, he didn’t have the means to throw money around. Steven opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Marvin began showing off the various features of the room.
“We have a lot of entertainment options to keep you from growing bored, though with the many hours of therapy before you, there’s little chance of that.” He laughed at his own joke, but no one else joined him. “The bathroom also has some amazing amenities, which you’ll be able to enjoy more as you progress in your recovery.”
Steven read between the lines. The bathroom amenities were meant for people who could walk. Based on what he’d learned while at the hospital, he doubted he would be able to enjoy any of them. Still, he could barely focus on that as he digested the reality that his father was footing the bill for his recovery. How can I ever repay him for this? Tears pricked Steven’s eyes, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to thank his father for his generosity or berate him for wasting his money.
Either way, Steven planned to make darn sure he recovered as quickly as possible to avoid becoming a burden. Two weeks should be more than enough time for him to learn what he needed to function. Then he could return home.
“Why don’t I let you get settled.” Marvin signaled for Steven’s father to follow him. “I’ll be back to discuss your therapy schedule with you.”
When he was alone with Rose and Lanie, Steven leaned back in his chair and sighed. “This is too much.”
Lanie snorted. “You have no idea. It would have been cheaper for you to have a roommate, but Dad refused. I’m not sure what’s gotten into him, but at least you’re going to get the best care possible in Southern Maryland.”
Steven smiled. While his sister was making a dig at their hometown, her words had some truth to them. It was no Johns Hopkins, but several doctors in the area had participated in a federal program that paid off their student loans in exchange for them opening medical practices in rural communities. That facility was one example of how well the program had worked out.
“I’m grateful for your father’s generosity,” Rose said as she wandered through the room. “Hopefully it’ll reduce some of your financial stress, knowing this is taken care of.”
“If anything, it makes it worse.”
“Of course you’d say that. Paying for the wedding is fine, but assisting with your recovery is a deal-breaker,” she muttered. With a sigh, she stepped beside him and kissed his forehead. “Unfortunately, I need to go run some errands before my shift. But I’ll come by tomorrow. I love you.”
When she was gone, Lanie sat on his bed. “And then there were two.”
“Did Rose mention the wedding?” he asked.
“She did.” His sister turned to the window. “You have a nice view. Would you like to see?”
