“I don’t want to.” Mrs. Chase gave Rebecca a stubborn look as shesat on the upper body ergometer. It was basically an exercise bike that youpedaled with your hands instead of your feet, and Mrs. Chase’s doctor had senther for a bit of conditioning and rehab.
Rebecca sighed internally, as she went through this very same argumentwith the elderly woman every other time she came to the gym. “Mrs. Chase, youknow this will help you get your strength back in your arms and upper body. Youwere in the hospital for a long time. You need to work back to your normal selfagain.”
“I’ll never be my normal self again.” Her eyes welled up, not forthe first time, and Rebecca put a hand on her shoulder.
“How about we do it in short spurts. Okay? Let’s start with twominutes. You can do two minutes, can’t you?”
“I don’t want to,” Mrs. Chase said again, but with less ire.
“I understand that. But…canyou?”
The woman blew out an obviously annoyed breath. “Fine.” She beganpedaling with her hands and Rebecca quickly set the monitor for two minutes.
“Terrific. See how good you’re doing already?”
To Rebecca, people like Mrs. Chase were perfect examples of whyyou should get yourself in shape and stay that way from a young age. A couplemonths ago, she’d taken a spill down the stairs in her house and, because ofher sedentary lifestyle, had little muscle tone. Recovery was taking muchlonger than it should. If she’d been a bit stronger, she’d have cut weeks offher hospital stay.
Now it was up to Rebecca to help her understand that, even atseventy-six years old, exercise and health were paramount to living a long,productive, and independent life.
“I hope you have a wastebasket nearby in case I throw up,” Mrs.Chase said, a little fire in her gaze.
“I’m not worried.” Rebecca managed somehow to not roll her eyes atthe drama queen that her client could be.
They finished up in twenty more minutes that felt like five hoursto Rebecca. She helped Mrs. Chase to the women’s locker room. “See you onWednesday, Mrs. C.”
“If I’m still around” was the response, as Mrs. Chase walked awayfrom Rebecca and into the locker room.
This time, Rebecca just shook her head, a small grin on her face.When she turned around, she saw Spencer walking in her direction, scrolling onher phone. She looked up, saw Rebecca, and faltered, did a little stutter-stepto a halt.
“Hey,” she said, from about six feet away.
“Hi,” Rebecca responded, even as she felt her palms start tosweat. “Um, listen, Spencer, can I talk to you for a second?”
Spencer looked hesitant, glanced around as if some otherobligation would present itself.
“Just for a second. I promise.” Rebecca held out an arm behindher. “There’s an empty office over here.” At the look Spencer gave her, Rebeccaforced herself to smile and said, “We’ll leave the door open.”
Seeming to realize she was being a bit silly, Spencer grinned.“Sure.” She followed Rebecca to the office, sparsely appointed with a simplemetal desk and two chairs.
Neither of them sat, and Rebecca stared at the industrial graycarpet for a moment, scrambling for the words she’d rehearsed all day. “Listen,Spencer, about Saturday…” She looked up at the ceiling, hunting through herbrain for the right way to say what she wanted to say. There was so much. Somany things. Finally giving up, she blurted, “Can we be friends? Please?”
Spencer blinked at her, the surprise on her face clear. “Really?”
Rebecca’s smile was genuine this time. “Yes, really. I like you.Physical attraction aside, I like you.”
“Really?” Spencer asked again. “’Cause I was pretty sure youdidn’t. Physical attraction aside.”
The chuckle came from deep in Rebecca’s stomach; she felt itrumble up. “Yeah, I know. That was on me and I’m sorry. I was an assholefor…reasons that had nothing to do with you.”
Spencer studied her with those gorgeous blue eyes the color of anearly-April spring sky, as if trying to read her thoughts. Several secondsticked by before she said quietly, “I like you, too.”
“Good.” Rebecca gave one nod and tried to tamp down her relief.“Friends it is, then.”
Spencer tilted her head. “Will it be awkward?”
“Not if we don’t let it.”
“Is it that simple?” Spencer pushed a grimace to one side of herface.
