by CJ Murphy
Val leaned forward to kiss her again. “Yes, love.”
Laurel finished everything and joined Val by the laptop at her bed. They found the cord Daren had given Val and logged onto The Bodyshop’s website, entering the secure portal. They uploaded the data from the microprocessors in her prosthesis and were surprised as a video feature popped up with Daren’s face. “Hey, Daren.”
“Hey yourself, Val. Hi Laurel, everything good?
“Good to see you. I’m trying to make her behave. I’ve got a tough job.”
Daren laughed, shaking his head. “No doubt about that. How’d the surgery go on the shoulder?”
Val looked thoughtfully at her friend. “Good. There was a lot more damage than expected. She thinks with therapy, I’ll get full function back. How’s the data look?”
“Looks like you have a pressure point down near the bottom. I’m going to make a slight adjustment. Try it today and we’ll reevaluate. Other than that, it looks spot on. How’s it feel?”
Val was pleased with how comfortable the new leg was and wanted to tell the world about it. “Really good. Maybe we should do some follow up articles on, you guys. I know the Marine News would carry it, as would Stars and Stripes. Maybe we could talk to some of the vets.”
Daren nodded. “Get healed up first. You’ve got plenty on your plate, and we’re about maxed out on how much work we can handle. We’re considering opening up a branch office to help cover the need.”
Laurel ran a hand through Val’s thick hair. “That’s fantastic, Daren. Give our love to Anya and Charley. I’ve got to get this one to therapy.”
“Be a good girl, Val. Looks like your care is well in hand. Hugs to you both. I’ve got a dozen more of these to go. I just wanted to pop in and see how you were doing. Watch for red spots on your skin. They’re pretty good indicators we need to adjust.”
“Will do. Over and out.” Val laughed and Daren signed off. “I need to get a new laptop, have my camera examined, and purchase some new lenses. The insurance company for the car that hit me basically said they would pay for replacements. I haven’t talked to them about Maggie May. They may total it, but they aren’t getting her. I’ll take a settlement on it and fix her. She will ride again and so will I,” Val said, her confidence soaring.
“You’ll have plenty of time. Now let’s get on the road.” Laurel kissed her and pulled her up into her arms.
Tucked into Laurel’s embrace, Val sighed. No place I’d rather be.
Twenty minutes later, they sat in the waiting room of Backbone Mountain Physical Therapy. Val needed Laurel to fill out most of her paperwork as she was right handed, but she didn’t mind and looked around the waiting area instead. A young man sat with them, his young son on the floor between his feet coloring. Val watched the small dark-haired boy, his small hand clasping the bright red crayon. Her pulse began to race. She licked her lips and reached for her lip balm, putting on layer after layer. She began to become uncomfortably warm and pulled at her shirt. She could smell the explosives. Her chest began to heave. She felt a hand in hers and heard a far-off voice in the back of her mind.
“Val, you’re in no danger. You’re here with me, not in Iraq. Lift your right index finger up if you can hear me.”
Val struggled to orient herself, the voice pulling her away from the darkness. Her lips felt so dry, and sweat rolled down her face.
“Val, you’re at the physical therapist’s office. You’re in no danger, and I’m right here with you. Lift your right index finger.”
The room came back into focus and the little boy held up the picture for his dad to see. Val felt Laurel’s hand in hers, and she lifted her right index finger.
“Tell me who you are, where you were born, and why we’re here.”
“Valkyrie Magnusson. I was born in Seattle, Washington. We’re at the physical therapist’s office in West Virginia, and you’re the love of my life, Laurel Anastasia Stemple.” Val turned her head to Laurel, grateful for her lover’s intuitiveness to her distress. Laurel was like the sunrise that broke the darkness of the night, flooding everything around it with warmth and light. Right now, Val could see the worry that shadowed her eyes and rubbed her thumb in those increasing frown lines between her eyes. She tilted her head. “I’m okay, promise.” She watched Laurel visibly calm and slow her breathing.
“I’m going to get you something to drink. Sit still.” Laurel got up and went out to the vending machine, returning with a bottle of orange juice.
Val accepted it and drank it down. She hadn’t even realized how parched she was. The sharp tang tasted good. “Thanks. I don’t know what happened.”
“I think it was seeing the little boy and the crayon. You came out of it quickly,” Laurel told her. “I’m still worried. Your color still isn’t right.”
Val closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She didn’t want Laurel to worry about her so much. The juice that had tasted good going down now turned to acid in her stomach.
Laurel’s eyes grew soft and her face relaxed. “Love, there isn’t anything to be sorry for. We’ll deal with this together. You have a family who loves you, and there’s nothing we won’t do for you.”
Val let all those words sink in. Family. It had never been a word to bring her comfort. Thinking of her father never brought a single kind word to her mind. Her mother, on the other hand, seemed to be trying. Not since her grandmother had she really thought about family and home. Laurel and Ree offered her a warm, loving home with people who weren’t afraid to show their deep affection for each other.
A few minutes later, a tall athletic woman with a million dollar smile stepped through the waiting room door. “Hi, Laurel, this must be Val. I’m Fallon.”
Val waved. “Val Magnusson. Nice to meet you.”
“Come on back. Laurel’s welcome to come with you if you want,” Fallon said.
Val took Laurel’s hand. “Can’t imagine doing this without her.”
They followed Fallon back to a treatment room. Val was still a little shaky from her flashback, but the feeling of Laurel’s hand in hers helped her believe everything was possible.
Fallon read over Cat’s surgical report and ran Val through a few range-of-motion tests. “This will need time to really heal before we can do much in the way of serious physical therapy. I’m sure they told you not to move your arm away from your body. Keep it protected in the sling. No driving for at least a week. We’ll start you out with some cold therapy to decrease the swelling and then small exercises. If you work with me, I believe it will be fully functional after we’re done.”
Laurel spoke up. “Anything we can do at home?”
Val watched her lover with pride. She’s taking the bull by the horns that’s for sure. It had never been her way to let anyone else do things for her, but watching Laurel take care of her made her heart swell with deep affection. The therapy didn’t worry her. She’d come through worse. Nothing could be as difficult as learning to walk without her natural leg. This would be a piece of cake.
Fallon made some notes. “A few small exercises and some cryotherapy. I’ll show you what to do with a detailed list for you to follow. If we can, we’ll meet twice a week.”
“Laurel, will you be able to bring me?” Val asked, knowing she had the store to tend to.
Laurel squeezed Val’s knee. “Won’t be a problem. We’ll make it happen.”
Fallon rubbed her hands together. “Ok, let’s do some measurements and an ultrasound treatment.”
Val mentally prepared herself for the road ahead of her that would lead to being able to hold and touch Laurel with both arms, pain free. She looked at Laurel and reached for her hand. “Bring it on.”
***
After the therapy session, they drove back to Cool Springs. Val settled in one of the rockers with her arm propped up on a pillow.
Laurel adjusted it. “You okay here?”
Val smiled at the adjustment, thinking about the care with which Laurel did everything. “Yeah,�
�� Val replied. “Do you have a laptop I could work off of to order a few things?”
Laurel ran her hand up and down Val’s forearm. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
Laurel weaved her way through customers who greeted her like a long-lost friend. She welcomed them all and checked on their needs. Val watched her lover, fully in awe of the woman she’d fallen head over heels for.
Wunder stopped by, handing her a glass of chocolate milk. “How’s your arm?”
“It’s on the mend, Wunder. Had a chance to go see the bike yet?” Val was confident of Wunder’s ability to fix Maggie May. She couldn’t wait until she had two arms to be able to help. She knew how to tear both the Indian’s engine and fuel system down and put both back together.
“I stopped over on my way home the other day. It’ll take some time, but don’t worry. I ain’t met a motor or a machine yet I can’t get running.” He shuffled his feet a bit, and then that peculiar look came over his face. “I was wondering, why is it that superheroes wear their underwear on the outside of their clothes?”
Val laughed and shook her head. “Beats me, Wunder, beats me.”
Laurel came back with a small collapsible table and a laptop computer. She set it up in front of Val. “If you get tired, I can always run you to the house. I’ve got some accounting I need to do, and then the lunch crowd will invade.”
Laurel headed back to the office area, while Val pulled up various sites to purchase a new laptop and some other equipment. She placed her order, pulled her phone from the breast pocket of her shirt, and dialed the office in Camarillo, California. She shifted in her seat. I hope Jenny’s in.
“Rider Magazine, how may I direct your call?”
She smiled hearing the distinct California accent. “Hi, Angie, it’s Val.”
“Val! How are you? We’ve all been so worried about you.” Angie covered the main desk at the home office.
“Had the shoulder repaired a few days ago, so I’m pretty sore, but I’m on the mend. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a good while before I’m back up on two wheels.”
“God, Val, we’re all so sorry. You’d think all those public service announcements we do about watching for bikes, these accidents would go down. Anyway, I’m glad to hear you’re up and around. Who’d you want to talk to? Mark and Greg are out. How about Jenny?”
“Jenny was exactly who I was looking for. Thanks, Angie.”
A few seconds of southern rock wait music and Jenny’s voice came on the line. “Val, how are you?” Jenny Smith was the current managing editor of Rider Magazine and a good friend of Val’s.
“Hey, Jenny, slowly on the mend. Stopped in today to set up physical therapy sessions.”
“Sounds like you’re going to be sidelined for a while.”
“Yes and no. I won’t be able to ride until this shoulder is healed. I’ve got an idea, and I need a favor. Val tapped her fingers against her thigh as she waited for Jenny’s response.
“Hit me.”
“I’m staying with Laurel at Cool Springs. You remember that quirky little tourist trap I’ve written about?”
“Sure, it always gets great feedback from our readers.”
Val knew Jenny was a great sounding board. More than once they’d worked through an idea so that both parties came away with a good understanding of the final product expectation. “I’d like to do a series of articles about the store, the area attractions, and the off the beaten path rides. A little more in depth than normal since I won’t be leaving this area for a good while.” Val heard Jenny crack the gum she was chewing. It was a habit she had come to expect any time Jenny was contemplating something.
“I think we could make that work. You sure you’re feeling up to that?”
“I think so. This area has all kinds of attractions like Blackwater Falls, Seneca Rocks, and Smoke Hole Caverns. I think it would shine a light on the area and expose our readers to a few things they might not see on a ride through on the main roads.”
“I think it has great potential. The visuals should be fantastic.”
Val went on to ask for her spare camera to be shipped and could hear the scratch of Jenny’s pencil on paper.
Jenny sighed. “I was afraid you were going to tell me you were taking a complete break. You’re our most popular contributor. We need to do an update on your accident so the readers know what’s going on.”
A warm feeling of appreciation washed over Val. “I thought of that, too. I’ll work on it. Tell the boys I’m sorry I missed them.”
Jenny snorted. “They’re out testing the new sport bikes. I drew the short straw.”
“Well then I’m happy to brighten your day with my call.”
“Oh yeah, this was so much better than taking the new Ducati a few laps around Ventura.” Jenny’s sarcasm was legendary.
“Wow, you really did draw the short straw. Thanks again, Jenny.”
“Take care, Val. Give us a call every once in a while. I’d rather hear your voice instead of just reading an email or text.”
“You got it.”
Now that her backup camera equipment would be shipped to her, Val could concentrate on getting her primary in for repair. She sent an email to the camera company, requesting a packaging set she could put her damaged items into and mail back. She was grateful most of her data was stored in the cloud, and she made arrangements to extract the rest of the information from her trashed external hard drive. Her new computer would be mailed to Ree and Laurel’s, arriving in a few days. She’d need to have Laurel take her vehicle shopping at a later date.
The next item on her to do list, was to call her attorney who was dealing with the insurance issues from the accident. Smiling, she decided to do something nice for Laurel and Ree instead. There was a beautiful deck off the back of the house with a worn set of deck furniture that could use an update. She looked through several sets and found one that seemed to match the style of the house. She’d more than likely take an ass chewing for this one but still she clicked the purchase button. Worth it.
Laurel walked toward Val carrying a bowl of Frito pie. The dish involved corn chips, chili, melted nacho cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. She also carried a large glass of chocolate milk. Sitting it all down on a small table next to Val, she took the laptop and sat it off to the side. “You need to eat something and take a pill. I tried to come up with something you could eat one handed.”
“Thanks. I haven’t had this in a long time. You actually introduced me to this delicacy.” Val grinned as she dug her fork into the lunch, recalling the first time she’d tried this meal years ago. She loved the way the corn chips crunched and blended with the sour cream. Laurel left her to her meal, pulled away by customers.
A few minutes later, Ree came out and pulled up a rocker, wiping her hands on her ever-present white canvas apron. “How ya feeling, Viking?”
“A little tired and glad to be back here. After I get the use of both of my arms back, I want to help out however I can. I love her. That goes for you too.”
Ree had a big smile on her face. “Ya can help out by keeping my granddaughter happy. Don’t have to tell me what I already know. I like seeing her smile. I don’t want ya doing more than you’re ready for. Ya gotta take time to heal up right or it’s going to keep poking its ugly head up.”
Shoveling another bite of Frito pie in her mouth, Val nodded. After taking a few minutes to chew, she looked at Ree. “I promise, Ree, I’m going to do everything in my power to keep that smile on her face.”
Ree grew solemn. “She’s got fears she hasn’t told ya about yet, I’m sure of it. The fear about what might come in the future holds her back.” Her tone grew stern. “You’re the first person she’s let in this far. I need ya to understand what that means.”
This wasn’t something that was easy for Ree to talk about, and the fact she was taking the time to enlighten Val didn’t go unnoted. Ree was a woman who’d lived a long time and suffered more heartache than most. The loss of h
er husband at an early age, both of her daughters passing before her, and the concern for her granddaughter, shaped Ree’s life. She didn’t take anything for granted and made sure those around her didn’t either. She was allowing Val into her own personal demons, and Val felt unbelievably privileged. “Ree, I won’t let her push me away. I’ve spent a lifetime running until I pulled Maggie May into your parking lot almost years ago. I love her in a way I didn’t know was possible. I haven’t figured out how to make everything work yet. Rest assured, I plan to be by her side if she’ll have me. If she tries to push me away to protect me, I’ll fight for her.”
“I’ll hold ya to that, Viking.” Ree sat back in her rocker and closed her eyes.
Val finished her lunch while Ree swayed in the well-used wood rocker, her feet gently lifting and falling in a rhythmic pace as her hands rested on the smooth arms. Val noticed the laugh lines that creased the edges of her eyes and the corners of her mouth. She loved Ree and would hold the trust Ree put in her as one of her most treasured possessions. She got up to carry her dish to the kitchen and found Laurel stirring a large pot of hot dog chili. “Anything I can do to help?”
Laurel gave her a slow smoldering look. “Not a thing, but thanks for the eye candy.”
Val raised an eyebrow and pulled her shoulders back, increasing the stretch of the t-shirt across her broad chest. “Glad to be of assistance. I’m going to grab a bottle of water. I suddenly feel a bit warm.”
“Get out of here before I mess up an entire batch of chili.” Laurel walked over and gave Val a kiss, pointing her out of the kitchen.
“I can see you’re impervious to my charms today.”
Now it was Laurel’s turn to laugh. “Shows how much you know, Viking. All I’ll say is, if you don’t get out of here, I’m likely to take you into that back office and do unspeakable things to you.”
“Hmm, then I’m not sure I want to leave.”
“Go, you sweet talker.”
Val winked and walked back through the swinging doors.
