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“What’s this?” Steven demanded as his father pulled up in front of his house. Several cars were parked along the street and in the driveway.
“Nate and Lanie wanted to welcome you home,” Rose said a little too brightly. She’d barely spoken on the way back from the rehab facility, though he’d tried to engage her in conversation. While he understood her fears about his health, he wished she would trust him. After all, he was hiring a law clerk and finding ways to manage his workload. Why isn’t that enough for her?
Dad cringed but said nothing as he parked and began the complicated process of removing Steven’s chair from the van.
Steven raised an eyebrow at Rose. “What’s going on?”
“It’s just a small gathering of your favorite people to celebrate your release.” But she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
He leaned back in the seat and crossed his arms. “I’m not leaving this vehicle until you tell me what I’m walking into.”
Dad snorted, and Steven flushed. Even he could hear how empty the threat was. Until he was out of that blasted chair, he didn’t have a lot of say about where he could and couldn’t go. He’d learned to maneuver around in it, but it was easier to be pushed by someone else. They’d recommended a power wheelchair instead of a manual one, but he’d refused. No sense in spending the money if he planned to walk again as soon as possible.
With a sigh, Rose turned in her seat and faced him. “We’re holding a family meeting.”
His brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Because you’re a stubborn workaholic who won’t listen to reason,” Dad said.
“What he means”—Rose cut in with a glare— “is that we need to discuss how things are going to be now that you’re home.”
Steven’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And if I don’t agree?”
Rose opened her mouth, but his father beat her to it. “Then I’ll turn this van around and take you right back to the rehab facility.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Dad stopped fiddling with the belts strapping Steven in and stepped out as if ready to slam the door. “Try me.”
Steven scowled. “Fine. I’ll at least listen, but don’t think for one minute that I’m going to change my mind.”
“Of course not,” Rose muttered as she slipped out of the car and headed into the house.
“Let’s get this over with,” he grumbled as his father pushed him up the sidewalk. His family had had a ramp installed over the stairs. As Adrian had promised, his chair fit easily through the front door.
The scene that greeted him didn’t alleviate any of his frustrations. His sister and her fiancé, Nate, sat on the black love seat on one side of the living room. Rose had claimed a matching recliner near the kitchen. Nobody spoke as Steven came in.
“Well, let’s hear it,” he said, gesturing to Rose. Somehow, he suspected she was the mastermind behind the whole charade.
Dad smirked, raising an eyebrow at Lanie, who simply nodded. Without waiting for an invitation, he sank onto Steven’s black leather couch and made himself comfortable.
Nate had moved closer to Lanie, almost protectively, as if he expected Steven to lash out at her at any moment. It took all of Steven’s willpower not to throw them out of his house. He’d promised Rose he would listen to what they had to say, even if every instinct told him not to.
“I’m sorry to have ambushed you like this,” Rose began, catching him by surprise. “But your decision to leave the rehab center against medical advice left me little choice.”
He struggled to keep his emotions in check. “What’s wrong with my choice?”
She fiddled with her engagement ring, and he half expected someone else to swoop in and take control of the situation. But no one did, and she seemed to steel herself.
“You aren’t taking this seriously,” she said. Her tone was firm, but her beautiful brown eyes swam with tears.
His anger faltered, but he tried not to let it show. Perhaps he was being unreasonable, but he couldn’t help feeling an intervention was over the top and unnecessary.
“You can’t go back to the way things were,” she said. “We have to make some changes to not only allow you time to heal but to reduce the likelihood of another heart attack.”
“But I’m continuing therapy on an outpatient basis.” Quite reluctantly, he wanted to add. With his schedule, those appointments would take up a huge chunk of time. “And I’m adhering to the strict diet the nutritionist put me on.”
“I’m referring to overall lifestyle changes.”
