Page 5 of Hometown Harbor 4
“Let’s make this official. Marry me,” Nathaniel said.
Deb covered her face with her hands. “You had to ruin a perfectly good declaration of love. I’m not ready for that, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”
“Okay, I’ll wait, but that isn’t going to be the last time I ask.”
“Let’s go back to your place and dry off,” Deb said.
They joined hands and ran in the rain. Deb was barefoot, and they laughed the entire way.
4
Dalton was up on crutches, and Deenie was ready to throw him a ticker tape parade. He was still in pain, so his exuberance did not meet hers.
“I have my dad’s car, and he’s on the deck waiting for us back at my mom’s place. He’s ready to fire up the grill, and we have burgers, veggie kebabs, and brats. Are you still up for coming?” Deenie asked.
“I guess, but those stairs up to the deck are going to be a killer,” Dalton said.
“I thought of that just like I think of everything. Kylen is going to be there, and he said he’ll carry you up the steps if he has to,” Deenie said.
“Deenie, I just can’t meet your level of excitement about today. Your dad is going to think you picked a real winner. I might never walk normally again, and I have to be carried up a flight of stairs to meet him. By the time I get there, I’ll be ready for a nap. I’ve lost ten pounds of muscle since the accident and I’m not even sure I can start school soon. I know how fathers can be about their little girls, and I won’t pass muster.”
Deenie stood and slammed shut his bedroom door so they could have privacy. “Today is the first day I haven’t been proud of you. Coming as far as you did took strength and perseverance. You take one-half of a low dose of oxy because you don't want to become an addict. Rehab is hard because I’ve been here to witness every grueling session, and you make it through like a champ every time.
“Now, though, you're feeling sorry for yourself, which is a bad look. At least you didn’t gain twenty pounds. Everyone is rallying around you to get you where you want to be. Since when does a limp bother you? Soldiers come home without limbs, and they have better attitudes than you. Now, let's get into the car to go and meet my dad,” Deenie said.
“Is this how you will talk to your patients when you’re a nurse?” Dalton asked with a smile.
“If necessary. No one will be allowed to throw a pity party in my presence. Children are the exception because they don’t know any better. They won’t like me at first, but by the time they leave my care, they’ll love me.”
“You’re one of a kind, Deenie. I can’t believe I have less than one week left with you. I will need one of your pep talks every day, or I don’t know if I’ll even be able to get out of bed.”
“It will be my pleasure,” Deenie said. “I’ll call every morning.”
She helped Dalton to her car, and it was the first time he had left the house since he came home. The physical therapist came to his home, and there really wasn’t a reason to go anywhere. It was cloudy, and it was raining on and off.
Deenie managed to get Dalton into her father’s Tesla. Her new idea was to convince him to give her his 'old' car so he could purchase a brand-new vehicle for himself. Deenie would do fine with a 2022 Tesla. However, she shouldn’t fantasize about cars, but focus on her boyfriend.
She wanted him to lie in the back seat where he would have more room, but he insisted on the front seat. With legroom maximized and a lot of patience, they got it done. Deenie was developing a ton of respect for caretakers who were truly unsung heroes. At least she would be paid as a nurse.
“How does it feel to be on the road?” Deenie asked.
“I didn’t know how much I needed this. For the first time since this ordeal started, I feel like a human being. My life was focused on being a patient, and I was starting to feel like a prisoner instead," Dalton said. “I’ve never been a passenger with you behind the wheel. It’s clear that you recently passed the driving test because you’re following all the rules.”
He smiled, which sent shivers down her spine because that was a rarity during those days.
“I’ll ride through town so you can see the action.”
They drove down Main Street, and when Dalton saw someone he knew, they wildly waved as if he were a celebrity. Nearly the whole town knew of his accident and was overjoyed to see him out and about again. Then she drove by the Dirty Dozen, where Dalton worked. She slowly pulled into the small lot and co-workers poured out to give their week wishes. Moreover, the clouds parted, and it was sunny again. More clouds loomed on the horizon because Hurricane Martha was far out to sea.
“I can imagine and look forward to having a life again. This drive is like a magic elixir. I'm still nervous about meeting your dad, but after this drive, I'll be in a much better mood. I’m in awe that so many people know about the accident. It’s humbling and uplifting to know they care.”
“Most people I’ve encountered are praying for you. I’m not a weekly churchgoer, but I do believe prayers help. After this, I may become a regular in the pew,” Deenie said.
“I was thinking the same thing. We can go to church together,” he said and then smiled.
After driving around for a half hour, they arrived at the house. The entrance into the back of the house had fewer steps, but Dalton felt good and wanted to use the steps everyone else used. His leg was in a cage and completely immobilized, and his doctors wouldn’t be happy to know he had taken a field trip. It didn’t matter to Deenie because Dalton was smiling more than frowning, and that was good for something. She wasn’t a nurse yet, but even she knew mental health was vital when recovering from an injury.
Her dad and Kylen were upstairs on the deck. Dalton looked at the staircase and then at his leg. “Time for you to get to work, dude. Let’s see if volleyball really got you into shape. I’m not making it up these stairs alone, and poor Deenie has done enough,” Dalton called up to Kylen.