Saving Our Hearts

by Velvet Reed

  With a new resolve to move forward, I head for the living room and the woman I can’t stop thinking about. When I enter the room, Olivia counts down from three and everyone starts singing happy birthday to Gracie. Bolstered by my new found confidence in going after what I want, I walk over and stand beside Ashley who looks up at me briefly as she continues to sing then turns back to Gracie. Wanting her to know exactly where things stand, I reach out and take her hand in mine. Her body stiffens at the contact, but I’m assuming it’s because she’s shocked. As everyone shouts their hip-hip hoorays, I entwine our fingers and look down at her as I lift her hand and place a tender kiss to her knuckles.

  Ashley’s eyes go wide and her mouth drops open in surprise. I give her what Cole refers to as my panty-dropping smile and watch her cheeks turn rosy, and a sly smile form on her luscious lips. I kiss her hand again and drop them to my side, pulling her marginally closer to me.

  When I focus back on everyone else, they’re all watching Gracie about to blow out her candles, but her attention is focused solely on Ashley and me. There’s a twinkle of mischief in her eyes and a cheeky smile on her lips. Looks like I have an ally in Gracie. She catches my eye and I give her a quick wink, the gesture a silent confirmation that the question in her eyes about Ashley and me is correct. Gracie’s smile lights up the entire room as she blows out the candles and the present opening begins.

  The evening doesn’t drag on much longer, but I don’t leave Ashley’s side either. I’ve caught just about everyone giving us curious stares as I continue holding her hand, sitting beside her, and at one point I thought that Charlie was going to have a coronary when I actually put my arm behind her on the couch. No one actually comes out and says anything about my display, but I know their minds are whirling.

  Ashley hasn’t seemed fazed by my actions at all; she hasn’t pulled away or seemed uncomfortable. In fact, there have been quite a few times when she seemed to move in closer to me, and at one point even rested her hand on my knee, and God knows that touch sent awareness shooting through my body.

  As everyone gets ready to leave, Ashley clears the dishes. Before I can offer to help, Charlie jumps up to do it. Looks like Ashley’s in for a lecture of her own. Bryan, John and Olivia all head out and I stay with Gracie while Cole sees them off. “Treat her right, okay, Sam? She’s not as tough as she makes out she is,” Gracie says in a hushed voice.

  “I’ll do my best. I promise, Gracie.” She smiles and nods, accepting my word at face value.

  Cole’s back before we know it and Gracie yawns, clearly worn out by all the festivities. “I think it’s time to get you into bed, baby,” he tells her and caresses her cheek. The sight of their open affection and adoration of each other used to annoy me a little, but only because it was something I craved for myself. Now, after the way things have gone tonight, I find myself looking forward to being about to shower some attention on Ashley and openly share my feelings like Cole and Gracie do.

  “Kitchen’s all clean. Now, how about I help you get this one to bed?” Ashley says, pointing to Gracie whose eyes are starting to drift closed.

  “That would be great, Ash, thanks,” Cole replies.

  Charlie and I say our farewells to Cole and Gracie and wish her a final happy birthday. Then instead of helping Gracie back into her wheelchair, he carefully picks her up, cradles her in his arms and heads for their bedroom with Ashley on his heels.

  Charlie heads to the spare room to get a sleeping Ruby, and when I open the front door for him, he says, “Just remember what I said.” I nod in acquiescence. “Night, Sam.”

  “Night, Charlie,” I reply and go back to my position on the couch to wait for Ashley.

  A few minutes go by before she returns, and when she does, she lets out a small sigh. “You waited,” she breathes.

  “Of course I did.” I stand and go to her. “I wanted to walk you to your car and say good night.”

  She gives me a shy smile. “Let me grab my bag and jacket.”

  When she’s back at my side, I call out to Cole. “Cole, we’re leaving. I’ll flip the lock when we go, but double check it, okay?”

  He comes back out to us. “Thanks for everything, guys. Having everyone here really helped keep Gracie’s mind off leaving Cooper.”

  He looks exhausted and I’m sure the moment we’re out the door, he’ll be in bed himself. “There’s nowhere else we would have been. If you need anything, and I mean anything, Cole, call me. I’ll be here in no time,” I tell him.

  “The same goes for me. I know you’re mom’s going to be helping every day, but we’re here too, okay?” Ashley reiterates, and then pulls Cole into a hug and kisses his cheek.

  “I know. Thanks again. It’s really good to be home.”

  Ashley and I leave and Cole closes the door behind us. As we make our way down the front steps, I reach for her hand again and hold it as we walk to her car. She fumbles around in her bag and produces her keys. “So, I guess I’ll hear from you sometime about that dinner,” she says.

  With the moonlight beaming down on her blonde hair, it almost looks like there is a halo surrounding her head. She looks so angelic. “I’ll double check my schedule in the morning, but I guarantee you it will definitely be this week.”

  She bites her bottom lip and we both stand here like a pair of school kids not knowing what to do or say next. Stepping right into her personal space, I reach down and move a stray lock of hair behind her ear and then cup her cheek. “I hope after tonight you realize exactly where we stand now.”

  Still biting her luscious damn lip, she peeks up through her eyelashes at me. “Where do we stand, Sam?”

  If she wants me to spell it out for her, I will. “You and I are going to get to know each other a lot better. We’re going to see where this thing between us is going and we’re going to have fun while we’re doing it.” I’m mesmerized by the softness of her skin as my thumb strokes tenderly across her cheek.

  “I can’t wait.”

  “Neither can I, Ashley, neither can I,” I confess and move in until our lips meet and slide against each other in the softest, sexiest kiss we’ve had yet. It goes on for a few luxurious minutes and then I back away, knowing we have all the time in the world to explore these feelings that have taken hold of us.

  I take her keys from her hand and open her car door. As she slides into her seat and settles herself, my mind starts to run through ideas for our first date together. Closing her door and starting the ignition, she looks at me one last time. “Goodnight, Sam,” she smiles.

  “Goodnight, beautiful,” I say, knowing that from now on, that’s what I will always refer to her as; because Ashley Brooks is without doubt the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life.

  Chapter 14

  Grace...

  You know that saying ‘Time flies when you’re having fun’? Well, I can assure you that time will most certainly fly by even when you’re not having fun. The last three weeks have been filled with high moments and low moments. Being home proved to be an adventure all on its own, and I know for a fact, I will never take for granted the use of fully functioning limbs ever again. If my injuries have taught me anything, it’s a whole new understanding, appreciation and sense of awe for people with limited mobility.

  It’s been six weeks since the accident and my ribs aren’t causing me any real pain any more, which has at least made quite a few things easier to do in the last few weeks. The casts on my arm and leg have been an absolute pain in my ass, but today is the day that these suckers come off. Thank God!

  Cole and Olivia have been by my side helping with everyday activities like showering. I could never thank them enough for all the help they’ve given me, even at the expense of my dignity at times. Going to the toilet has been super fun. Insert sarcasm.

  But today the casts come off. There’s a few final tests to be done including my postnatal check up with Sam, and then it’s off to the physical therapy sessions that will help get my limbs a
nd muscles working again. That’s my goal and my focus, because the quicker I get back to strength, the quicker I can actually cuddle Cooper properly by myself and the quicker I can do all the things a mother would normally do for their child, like changing their diaper or their clothes, bathing them and feeding them.

  These are all the things I’ve had to sit back and watch Cole and other family members do for Cooper because one working hand doesn’t make it conducive to perform those tasks effectively. As much as I loved watching Cole give Cooper his first bath and even helped a little, there’s a deep seated yearning in me to share some special one-on-one bonding time with my baby boy.

  Cooper loves his baths; he definitely a water baby that’s for sure. Once he’s in the warm tub, his little body relaxes and I’m sure he’s fallen asleep a few times, but boy oh boy, when it’s time to get out, he goes from contented bliss to crying down the NICU, making sure everyone know he’s not happy at all. It absolutely freaked Cole out the first time he opened his little lungs and wailed like that.

  Plus feeding him, even though breast feeding didn’t happen, I would have loved to have been able to give him his first bottle by myself. However, it was another experience shared with Cole I won’t forget and a huge moment for Cooper, but it also left me feeling inadequate as his mother. Cole had cradled Cooper in his arms while I held the bottle and though it took my baby boy a little while to get the idea he didn’t do too bad for his first try. What he didn’t finish from the bottle, the nurses ended up giving him via the feeding tube. His progress has been so amazing that I know it won’t be long before our little miracle is ready to come home.

  Waiting impatiently for Cole to finish getting ready, I hear Olivia puttering around in the kitchen cleaning it up after breakfast. The anticipation of today’s event would have me bouncing in my seat if I could.

  “So I was thinking, since we didn’t get to give you the baby shower we had planned, we could have a welcome home shower for Cooper instead.” Olivia says, coming back into the living room.

  “We don’t know when he’s coming home exactly, so I don’t know. You really don’t need to make a fuss though, Olivia.”

  She stops in the midst of pillow fluffing and comes and sits next to me, putting her hand on my knee. “Honey, you need to listen to me, okay?” she says, her expression warm but serious. “Cooper is my first grandchild, and if you haven’t guessed already, I intend to spoil that little boy rotten. I know how much he means to you because he’s your baby, but he’s also the greatest gift that you could ever give me. He’s my baby’s baby, if that doesn’t sound too crazy.” I giggle because I understand that Cole is her baby.

  “This last six weeks have been tough on everyone, especially you and Cole. When Cooper comes home, we should be celebrating the fact that you are both finally where you belong.”

  “We already had dinner when I came home,” I remind her.

  “Yes we did, but you didn’t get to have your baby shower and Cooper definitely deserves a party considering how much he’s improved and how strong he’s become.” She looks away and is quiet for a moment. When she turns back, her eyes are shimmering with unshed tears. “Let me do this, honey, please. I love you, Gracie, and I think of you as my daughter. I know I’ll never replace your mom; she was an amazing woman, but I would love to be there for you and do all the things that she would have done if she were here. I want you to know I’m here for you and Cooper no matter what.”

  Tears stream down my face as thoughts of my mom and what she’s missing out on take hold, but as Olivia’s words sink in, the heaviness disappears with the knowledge that this wonderful woman sitting beside me is offering something I’ve wanted since I was ten years old. She’s offering to be my mom and be there for me always.

  “You have no idea what that means to me, Olivia. I love you, too, and I’m so thankful Cole brought you into my life.” I wrap my good arm around her and squeeze tightly.

  “Oh, honey, I truly believe you and Cole were destined to find each other and that our families are to become one,” she says as she folds me in her embrace and gently rocks me. I have a mom. She may not be my real mom, but I couldn’t have asked for a better substitute if I tried.

  “Hey, what’s going on in here? You okay, baby?” Cole asks as he comes to our side and looks at us in concern.

  Both Olivia and I wipe away our tears and smile at each other. “We’re fine, babe. Mom was just saying she wants to throw a welcome home shower for Cooper,” I say, casting a glance at Olivia to see her reaction to me calling her mom.

  Olivia’s eyes shimmer yet again and her mouth curves into a bright smile. “Did you just call me mom?” she asks as Cole remains quiet.

  “Do you mind?”

  She shakes her head vehemently “Not at all. I’d be honored for you to call me mom, honey. Truly honored.” And she pulls me in for another hug.

  Cole watches on happily before breaking up our mush fest. “If you ladies are ready to go, we have a big day ahead of us.”

  “I’ve never been more ready in my life than I am today,” I tell him.

  After fixing ourselves up and getting me into our SUV, we’re on our way to the hospital. The ride goes fast as Olivia throws ideas around about the shower including who to invite. In those few minutes, I know this is not going to be any ordinary welcome home party as the guest list increases and a hired venue is mentioned. Over the top it may be and I know we will have to rein her in, but right now, I’m just thoroughly content with all the love I have in my life.

  Waiting in a doctor’s office obviously isn’t something Cole has much patience for. I can’t help but smirk at the irony of the situation. He’s offered more than once to take me down to the ER and take my casts off himself, to which I’ve laughed at him each time and told him to relax.

  “This is ridiculous,” he huffs. “The x-rays showed the bones have healed properly. I could have them off in no time and we’d be out of here.”

  I roll my eyes at him again. “You’re not the doctor, Cole.”

  “I have the M.D after my name that proves I’m a doctor, Sweet Cheeks,” he cockily states.

  “Yes you have, but you’re not my doctor, so just sit back and be the doting boyfriend. Better yet, why don’t you go grab me some water and a tea for Mom.” It’s kind of weird calling Olivia ‘Mom’, but I’m loving it at the same time and I can tell she is too.

  He gets out of his seat and kisses my forehead. “Fine. I’ll be right back.”

  I have no idea what’s gotten into him since we left the house. He was calm and happy, yet now he’s all irritated and testy. I breathe a sigh of relief when he’s gone. “I think he’s just anxious about all your results.” Olivia says.

  “Well, at least we know that the leg and arm are fine. He did say the ribs will take a bit longer to fully heal but they’re not causing me as much pain as they were before.”

  “It’s all good news so far then, honey,” Olivia says, patting my knee.

  At that moment, the doctor comes out and calls me back to the exam room. I chuckle, because of course the moment Cole leaves, the doctor would be ready. Olivia pushes me into the exam room since I’m still in the wheelchair and the doctor introduces himself to both of us. After he takes another look at the final x-rays and reiterates all is well, he starts sawing off the cast. I had forgotten the sound it makes from when Ruby had her cast off and am shocked to realize that in just over a month, it’s been a year since her fall and I met Cole.

  With the cast on my arm off, the doctor gets me to try and move it a bit. I’m surprised how weak my muscles have become in six weeks. When he’s finished examining my arm, he begins on the leg cast. When it comes off, I’m horrified and embarrassed at the state of my leg.

  “Oh, good Lord, Gracie. You’re like an Amazon woman. I never even gave a thought about the fact that you couldn’t shave or wax. I think we’re going to have to get out the Weed Wacker to tackle that jungle.” The look on her face is priceles
s because I think she’s as horrified as I am.

  “It’s the same with all female patients,” the doctor tells us like it’s no big deal.

  No big deal my ass! My leg could seriously be mistaken for Chewbacca’s or Cousin It’s. I have somehow defied the evolution of man and regressed millions of years to become an ape.

  I look up at Olivia and she reads my mind. “I’ll call the salon and tell them to prepare the industrial grade wax.” She’s trying her hardest not to burst into laughter, and honestly, as I look at my leg again, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Even though Cole has been shaving my good leg and arm over the previous weeks, I never gave my broken ones a second thought.

  The doctor goes through another examine of my leg and the weakness is present there as well. He explains I’m not going to be able to walk on it right away unaided and asks about physical therapy arrangements. The rainforest on my leg forgotten for the moment, Olivia jumps and informs him that John has organized my therapist and I’m having my first session straight after this.

  As we’re getting ready to leave, after thanking the doctor, Cole bursts into the exam room. “You didn’t wait for me,” he says.

  “You were gone long enough, Cole,” Olivia says.

  He looks me over assessing me and chuckles when he sees my hairy legs. “Nice leg, baby.”

  My cheeks heat with embarrassment. “Don’t be a smartass, Cole,” Olivia chastises.

  He crouches down in front of me. “Hey, I was just kidding.” He runs his hand along my arm. “How’s your movement in your arm?” he asks.

  Oh, God my arm. I feel the color drain from my face, and obviously, Cole and Olivia see it happen because with sudden panic, they say, “Gracie?”

  I glance from Cole to Olivia. “If my leg’s like this, what the hell does my armpit look like?”