Page 74 of Skipping Stones
Derek suggested that for the first week at least, they go one at a time. Linney was far more tired than she was admitting to. She was only a few weeks post-surgery, and she’d had a long journey home.
“She’s still taking strong pain pills, but I think that’s because she’s pushing herself more than she probably should,” he started. “Also, she’s having trouble with her eyesight, even though her eye looks perfectly normal.” He switched subjects. “I can get her to medical appointments but Anna, maybe you can help with groceries for the next while? We don’t know when she’ll be able to drive. And Kirsten, Linney has some specialists to see at the hospital and I’m sure she’d appreciate your opinion on the doctors.”
“Ouch! That hurts, Daddy!” Derek gave Ivy a kiss. The comb had come across tangles in his daughter’s hair. He worked through them gently. “Sorry, sweetie. Go pick some stories, guys. Daddy will be there to read in a few minutes.” They ran off and he turned his attention back to the grownups. “I’m back. Questions?”
“So many.” Anna was trying to take in everything Derek had said. “But I’m not sure where to start. I’ll come by tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll take the next day, after work,” Kirsten chimed in. “Just call me, Derek, when you take Linney to the hospital. I’ll come and help her manage the bureaucracy and run interference for her.”
“Thanks, ladies,” Derek said. “I’m going to text Jake later tonight and give him a status update. We’ll get her through this.”
* * *
“Come on in, Derek,” Linney called out when she heard him knock on the door an hour later. “They’re asleep?”
He nodded and held up the baby monitor. Linney was sitting on the couch, with her legs straight out in front of her and a bowl of popcorn on her lap. “Now tell me,” he jokingly interrogated her grabbing a handful for himself. “This isn’t dinner, is it?”
She grinned. “No. I actually made salad and an omelette. It was the first time I’ve made a meal in a full kitchen in a long time. Do you want a cup of tea?” She started to get up. “Or a beer?” she added as an afterthought.
“Stay there. I’ll make us some tea. At least for this week, let us—me and Kirsten and Anna—take care of you. After that, you’re on your own,” he warned her, jokingly. Derek put on the kettle, dropping tea bags into oversized mugs.
Linney shifted on the couch, making room for Derek and they sipped their tea and polished off the popcorn, neither feeling the need for conversation. Finally, Linney looked over at him. “I have a long road ahead of me,” she said quietly. “I realized today it’s longer than I thought.” She put up her hand to silence Derek as he started to speak. “I’m not too proud to admit I’m going to need help. I’m sure you’ve talked with the girls already.” Derek nodded. “I’m going to owe you all a lot after this.”
Linney slept better that night than she had in—well, she couldn’t remember how long. The night was cool, but she opened the windows and lay in bed with heavy eyelids, listening to the comforting sounds of the waves on the shore and snuggling under the quilt that Gran made so many years ago.
29
Linney woke the next morning feeling rested. She was a bit nervous about the shower, but she saw that someone—Danny, she guessed—had installed a grab bar for her. She dressed and started reading the news on her iPad when she heard a car in her driveway. She made her way to the porch and broke into a huge smile when she saw Anna walking up holding what looked like two takeout cups of coffee and some kind of home-made treat.
“I can smell that from here,” Linney shouted. “I love your baking.”
They sat at the kitchen table and after Linney thanked Anna for stocking her cupboards, they made small talk as they dug into the strudel. Anna’s daughters were both in high school now, so there were many stories to tell.
“They’re totally boy crazy,” Anna said.
“Do you remember our first dance?”
“It was Halloween, right?”
“Yep. You were a ballerina—as usual—and Kirsten dressed up as a clown.”
“And you were—oh my gosh, you were Amelia Earhart! You were an adventurer even back then.” Anna’s memories came rushing back. “I had my first kiss that night. Oh—and your crush kissed someone else.” Linney nodded. It was so long ago. “Didn’t Derek spend the rest of the night cheering you up?”
“He did. Even then, he was rescuing me.”
“What’s next for you?” Anna asked, after a few moments.
“I’m not sure,” Linney said honestly. “The next month or two are just about getting better. I haven’t thought beyond that.” She put her fork down. “But I’m not going back to London. I know that for sure. My nieces and nephew are growing up too fast—and your kids too. I hardly know any of them. I think the explosion …” Anna tried not to react to that word, but it was hard. “… the explosion taught me a bit about my own mortality. I suddenly feel the need to be close to family and friends.”
Anna reached out across the table. “Well, we’re glad you’re back.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “Linney, we were so worried.”
“Don’t get all maudlin on me. I can’t stand those pitying looks people give me and I’m tired of having to tell people I’m fine. Now,” she said firmly, getting to her feet and reaching for her cane, “with all this travelling, I’ve been sitting too much. Will you walk around the property with me? It will be slow, but I’d still like it if you’d walk with me.
Linney took the porch stairs one at a time, with both feet on each step before tackling the next one like her grandmother had in her last years. It drove her crazy, but for once in her life, she was determined to follow the rules to the letter and her rehab team had told her that it would be up to her doctor at home. It was top of her list to ask about tomorrow. Until then, it was one step at a time. She didn’t want to do anything that would make her recovery harder or longer.
They walked slowly around Linney’s property. Up the side she shared with Derek, across the front by the road, down the other side where the creek ran and across the shoreline of the lake. It wouldn’t be long before the trees were ablaze in colour. This was the first time Linney was walking on rough terrain and it was decidedly more difficult than the flat paths around the gardens she was used to or the long airport halls. It was humbling to be so tired when they stopped at the dock. She looked longingly out over the lake, wondering when she’d be able to get herself into her kayak again.
“Thanks for coming, Anna.” Linney put on her game face, refusing to feel sorry for herself.