by Mimi Milan
And now he was stuck going to a place designed for pity parties!
A month of Mondays practicing his walk on a temporary limb, and always the same thing. A fall on the face followed by a bunch of sad eyes. That’s why he hadn’t brought the limb with him today. Nope! He wasn’t about to have a repeat like last time. They could just practice with crutches or something, and avoid that tortured gaze the nurses always awarded him. How many more times would he have to see that pathetic expression? Since the day he was flown off the field to the closest medic, there was always one gal who wore a pained expression that stated, “So sad. You were the kind of guy I would have dated once upon a time.”
But what kind of woman would date a thirty-three year old man still living with his mother – especially one who had difficulty with a task as simple as standing up to take the trash out?
He looked down at the mutilated limb hidden within a pair of his favorite jeans – the good ones he had worn when he and the guys hit the bars during leave. Even the pants had been destroyed. Folded up to right below the knee, then stitched closed by his mom to keep them from getting wrapped up in the chair’s foot rest, wheel, or whatever else it attached itself to. That would be the only plus to actually having a prosthetic limb. Maybe he could have something of a normal life… if he could learn to use one. Not that it would ever really be normal without a family of his own, or a job that could support them. Despair began to settle in again.
Man up, McKoy.
Chip’s voice echoed through his thoughts. He had been moaning – to be honest, freaking out – about being hit by that crude homemade bomb while his best friend laid there, bleeding out. Instead of focusing on the fact that he was dying, though, Walker’s last words were for Tanner to pull himself together.
And that’s what you’re gonna’ do. Man up, McKoy.
He gritted his teeth with determination. Grabbing hold of the wheelchair on either side, he propelled himself towards the clinic.
***
Eva placed a bowl of water in front of the dog. She patted the top of his block head when he started slurping from it, then stood back up to face Dr. Nelson.
“Thank you so much for letting me bring him,” she said, “and for letting him stay here in the office. I promise he won’t be any trouble at all.”
Deep creases formed around the doctor’s eyes, betraying his advancing years.
“It’s no problem. Really. It can be difficult for a pet to adjust to a new home. I remember when we brought home our rescue. We left him alone the first day and came home to half a couch cushion missing!”
They both laughed.
“Whoa!” Eva exclaimed. “What kind of dog do you have?”
Dr. Nelson sobered up. “We had a Great Dane.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She hesitated. “If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to him?”
“No, no, no. It wasn’t anything like that,” the doctor quickly explained. “Nothing actually happened to him. It’s just that… well, he went to my ex-wife. She got him in the divorce. That’s all.”
His eyes softened. Then he looked at her in a way she knew all too well. It was the same look Bryan had used when he convinced her to drop out of school. Eva shifted uncomfortably, thankful that the office door had been left open.
“Again, my condolences.”
She debated on what to say next when the receptionist (a young blonde who looked like she was auditioning for the starring role in a made-for-TV movie) lightly knocked despite the door already being opened.
“Dr. Nelson? Mr. McKoy is here.”
The young woman’s look traveled between Eva and the doctor, then back again. Her level gaze bore into Eva like a thunderous warning. The message was clear.
Stay off my turf.
The doctor either missed the look or simply didn’t care. He appeared completely unfazed, addressing Eva instead. “Your first patient is an army veteran. Ready to meet him?”
“Yes!” She began to follow the doctor out, then remembered Hunter. She quickly turned to the dog while the doctor and receptionist left to greet their patient. Bending low, she rubbed the animal behind his ears. “Now you behave while I’m out there. You hear me? My grades are riding on this. No good grades means no job. No job means no money, and that is what we use to buy doggie treats. Comprendes, perrito? Be a good little doggy.”
Hunter yawned in response and stretched out in front of his bowl. Satisfied, Eva left the office, leaving the door partially open since the dog seemed to have anxiety issues whenever she roomed him. She headed down the hall to the open center for therapeutic services. Glancing up, her breath caught when she saw the man in the wheelchair.
“Ah, there she is.” Dr. Nelson motioned for her to join the team of men and women surrounding the patient. “This is the intern I mentioned in our last session – Eva Perez. She’ll be assisting us in your recovery as part of her thesis. Eva, meet Private Tanner McKoy.”
Their hands connected to shake and she immediately noticed that his were as warm as the small flecks of amber in his chocolate brown eyes. The thought startled her and she pulled her hand back. Embarrassment flooded her face and she lamented the fact that she was one of the fair-skinned island girls. Surely a red blush had spread across her cheeks. A slow smile appeared on the man’s face and she knew it to be true.
“It’s nice to meet you, señorita.”
Tanner gave her a short, two fingered salute. She didn’t know if the gesture was meant to be cute or funny, but it certainly put her at ease.
“Likewise, Mr. McKoy.”
Tanner appeared ready to say something more, but Dr. Nelson spoke first.
“Okay. Ready to begin?”
Tanner signaled his consent and the doctor nodded to a man who set down a large bag.
“The prosthetic you were measured for arrived last week.” The prosthetist spoke. He pulled a silicon leg out of the box and held it out for inspection. Tanner nodded, but his expression looked less than pleased.
Dr. Nelson turned to Eva. “Perhaps you would like to help the patient learn how to put it on?”
“Sure.”
She had responded with a happy chirp, but didn’t really feel sure at all. Wasn’t the doctor or the prosthetist supposed to be the ones to ensure the artificial limb was a correct fit? Why was the doctor asking her to do it? Even the rest of the support staff seemed confused.
Maybe it was some kind of test to see how much she actually knew. After all, as a licensed therapist there would be times when she would have to assist a patient with such tasks. She reached out for the flesh colored limb. The prosthetist hesitated before handing it over, along with a pair of thick socks.
“Let me know if you need any help.”
Eva nodded. Kneeling beside the wheelchair, she studied his right leg. The sight of it caught her off guard a little. She had seen plenty of amputated limbs in books and videos, but the real life experience of touching one for the first time made her a little nervous. Did it still hurt? Would she hurt him? How should she go about putting the sock on anyway? She suddenly felt inadequate for the job.
Come on. You’ve got this. No hay problema.
She reached out. Tanner’s hand grabbed hold of hers.
“I can do it on my own.”
The cold look on his face and stern voice made her feel like she had overstepped her bounds… or worse. Maybe he had seen her apprehension.
“Of course.” She meekly stood back up.
She looked over to Dr. Nelson, afraid of what he would think, but he only shrugged. Together, they all waited for Tanner to take out the loose stitching in his pant leg, unfold it, roll it back, and pull the socks over his limb. He held his hand out for the prosthetic.
Eva wavered.
“Like I said,” Tanner spoke slow and deliberate, “I can do it on my own.”
She held out the prosthetic, quelling the urge to respond with a “Yes, sir!” and watched him skillfully attach it to the stump right b
elow his knee.
Dr. Nelson nodded with approval.
“You’ve been watching those videos I recommended. Haven’t you?”
Tanner shrugged. “Not like there’s much else to do.”
Dr. Nelson ignored the sulky remark. “Good. Then maybe you’re ready to try the parallel bars again.”
“Well…”
“Now, now, Mr. McKoy. If you think I’m going to let you slack off from all the progress we’ve already made, then you are seriously mistaken. I intend to uphold you to the same standards as the army. Now step on up to the bars, please.”
Tanner glanced around the room then wheeled his chair forward while the doctor turned to Eva.
“How about you be our cheerleader today?” He whispered. “You’re certainly cute enough to play the role.”
“Uh—” Eva stuttered, unsure of how to respond. She looked around at the rest of the support team, but no one apparently heard the remark. The nurse was helping Tanner stand while the prosthetist checked his leg. She cleared her throat.
“Okay,” she said and walked to the end opposite Tanner. He stepped up onto the platform of the parallel bars.
“How does that feel?” the prosthetist asked.
Tanner grunted as he placed his weight on the leg.
“That’s it,” Eva encouraged, not really knowing who she was trying to convince more. Him… or herself.
She motioned Tanner forward and he glowered at her.
“I can’t do this,” he said.
“Sure you can.” Dr. Nelson spoke, refusing his defeat. “Stop being a ‘Negative Nancy’ and march.”
Eva stifled a gasp at the doctor’s command, but was pretty certain her face belied her feelings. Why was the doctor being so harsh? And why wasn’t anyone else rebuking his remark? She decided to say something, but the sound of Tanner grunting caught her attention. He lifted his injured leg and shakily placed it down again, followed by another step. Then another.
“That’s it!” Eva encouraged, knowing that it took a lot more than just two good feet to walk. Every step the patient took would require underused muscles in his legs, back, and most importantly, his core section. To take even a couple of steps was real progress. She gave him a big grin and motioned for him to continue forward.
Tanner cracked a smile in return. His arms shook as he grasped the bars, but he still pushed forward. The rest of the support team slowly walked beside him, standing opposite on either side of the bars.
One, two…
Eva mentally counted his successful steps, silently cheering the slow but deliberate progression. When he was halfway to the end, she once again applauded the work he had achieved.
“You’re almost there!” she cheered.
Beads of sweat formed above his brow and along the hairline of a shaggy, outgrown crew cut. He lifted his leg. It trembled with exhaustion and he placed it back down.
“Naw.” He shook his head. Breathless, he admitted his fatigue. “I think that’s enough for today.”
Eva looked up at the doctor. He nodded with approval.
“Good job,” he said. “That’s been both your best time and distance.”
“Yeah,” Tanner agreed as the nurse brought his wheelchair around. “Guess there’s a first for everything. Might have had something to do with the pleasant company.”
He threw a smile Eva’s way and she felt herself warm again. Was he flirting with her? Impossible. She tried studying his face, but he had already schooled his expression back to the serious look he originally wore. She pushed the thought away. It hadn’t even been six months since her split from Bryan. Loneliness was obviously taking its toll.
The doctor cleared his throat. He again looked at her in a way that made Eva uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it was painfully obvious that that one was interested. He finally broke eye contact with her and addressed Tanner.
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll take a nice stroll around the block one day.”
Tanner glanced down at his leg, painfully silent.
“I’m sure he will,” Eva chimed in. She awarded the veteran with her brightest smile as they braced him on either side. “And when that day comes, you can go walking with me and Hunter.”
Tanner grabbed hold of the opposite bar and pulled himself closer to his wheelchair.
“I don’t know. I’m funny about people.” He leaned over the chair. “Who is Hunter?”
Eva turned and let out a single, long whistle. The big, furry dog appeared from the office just as Tanner began to sit.
“That’s him. He’s my—”
Eva stopped when she saw how Tanner blanched. Then the unthinkable happen. His hand slipped off the chair’s arm and the thing slid backwards. Tanner fell to the floor with a solid thud. Everyone rushed over to help him up.
“Are you okay?” Eva asked.
“Let me give you a hand.” The doctor reached out and helped the women pull him up while the prosthetist grabbed the rolling chair.
Tanner sat back in the seat.
“My arms are shaky.” He explained as he adjusted himself. When he had settled, he glared at the dog. “What’s that mongrel doing here?”
Eva stiffened.
“He’s a therapy dog in training,” Dr. Nelson explained.
“That’s right,” Eva agreed. “No need to be afraid of him. He’s a giant, it’s true, but looks can be deceiving. Hunter is a big, gentle baby.”
At least, that’s what she thought. Three days wasn’t much time to really know an animal, but she was fairly certain she was right. More importantly, she hoped her explanation eased Tanner’s apparent fears.
She was wrong.
“I ain’t working with no mutt,” he spat out. “And I ain’t working in no clinic that has one in it!”
Dr. Nelson crossed his arms.
“Listen, private—”
“We’re done here.” Tanner grabbed hold of the wheels to turn his chair around. He rolled towards the exit, hit the button to the automatic door, then wheeled out into the hallway.
Eva rushed out to speak with him.
“Mr. McKoy? If I could just have a word with you—”
“Permission NOT granted,” Tanner growled.
He rolled away, leaving her to stand alone in the hall with her thoughts.
All that energy wasted on being stubborn. How much could he accomplish if he spent the same amount trying to walk again?
Eva confidently strolled towards the front doors. Ever since her break-up, she had decided she would be a new woman – the kind that didn’t back down from a challenge. And this was a challenge she would face head on.
When it came to determination, Tanner McKoy had just met his match!
Chapter Four
Which was worse – that bloody dog or his beautiful owner?
Tanner fumed as he rolled through the parking lot, unsure what exactly he was mad about. Sure, he was annoyed with the suggestion of that ugly mutt assisting in his therapy. He wouldn’t walk with that dumb dog even if his life depended on it! How could she expect him to?
She.
That was another problem.
Eva Perez.
It was obvious that she was Latina of some sorts, but he couldn’t figure out what kind. Her English was slightly accented, but she had a rather fair complexion. Weren’t Latinos supposed to be bronze skinned, golden gods? Oh, but she was golden. That hair of hers? Long, luxurious locks of rich hazelnut with matching almond shaped eyes he could get lost in.
Not to mention the curves. Good night! The girl had curves that could knock a man out. Add that scent she was wearing… What had that been? He couldn’t be sure, but it made him think of the almond butter cookies his mother baked every Christmas. Definitely the whole package – the kind he wouldn’t mind unwrapping on an early winter morning!
Tanner shook the image from his mind as he neared his mother’s red minivan. Why was he torturing himself, daydreaming about a woman he had just met? One he could never have?
Tanner stopped and wheeled around to face the lovely vision that had so effectively cheered him on earlier, jogging across the parking lot.
“Mr. McKoy?” A slight pant made her accent more pronounced. “I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you don’t like dogs. I would’ve left Hunter behind had I known otherwise.”
Not like dogs? Didn’t she know what had happened to him?
He stared at those dark eyes, soft and pleading. How could he hold a grudge against her when she was looking at him that way?
“Forget it.” Tanner waved away the apology and a perfect grin of pearly whites spread across her face.
Oh, yeah. He could definitely spend his days looking at her. And with that dimple gracing her left cheek? He wondered what it would be like to gently run the tips of his fingers across it.
She cleared her throat and he realized that he had been staring. He forced a frown and gave her a curt nod.
“Have a good day.”
He pounded on the side of the van and the door automatically slid open. A metal ramp began to lower.
“Oh… um… thank you,” Eva stammered. “I was wondering, though, if you would maybe still co—”
“I said ‘have a good day.’” Tanner frowned, hoping she would get the message that the conversation was finished and leave. She just stood there, watching him with quiet resolve. He shook his head with disbelief, then rolled his chair up the ramp and into the van.
“Hey, sugar.”
His mother addressed him in her sweet Southern drawl, signature of a lady who originally hailed from the Louisiana bayou.
Tanner rolled his chair into position.
“Let’s go.”
His mother pressed the button to retract the ramp.
“Well, now. Is that how you greet your mama?”
“No, ma’am.”
It didn’t matter how old he was. Thirteen or thirty-three, his mother had always demanded respect – and rightfully so. After his father had uprooted them from the bayou for a job in the backwaters of North Carolina, he ran off with another woman for some new adventure in yet another state. God only knows whatever became of him, because Tanner never saw or heard from the man again. His mother really stepped up to the plate, though. She raised him and his sister on her own, playing the roles of both mom and dad while holding down two jobs just so they could have the same opportunities as everyone else. Then she used her artistic talent to start her own business. Respect was the least the woman deserved.
