“Hello to you, too.” I smile as I shift the phone to my other ear and lean back against the headboard of my hotel bed. I glance at the clock, surprised to see it’s nearly eight p.m. “Long day, huh?”
I’ve learned pretty quickly that’s not uncommon in Sarah’s routine. She’s constantly creating new enrichment programs and job-training opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Her passion for what she does is one of the things I admire most about her. She’s a fighter for the people she loves, and she loves every single resident she works with.
Sarah groans. “They’ve been excited about this for weeks, and I know as much about lifting weights as you do about applying mascara.”
“You doubt my cosmetology skills?”
“I don’t doubt you have many skills I’ve never seen.” There’s a smile in her voice that wasn’t there a few seconds ago, and I pat myself on the back for helping to put it there. “And plenty of skills I have seen. But right now I need a fitness instructor.”
“I’m an aviation management consultant,” I remind her. “I don’t have any formal training or fitness instructor certification.”
“You’re the most buff guy I know,” she says. “You can obviously find your way around a gym, plus you do triathlons. You could talk about that.”
“I can definitely share some basics on weightlifting,” I suggest. “Or overall fitness tips.”
“Sure, that’s perfect.” Her voice softens a little. “What matters is that you’ve been around people with Down Syndrome. That’s the tough part. It takes a special person not to talk down to people or treat them like they’re any different, you know?”
“I do know.” My heart twists hard. I always hated it when people would talk over Shane like he wasn’t there at all. When they’d treat him like a three-year-old instead of a normal teenager.
“Please, Ian,” she says. “I need you.”
There was never any question I’d help, but the urgency in her voice tweaks something inside me. Sarah’s fears, her worries, her tears—they’ve always slayed me, always left me desperate to take away whatever’s making her unhappy. I’d dive headfirst off the tenth floor of this hotel building if I thought it would fix that wobble in her voice.
That’s just friendship, though. Just basic human empathy, nothing more.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Wait, where are you?”
She gives me the address to a gym that’s blessedly close to my hotel and she tells me we’ve got the place to ourselves for the night. Apparently her employer, Simon, owns the gym, which is pretty damn cool.
I change into workout gear as fast as I can and jog the six blocks over there. By the time I arrive, Sarah is standing at the head of a group of adults wearing colorful workout clothes and smiles that remind me of Shane’s exuberant energy.
I ignore the hitch in my throat as I step up beside Sarah. “Hey, guys.” I give a friendly wave to the whole group. “Good to meet you, I’m Ian.”
“Hi, Ian,” they chorus back as Sarah turns to address me.
“We’re allowed to use any equipment we like, so you can do whatever sort of program you feel like leading,” she says. “The floor is yours.”
“I like that one over there.” Junie—the woman I recognize from Sarah’s birthday—points to a weight rack in the far corner.
I check it out, grateful to see it’s a newer model with all the bells and whistles for safety. Good for beginners.
“Good call, Junie,” I tell her. “And it’s great to see you again.”
“You, too.” Junie beams at me. “I’m glad you’re here. You make Sarah smile.”
Sarah flushes and glances away. She looks amazing in a pair of fitted gray leggings and a yellow-and-orange striped sports bra that reminds me how much I love watching her breasts move.
Knock it off, dumbass.
I clear my throat and concentrate on responding to Junie. “Congratulations, Junie. Sarah told me you passed your driver’s test?”
Junie’s smile gets wider as she nods. “Sarah’s taking me driving on Friday.”
“We’re going to lunch with Cassie and Simon.” The pride in Sarah’s voice is almost palpable. “Junie’s going to drive us there in my car.”
“That’s awesome.” The other residents are shifting expectantly, so I clap my hands together to get the show started. “So like I said, I’m Ian. I’ve been friends with Sarah for a really long time, and I’m excited to meet you all.”
There’s a chorus of “nice to meet you,” along with one “thank you, Ian” from Junie’s corner.
