“Great. I’ll get my stuff.”
Pepper’s “stuff” consisted of a portable table big enough for Cathy to stretch out on, along with some workout-size rubber bands and a small suitcase. In a matter of minutes, she had the table opened and a clean sheet spread over the plastic-covered padding.
“Hop on,” she said, patting the sheet.
Cathy struggled to her feet, took her crutches and lurched awkwardly toward the young woman. Pepper stepped forward to assist. “They’ve got the height adjusted wrong,” she said. “You’d think they’d check something like that. Don’t worry, I’ll fix it. But first let’s work on your leg.”
She gave Cathy a hand up onto the table. Cathy was shocked to feel the other woman’s strength. At her look of surprise, Pepper chuckled.
“I know, my size is deceiving. I’m strong. I grew up with five brothers, so it was get strong or get pinned every time we wrestled.” She smiled. “I decided to learn how to kick butt. They’re all huge, but I’ve got ’em running for cover.”
She had Cathy lie down on the table. They went through a series of stretches. Pepper made several notations on a chart.
“Do you exercise?” the physical therapist asked.
“Not really.” The loose sweatpants she wore weren’t very flattering, and Cathy figured that Pepper had probably already noticed the fact that she wasn’t in very good shape. “I’ve tried to start an exercise program a few times, but I’ve never been able to stick with it. Now I don’t know what to do.”
“We’re going to have you up and around in no time,” Pepper promised. “In a few months, you won’t even know you’ve had surgery.”
“Is there something I can do in the meantime?” she asked, reminding herself again that this was the perfect opportunity to make some changes in her life. “Ula suggested I ask you about that.”
“Sure. There are different aerobic exercises for people in wheelchairs. You could do some of those.” Pepper wrinkled her pixie nose. “I’ll work something up to bring in next time.”
“That sounds great. Thank you.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Now let’s work on this leg.”
Pepper took her through several exercises and more stretches. When her leg was too sore for them to continue, they shifted to her upper body. Cathy learned how to stretch out the muscles stressed by the crutches, as well as a few ways to build her upper-body strength. She could barely lift a five-pound dumbbell, but she refused to get discouraged. At least she was finally doing something. She eyed Pepper’s well-defined arm and wondered if that was possible for her.
When they finished, Pepper applied heat to her neck and upper back. “Just relax for a few minutes. Then we’ll start the walking lesson. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll be barreling around on those crutches like a pro.”
“I can’t imagine barreling, but I would like to move a little more easily.”
Pepper glanced at the house. “I would guess so. There must be a ton of stairs inside.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
The therapist looked at her in surprise. “But you live here.”
Cathy lay on her stomach, the heavy heat-pack around her neck. She rested her head on her folded arms and grimaced. “No. I’m—” Words failed her. What was she, exactly? A friend of the family? Hardly? A what, then?
“Mr. Ward and I have a business association,” she said at last. “I don’t have any family, and when he heard what had happened in the fire, he wanted me to stay here while I recovered.”
“Nice work if you can get it,” Pepper said enviously. “Imagine actually knowing Stone Ward. Wow. I’ve read about him, of course. This house is amazing. What’s he like?”
Cathy hesitated, not only because she didn’t know what to say, but also because she respected Stone’s privacy. While she wasn’t completely sure about the parameters of their relationship, shedidconsider him a friend and she didn’t want to be responsible for gossiping about him.
“He’s reclusive,” she said. “A very private man, but kind. We’re not that close.”
That was true, she thought sadly. They weren’t close, and everything that had happened between them had only confused her. She wanted their relationship to be different, but she couldn’t say how. She just knew that she missed the regularity of their lives before…when she’d known she could count on hearing from him every evening at midnight. Although he’d come by last night, she didn’t know when she was going to see him again, and that troubled her.
She missed him. They were in the same house, and she missed him. It was crazy.
Pepper touched the heat pack. “We’ll give this another five minutes, then on with your lesson.”
Cathy smiled. “Thanks.”
* * *
