by Karin Baine
‘I’m one hundred per cent behind you, Georgiana. You know that.’ Ed was perched on the edge of his bed now.
‘All I’m doing is talking to a little girl. One step at a time. Excuse the pun.’ She was laughing at herself. Something else new and positive. Things Ed didn’t want to be responsible for ruining.
‘Thank you for agreeing to speak to Hannah. I know how much it took for you to agree to do that. I’ll arrange a time with her parents and get back to you. Anything after that is totally in your hands, Georgiana.’
She wasn’t someone who could be rushed into things. She moved at her own pace and made her own decisions.
Ed was hoping the clinic and he would be a part of any of her future plans.
* * *
Meeting a member of the public, no matter how young, brought all sorts of dilemmas for Georgiana. First of all, she’d had to decide if she wanted to make it an official engagement. Which would have entailed informing security, staff and making special arrangements at the clinic.
She’d gone for option B instead. The sneaking-out method.
There had also been the question of what to wear. It wasn’t a diamonds and pearls event where she’d be expected to wear haute couture. No, this was worse. In order to get Hannah to relate to her she had to go with something to show off her prosthetic leg.
It was the thought of Ethan and the effusive thanks they’d received from his parents for helping that sealed her decision. She’d donned her usual casual gym kit that she was comfortable in.
Now she was waiting in Ed’s office to be introduced to Hannah and her parents. As she paced the floor, her pulse was doing the samba, her skin was clammy and she wasn’t altogether steady on her feet. Anyone would think she’d just run a marathon.
To keep herself busy she began to tidy the mess that was supposed to be Ed’s desk. It was a curious insight into the man who’d put all this into motion. The dirty coffee cups lying around suggested someone too busy to be bothered with a trivial thing such as washing up at work.
What struck her most was the lack of personal touches in his workspace. There were no photos of family or items from home she’d expect to have crept into an environment where he spent most of his time.
She no longer thought of Ed as some beach bum who drifted through life. He was devoted to his job and patients if Hannah was any indication. With no obvious signs of his personal life, she wondered if this was because of his dedication to his career or something else. He knew a lot about her and she realised she wanted to find out more about Mr Lawrence beyond the job.
She heard voices in the corridor outside, saw the door handle move and her heart leapt into her throat. This wasn’t a public event and as far as she knew there were no photographers around to capture the moment but she was just as anxious as though she were on the international stage.
Georgiana stood by the window, creating a space between her and the people about to walk into the room.
‘There’s someone I’d like you to meet, Hannah.’ Ed’s voice filtered in first.
Georgiana took a deep breath.
Four more faces entered the room. One familiar and smiling, a little suspicious one and two open-mouthed and staring.
She swallowed down the anxiety threatening to choke her and moved forward with her hand outstretched. ‘Hi, I’m Georgiana.’
The woman with the small child clinging to her like a koala was completely still, her gaze fixed on Georgiana.
Ed stepped forward to break the awkward moment of recognition. ‘Georgiana, this is Hannah and her parents, Phil and Kate Howell.’
It was Phil who finally shook her hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘But you’re, you’re—’ Kate’s reaction to meeting a member of the royal family wasn’t unusual but this was the first time Georgiana had faced it since her time in the army. She wasn’t used to it any more.
Ed discreetly closed the door behind the family. ‘Hannah, Georgiana is a princess and she has a poorly leg just like you.’
They’d discussed introductions before the family arrived and she’d agreed that for once her royal status might prove helpful. By all accounts Hannah was obsessed with princesses and happy-ever-afters. Georgiana knew something about one of those things at least.
Although the little girl didn’t seem convinced, her eyes narrowed and mouth pouting. ‘She doesn’t look like a princess.’
The words, though they’d come from a child, still struck her where it hurt most. Out of the mouths of babes, the truth was inescapable. Georgiana was a freak.
‘Well, the princess is here to exercise. She wears her ball gowns and tiaras at home in the palace.’ Ed was grinning at her and that urge to run and hide gradually died away.
Of course, she didn’t look like a princess to a four-year-old who believed in fairy tales. In Hannah’s head Georgiana should have long thick glossy hair, a perfect body and always be ready to accompany a handsome prince to a ball at the chime of the bells. She was the anti-princess. Ed, however, would’ve been perfect cast in the handsome prince role.
‘Sorry, Hannah. This is how I am most days but I promise I do live in a palace.’ It seemed absurd to be bragging about such a thing when she’d spent most of her life resenting it but, for once, this wasn’t about her. When someone was in need, she would work with whatever she had in her kit to make them better. In this situation her heritage might prove more effective than a first-aid pack.
Hannah looked to her mum for guidance. ‘Is she really a princess?’
Mrs Howell nodded. ‘She really is.’ Then she turned and whispered to Ed, ‘Should we curtsey or something?’
‘That’s really not necessary. I’m just here to have a chat with Hannah. I hear you had a big operation the same as mine.’ She saw the girl staring at her prosthetic and decided to bite the bullet. Pulling a chair over, she sat down and proceeded to remove her false leg.
Hannah’s eyes widened as she removed the protective sock off the end of her stump. Georgiana couldn’t bring herself to glance at Ed even though he’d seen her at her most vulnerable. Instead, she addressed the parents, who wouldn’t have been aware of the circumstances leading to this.
‘I’d appreciate it if you could keep this private. I’m still coming to terms with the injuries I sustained during my time in service and I’d prefer not to have the press hounding me during my recovery.’
‘Of course.’
‘We read about you joining the army but had no idea you’d been involved in active duty. Much less injured. I’m so sorry.’
It was daft but Mr and Mrs Howell’s understanding and compassion made her well up. Usually any display of sympathy angered her, making her feel as though she was a figure to be pitied. Here, though, these people understood the implications and difficulties since they were going through the same with their daughter. They were the first civilians she’d shared this with and it was a hugely significant step for her. One that she wouldn’t have taken without a push from Ed.
Seeing their honest, thoughtful reaction, she had a lot to thank him for. Perhaps her ‘coming out’ wouldn’t be as bad as she’d feared.
‘Why don’t you take a seat?’ Ed urged them forward and it was something of a relief to all be on the same level with no distinction between abilities or class.
Hannah was squirming in her mother’s arms and making unhappy noises until she was set down on the floor. She shuffled on her bottom across the carpet towards Georgiana. Without saying a word she looked at her own stump, then at Georgiana’s, comparing the two. She could obviously see the similarities despite the difference in size.
When Hannah reached out to touch her stump it was all she could do not to leap into the air. It didn’t hurt, not any more, but that intimate recognition of how her body had changed remained a sore point.
She held her breath as the tiny hand exp
lored the scarred tissue for what seemed an eternity.
‘Hannah, you should have asked for permission first. I’m so sorry, Miss Ashley.’ The girl’s mother went to pull her back but Georgiana put a hand up to stop her.
‘It’s fine. She’s curious, that’s all.’ There was no judgement being made, only a childish fascination she shouldn’t take offence at.
Suddenly the little girl took hold of her hand and tugged it. Georgiana eased herself out of the chair so she could sit on the floor with her, their legs stretched out almost mirroring each other’s.
Still holding Georgiana’s hand, she placed it on her little stump where her leg used to be. The gesture took her by surprise. It was the connection everyone had been waiting for. A reminder that she wasn’t alone. There were so many like her and Hannah, adults and children who needed support.
‘Does it hurt?’ she asked, when the scars and operation Georgiana had endured seemed too much for someone so young, so small, to have to deal with.
Hannah shook her head.
‘You’re not much of a talker, huh?’ Georgiana didn’t blame her for being uncooperative on so many different levels when so many strangers had come into her life uninvited recently. It was her way of keeping some control. The same reason Georgiana was clinging to her privacy.
‘Only until she gets to know you, then she never shuts up.’ Her father laughed and Hannah stuck out her tongue at him.
‘Would you like to see my new leg?’ Georgiana used her interest to their advantage and handed her prosthetic to Hannah for inspection. There was no doubt this was surreal, especially with an audience, to be waving about the leg she’d been trying so hard to hide.
Hannah had trouble lifting it off the ground and dragged it over to the end of her stump where it dwarfed her.
‘This one’s too big for you but I’ll show you how it works.’ She was sure to have seen videos and leaflets but perhaps it was different when confronted with the real thing. Hannah was playing with her trainer-clad foot, making it comically hop lopsided across the floor.
‘We have some more your size, Hannah, if you want to see?’ Ed had spotted the ideal opportunity to introduce her to the idea of prosthetics and fetched several samples for her to see.
‘Hey! I never got to choose a colour.’ Georgiana feigned outrage as the youngster was handed a hot-pink prosthetic. One surely fit for a princess or a lover of fairy tales.
‘You should’ve come to me earlier,’ Ed joked, but she’d been thinking the same thing herself. In the space of a few days in his company she was swimming again, treating medical emergencies and meeting people. If only she’d met him sooner her recovery might have been further on than it was currently. He pushed her to the limit without the sort of interference and control she’d feared. Whatever happened from here, she had a lot to thank him for.
* * *
This had been such a risk for Ed to take but worth it, judging by the smiles on everyone’s faces. Hannah was full of wonder, handling and working out how the prosthetic moved. Her parents were sitting back, letting her explore without interference but seeming relieved. Then there was Georgiana. He hadn’t seen her shine as brightly as she was now. Her eyes welling up with happy tears showing how much this meant to her too.
Hannah was responding to her, opening up to the idea of a prosthetic, and that could only bring positive news regarding her future. Georgiana was blossoming right alongside her. He was watching her interact, no longer self-conscious, and it was glorious.
‘What’s this funny one?’ Hannah dumped one of the prosthetics in his lap, demanding his attention.
‘This one is for running. It’s called a blade. Do you see how it’s curved at the bottom? It’s springy too.’ He bent down to demonstrate it, much to Hannah’s amusement.
‘There are all types of ones you can get and having one of these means you can walk on two legs again. Wouldn’t you like to do that, Hannah?’ Georgiana shifted back up into her seat and proceeded to attach her prosthesis.
Hannah was watching her every move with rapt fascination as her princess stood at full height. Mrs Howell gave a sob. This was such a milestone for them even Ed found himself getting choked up.
‘I can make an appointment for you to get fitted for one of your own, Hannah.’ He’d make sure to get her in as soon as possible before she changed her mind.
‘Since you’re here, we thought you could go to the pool with us. I can show you how to swim. Would you like that?’ Georgiana had put the idea to Ed and, in turn, he’d suggested it to the Howells. Going to the pool would be a huge step for both her and the little girl, but they hoped in seeing her Hannah would recognise it was possible to still have fun with only one leg.
After considering the proposal Hannah solemnly nodded her head and everyone else in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.
* * *
‘Why don’t we sit on the edge of the pool? That’s okay, isn’t it, Hannah?’ Georgiana was perched poolside, letting her leg dangle in the water.
Apart from the lifeguard, they were the only people in the pool area, which Ed knew she’d appreciate. After their talk about her insecurities it was a move in the right direction for her to bare herself to these strangers. Even if she was wearing a modest one-piece.
Ed and Mr and Mrs Howell sat down too and Hannah watched them with sceptical interest from her mother’s arms.
‘Do you want to sit next to me, Hannah?’ Georgiana patted the space between her and Ed. After apparently deciding it wasn’t a trick, Hannah clambered off her mother and scooted over beside Georgiana. Ed noted she was careful not to go anywhere near the water as she settled in between them.
Georgiana splashed her foot in the pool and Ed did the same.
‘Do you ever have water fights, Hannah?’ She playfully scooped some water over him, careful not to hit Hannah and upset her.
‘Oh, she loves having water-pistol fights with her daddy. Don’t you, Han?’ Now her mother seemed to get the gist that they were trying to make her comfortable around water and started splashing her feet too.
This time Hannah nodded enthusiastically and shuffled closer to the edge. It wasn’t some sort of phobia she had, at least.
Ed flicked some water back and showered Georgiana.
‘Hey!’ she shouted with good humour and retaliated.
Ed shook the drops out of his hair and scooped the water with his hand to soak everyone this time. To his delight Hannah was giggling at the exploits of the adults. It wasn’t long before the poolside was a riot of squeals and splashes with little Hannah in the middle of it all. She was kicking her good leg in the pool, roaring with laughter every time she managed to splash someone.
They didn’t push her too far out of her comfort zone, but he and Georgiana did compete in another race. This time without incident and with a cheering squad. It was their way of showing Hannah there was nothing to fear when Georgiana was just as able to swim as he was, even with only one good leg.
Step one was complete. Ed was willing to do whatever it took to get Hannah’s hydrotherapy started. Recovery here wasn’t a series of tick boxes. It took as long as necessary. With Georgiana’s input he was sure Hannah would be back on her feet when she was ready.
* * *
‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay on in the pool for a while,’ Georgiana said as the Howells got ready to leave.
‘Not at all. We’ve got an appointment with the physiotherapist next. Perhaps we’ll see you later.’ Hannah’s father stopped her from feeling too bad about not seeing them off because she wanted to enjoy some more pool time.
‘Call by my office before you go.’ It seemed Ed wasn’t going to get out either as he waved the family off from the pool.
‘You don’t have to stay on my account. I promise not to drown or break anything if you have work to get back to.’ It was bad enou
gh she monopolised his time at night without doing it during office hours too. She simply wanted some swim time to chill out after her earlier nerves about meeting Hannah and her family.
‘It’s not always about you, Princess. I have to exercise or I don’t get to eat my junk food. For the record, our private session will be coming to an end and I don’t know how much longer we’ll have the place to ourselves. There will be other patients booked in to use the pool for the rest of the afternoon. You know, if you’re not comfortable with anyone else seeing you here.’ With that he pushed away to do a non-stop lap of the pool.
‘It’s fine. I’ve got over that hurdle now.’ What difference was it going to make now if she was joined by other people who were likely more concerned with their own recovery?
She’d barely got the words out of her mouth when they were joined by one of the therapists and her patient. Their privacy was over as the rest of the clinic were granted use of the facility too. Georgiana carried on with her swim as the man was lowered into the pool on the hoist, knowing he’d be every bit as self-conscious as she was, thinking someone might be watching. She did, however, nod an acknowledgement to his anxious family member looking on.
When she’d been having her hydrotherapy sessions she’d done them alone. There were some who had family and friends to support them, but there were plenty of others like her who’d chosen to go through their recovery on their own. Looking back, she could see how much harder that had made things for her mentally. That had been the beginning of her pushing everyone away, rejecting any support. Her time here at Ed’s clinic had shown her the benefits of having someone in your corner, shouting their encouragement and providing a sounding board for those struggling with their mobility.
The woman was walking up and down the length of the pool urging on who Georgiana assumed was her husband. Ed had been the one doing that for her lately. Perhaps if she’d had someone like him from the moment she’d been injured she might have found it easier to deal with the events. As much as she hated what her body had gone through, if it hadn’t been for that bomb she would never have met Ed and she was grateful every day that he’d come into her life.
