“Fine,” Shay said, defeated. He took the papers, but when Caleb refused to let go, he looked at the younger man with a raised brow.
“I can’t prescribe pain medication, Dr. Johnson can though. Stop by on your way through tomorrow and I’ll have a file worked up for you. I’ll also include the x-rays. I can also send those ahead of time through the computer, and you can have the physical copies to take with you.”
“Thanks, Caleb,” Shay took the papers, shook his hand, and rose gingerly to use the crutches to leave the office. It was a silent ride back to New Double. Cole helped him out of the truck before his cabin, and Shay signed in relief when he was able to use the ramp to get to his front porch.
“Tell me again why all the cabins have a handicap ramp?”
“Naomi was in a wheelchair for six years. Others over at Broken have certain disabilities, though Erin calls them challenges. Reid has a prosthetic leg, so does Adele. Marcia has joint problems in this cold weather, and so does Tony. Erin felt it was better to have the ramp and not need it, then to not install one and need it. You have to admit it’s better than going up the stairs with the crutches, right?”
“Absolutely,” Shay nodded and opened the door. The smell of something wonderful hit him full in the face. He grinned as Cole smelt it too, but he backed away and headed to his truck to go to his own home. Because he didn’t know what else to say to let Faith know he was home, he called out with a laugh, “Honey, I’m home!” Then, he struggled to finish entering the house. He didn’t know whether he jerked, or bumped into her, but he reached out to grab her and ended up with his arms around the woman and his crutches crashed to the floor.
“Hi,” he said with a grin. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to manhandle you. I don’t know if either one of us were going to fall.”
“That’s fine, I was a little too close when you turned around, and kicked your crutch.”
Shay nodded, and looked down at her upturned face. “I have to ask, how tall are you?”
Faith grinned. “Five foot.”
“What? Five foot what?”
“Nothing, just five foot.”
“Ah,” he said with a nod, then smiled. “I’m Shay, Shay Hall.”
“Hi, Shay, I’m Faith, Faith Webber.” They stood there with their arms wrapped around each other, and it was several minutes before they broke apart. She stepped back, bent down for the crutches, and waited until he had them beneath his arms, and went to the kitchen.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Staving, what smells so good?”
“Nothing special, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, and I whipped up some homemade biscuits.” She shrugged when he lifted his brows in shock.
“I had the supplies for all this?”
“You did, come, sit down.”
“I want to wash my hands first.” He nodded and went down the hall to use the bathroom in his bedroom. He washed his hands and face, then combed his hair and threw on some deodorant. He didn’t have to change when he arrived home from work, so he cleaned up as best he could without showering. In his bedroom, he removed his work shirt, and donned a clean tee. He struggled out of his jeans, and put on a pair of shorts. It was snowing outside, but it was comfortable in his home, and he had no plans on going anywhere until the next day. Surprised it had only taken five minutes, he went back out to the kitchen, and nodded when he saw the food on the table, and grinned when he saw two place settings.
“I hope you don’t mind that I’m going to join you.”
“Not at all, you cooked it, you should also enjoy it.” He tried to hold her chair out for her, but she gave him a look, and he grinned. “Sorry.”
“No, that’s okay, it was a nice gesture, but with you using the crutches, it’s not very practical.”
“I know,” he said as he settled in his chair. He waited for her to begin loading her plate, then added a healthy serving of everything to his. His first bite of the meatloaf had him closing his eyes in bliss. “This is good.”
“Thank you. I’m not complaining, but I didn’t know when you would return, so I mixed it up and let it sit for a few minutes before I put it in the oven. You know, to let it marinate.”
“It’s delicious.” They ate in silence, and after she finished, and he was on his second helping of everything, she studied him. He was a very handsome man, and she wondered if she was correct on his age. He looked around her age. Unable to wait, she blurted out,
“How old are you?”
Shay looked at her in surprise, then grinned as he wiped his mouth with the paper towel she’d put on the table, because she hadn’t been able to find any napkins.
“Forty. Or I will be on my next birthday. I know you didn’t ask any of these questions, but I’m single, no exes of any type.” He explained when he saw confusion on her face. “No ex-wife, ex-fiancée. There are a couple of ex-girlfriends, but they are so far in my past they don’t count.” He smiled. “High school, and one in my twenties. I thought we were serious, but when I was gone for work, she cheated on me. As soon as I found out, I dumped her.”
“Oh. What was your work?”
