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“Ha ha,” he retorted, but his tone lacked its usual biting sarcasm.
Ronnie noticed. “Something wrong?”
“Lot on my mind is all.” He took one last look at the basketball court before he went through the door she was holding open. “Can I do this again sometime?”
“Absolutely!” She grinned. “I thought this would be good for you.”
“It was,” he said. They were halfway to the waiting room when Steven stopped. “Be honest with me. Will I be able to walk again by my wedding?”
Ronnie gave him a quizzical look. “What brought this on?”
Though she seemed genuinely curious about his change in demeanor, Steven couldn’t help feeling like she was avoiding his question. Instead of responding, he stared at her and waited.
“Uh, I mean, it’s early yet. Your body is still recovering from your accident, and sometimes it can take up to six months for it to—”
He held up his hand. “I’ve heard this song and dance before. But you’ve worked with patients who’ve been through what I’ve been through, right? What was their experience? Were they further along in their progress than I am by this time after their injury?”
“Steven, you can’t judge your progress by someone else. Spinal contusions are a tricky business, and everyone heals differently. I’ve had patients who could walk just fine for the most part but would have random bouts of numbness in one or both legs. And then I’ve had patients who never regained the feeling in their legs.”
He winced. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
“But that’s clearly not you,” she hurried on, gesturing to his legs. “Your cast is off, and you’re already improving in your transitions. Every session, you not only get a little stronger, but I can tell you’re gaining more control over your muscles. I imagine you’ll regain feeling in your legs before your wedding, but I can’t guarantee you’ll have total motor control by then.”
That was something, at least. With a sigh, he rolled his chair forward. “I’m frustrated. Every day, I feel a little more like my old self. But I’m still in this blasted chair.”
“Give yourself some grace and some credit.” Her eyes swept over him. “I have absolute faith you won’t be in the wheelchair much longer.” His face must have betrayed his doubt because she huffed in exasperation. “I understand it doesn’t seem that way to you, but as you said, I’ve been doing this awhile. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life and with myriad illnesses. Take my word for it.”
Before he could respond, the door to the waiting room opened, and Lanie rushed out. The frown on her face faded to a smile of relief when she saw him.
“There you are! I got here a half hour ago, and no one knew where you were.” She threw her arms around his neck.
He awkwardly patted her back with one hand while the other stopped the wheelchair from running over her foot. “Sorry for worrying you, but Ronnie banished me outside for my PT.”
Lanie straightened and raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Your brother decided to finally pursue the basketball dreams your grandfather laid out for him.”
“Figures you’d wait until your height didn’t give you an advantage to try to make old Pop-Pop proud,” Lanie said with a laugh.
“I’m not sure how proud he would have been,” Steven grumbled. “Those guys wiped the court with me.”
“But you had fun, right?” Ronnie asked.
He gave a grudging nod. “Yeah, I had fun.”
Lanie put a hand over her heart. “I didn’t know you knew that word!”
“Oh, hardy har har,” Steven retorted. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before she finds something new to torture me with.”
“See you in a few days!” Ronnie wiggled her fingers in a silly wave before turning to find her next victim.
“So, you had fun, huh?” Lanie pressed.
“Don’t make it into a thing.” He pushed the chair up to his sister’s car.
“I’m not doing anything of the sort!” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she opened the car door. “It’s nice to hear that you enjoyed yourself for a change. With everything that’s been going on, you deserve to blow off a little steam.”
Ronnie was right about one thing. His improvement with performing transfers had made the van unnecessary, and his father had canceled the rental contract. Riding shotgun was a vast improvement to being strapped into the back of the van. With Lanie’s help, he pulled himself into the car then busied himself with settling into his seat and buckling in so he had an excuse not to respond. But Lanie wasn’t one to give up easily.
