Only the secure hold Wang had on her prevented her from going into an outright panic. He had walked a few steps down into the bath and now lowered her into the water.
She clung tighter to the only safety in a liquid world that wanted to swallow her.
“Relax, my lady. I will not let go.”
“Are you sure this will help, Mr. Wang?”
“While I can never guarantee a result, I’ve seen excellent results using hydrotherapy in injuries such as yours.”
“Oh, have you treated others?”
“Yes. Once in Canton. And more recently, the War for the Union going on in America has resulted in many soldiers with injuries. We have treated several of them. Most of them achieved some measure of recovery.”
She noticed that while distracting her with his talk, he slowly moved her back and forth. As if she were a babe he was rocking to sleep in his arms. Except she was no babe, and the movement was having a completely different effect. It was not inducing a stupor, but was rather energizing, although in a relaxing way, ifthat made any sense. Or maybe that was all the effect of the man holding her in his arms.
“I will lower your legs now, and I want you to stand.”
Panic seized her again, and she held on tighter, shaking her head.
“I won’t let go. I’ll still be holding you the entire time, my lady.” At her still wide-eyed gaze, he continued. “Do you trust me to keep you safe?”
Yes, she did. She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t trust him. But she didn’t trust herself. She would flounder and fail.
“I do, Mr. Wang. But I can’t stand just yet.”
“The water creates buoyancy. That means you weigh less, making it easier for your legs to support you. I’ll provide extra support. Just give it a go.”
“If you insist.”
He suddenly grinned, and the expression transformed his severe face into something so dazzling, her breath suddenly locked in her lungs.
“I do, my lady. And you will do just great.”
Saying that, he lowered her feet, until she felt the smooth tile of the bath under her soles. Just as promised, his hold on her upper body didn’t falter. He still had an arm around her torso, holding her securely against his solid body.
“Try to walk. The water will provide gentle resistance, but it will also make you weigh less.”
She did, marveling at the novel sensation. Her legs were drifting. She was sure that even with the water’s help, they wouldn’t hold her up without his support, but she was standing. And she was doing an impression of walking. A motion she had taken for granted until a few years ago and thought she would never experience again.
It was hard. Even with Wang’s support, and the buoyancy provided by the water, she had to put a great effort into movingher legs. But she was doing it. She was upright, and she was moving her legs. It was a huge step forward. Both literally and figuratively.
Shewasafighter,his Esther. The signs of exhaustion were plain to see in her face, but she did not complain once. She performed every exercise he asked of her to the best of her capability. And she was doing fantastic. Today’s results bolstered his confidence that she would make a full recovery.
That outcome became more important to him than any other. He had helped countless people in almost three decades of practicing medicine. But this woman, here and now, was special to him.
“I think that’s enough for today, my lady.”
She exhaled with relief, looked straight at him, and smiled brightly. “I did it. I walked Mr. Wang.”
He couldn’t look away. He had seen her pensive, sad, devastated with tears. At times, he had spied a gentle smile when she looked at her daughter with love and pride in her gaze. But he had never seen a smile of pure joy, hope, and pride. It made her eyes sparkle and lit up her face. If she was beautiful before, when she smiled, she was dazzling. And he was mesmerized by her spell.
“Yes, you did, my lady.” He returned her smile, because he couldn’t contain his joy in her accomplishment. It warmed his heart. More like set it on fire. “But we haven’t finished the treatment.”
“Oh? Is there more?”
“Yes. But the next part will require very little effort on your part.” He once again took hold of her legs and lifted her out of the bath. Every time he lifted her, he sensed how she became more and more comfortable with his touch. It was gratifying. No, it was so much more than that. Her trust meant everything to him. But he was about to test it. Striding out of the bathing chamber, he took her to the dry heat room.
“This is nice and toasty,” Esther said upon entering.
