Page 72 of Skipping Stones
MJ packed up Linney’s flat and organized a consignment shop to take most of the hard furnishings and gave the linens and cushions that she hadn’t wanted for herself to a charity shop. MJ had turned down the job in Toronto in the end—for now, she said—and told them to think about her again in a few years.
Linney had one last phone call with Mac, when she’d handed in her notice. “You go knock ’em dead back home,” said Mac gruffly. “Any news shop would be glad to have you.” Linney knew he would write her a glowing recommendation, but she also knew she wasn’t ready to go back to a newsroom. Not now. Maybe never.
28
As nice as the rehab facility was, Linney couldn’t wait to be in her own bed at the lake. It was early September when days were still hot, but nighttime temperatures were perfect for sleeping with the windows wide open. She was ready. Ilse had worked her hard, and it showed. Linney was comfortable with just her cane, her ribs were healed, and she was mentally and physically strong. Finally, her team agreed she could go home. Jake travelled to Germany to get her, while Anna and Kirsten readied the house at the lake.
When Jake arrived, Linney was walking steadily—if slowly—down the corridor, using her cane. She saw him coming and waved. He put down his bag and walked toward her. She saw tears in his eyes and rolled her own. She was tired of this reaction from people.
“Hey you,” he said tenderly, gathering her into a big brotherly hug. He pushed back his emotions and finally released her.
“Jake, I’m fine,” she said. “Not one hundred percent yet, but I’m good. Honestly.” The hug had hardly bothered her ribs at all. Jake only believed his sister after he’d had a long talk with her doctors, who’d insisted on her having a travel companion.
The trip home was uneventful. Jake rolled their carry-on bags through the airport and Linney remembered to tell the security people that she had a metal plate and screws in her hip and showed her documentation when she set off the security alarm. Jake walked slowly beside her as she leaned on her cane through the departure hall. Linney didn’t remember the Frankfurt airport being quite so big. Obstinate, as usual, she refused a wheelchair or a ride on the in-terminal shuttle service. “I’m not an invalid,” she insisted, as the driver pulled away, beeping the horn to get other passengers to move. But she had to admit that she was tired when they finally got to the gate.
They’d splurged on business class tickets so Linney could lie down properly, but she was restless, dozing fitfully through the flight. There was no luggage to collect in Toronto, so they walked straight from the airplane through the airport. Just like Frankfurt, it seemed to have doubled in length since Linney had last flown home and her steps were slow as she limped through customs. She was visibly relieved when they finally made it to the exit. Jake had phoned his wife when they landed, and she was waiting with their big SUV at the curb, watching for them.
“Welcome home,” Rachael said when they reached her. She gave Linney a gentle hug and took her bag, putting it in the trunk beside Jake’s. “Linney, do you need help getting into the car?”
“I can do it, Rachael. Honestly.” But once she was in, and Jake closed the door, Linney closed her eyes. She was exhausted and frustrated by her limitations.
Jake jumped in the back of the car and Rachael pulled gently into traffic. She looked at her passenger. “Are you sure you won’t stay for more than one night? Just until you’re feeling stronger?”
Linney opened her eyes and shook her head. “Thank you, but I just want to go home.”
* * *
The next morning, Linney was still tired, but there was some colour back in her face. Rachael quietly dished up eggs and sausages for the family. A hearty breakfast, Linney supposed, designed to build back her strength.
“Linney, can you pass the pepper, please?” Jake asked her.
“Sure,” she said, reaching out for the pepper mill. She missed it by several inches. Seeing the shocked look on the kids’ faces, she explained, as she concentrated hard to pick it up and passed it to her brother. “My brain isn’t compensating yet for the fact that I only have one working eye. Depth perception is hard for me. So is peripheral vision.” She continued for Rachael’s sake. “Jake will tell you I keep bumping into things on my right side. It will get better. But it will take a bit more time.”
Rachael smiled weakly.
Linney slept in the car as Jake drove up to the lake, stirring only when they got close to town. “Will you drive down Main Street?” she asked. I always love to see what’s new and I’m not sure how long it will be before I can get into town myself.”
“You know, I’m still not sure I love you being up here without a car,” Jake said, protective as ever.
“You know they won’t let me drive yet,” Linney replied. “My hip should be good enough in a few more weeks, but I’ll have to have my vision assessed too.”
“That’s why we all wanted you to stay in the city.”
“I’ll be back. But for now, I need to be here. I won’t be alone, Anna and Kirsten are here and Derek is right next door. And besides,” she teased, “they have this new-fangled thing called home delivery. I can get just about anything I need sent straight to the house.” She yawned. “I think I need to sleep for a few days first! I can’t believe how tired I am.”
Jake slowed the car as they drove down through Silver Lake. First she saw the elementary school she’d gone to, and that Derek’s kids attended now. She was pleased to see that the bakery and the wool shop were still there, along with the Doughnut Hut and a number of little restaurants and cafés that had made it through the winter. Anna’s dance studio came into view and they passed Derek’s office. A block away from that was the long-term care home where his mother had moved last year. Page Turners still looked grand, taking up most of a heritage building. Linney wondered for a moment whether the store had seen its last summer. Kirsten had told her that the owners had never quite gotten it off the ground and that there were rumours they were about to give up.
Finally on the end of the street closest to her house was the variety store that a refugee family that the local church had sponsored a few years ago had recently bought. As they turned onto the road that ran along the lake, Linney noticed that the trees were starting to turn. A little bit of yellow here, some orange there, and just a touch of red at the tree tops. October was right around the corner and soon the trees would be in full fall foliage, and the accompanying town festival would be in full swing.
A few minutes later, the house came into view and Linney felt a sense of calm come over her as the wheels of the car crunched on the gravel driveway. Jake put the car in park and turned to face her. “You have to promise to take things easy, and to call if you need anything. Anything at all. Even if it’s just to talk.” He helped Linney out of the car and she used her cane to gingerly climb the few stairs up to the porch one at a time, and then into the house.
Linney came to a halt as soon as she opened the door. It was the first time she had seen the renovations Danny and his team had done. Her sketches and ideas had come to life.
“They did a great job, didn’t they?” Jake said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “The kids and I spent some time up here this summer, so thank you, but I’m glad you can enjoy it now.” He put her bag down. “Kirsten and Anna unpacked the boxes that your friend MJ packed up and shipped.”
Linney nodded. “You’ve all been so good to me.” She was still taking in the changes. Sage green cabinets warmed up the kitchen and white countertops kept it bright. Danny had added pot lights around the work surfaces and the refinished wide pine floorboards gleamed. Paint on the walls made everything seem new again. But the old kitchen table, with its decades of dents and scratches was still there, and Linney was overcome with emotion. She was home.
“Clothes are in your dresser and Kirsten did the best she could to put your books and knickknacks into good places. Give her a call if you can’t find something.” Jake’s words brought Linney back, and she nodded, noticing some small trinkets from London on the mantel, beside a new mason jar full of her stones. “Anna did some grocery shopping. Take a quick look in your new kitchen and see if there’s something you need that she didn’t buy. I can run into town before I go.”