Eden cheered, and Rudy gave Chase a high-fived.
Both men made their way to where she sat.
"You gonna leave without introducing me to your girlfriend?" Chase asked Rudy as they made their way toward her.
Eden froze in the process of standing, and Rudy gave an uncomfortable chuckle.
"She's not my girlfriend. She's uh... just a friend." Rudy shuffled his feet. "Didn't you meet Kennedy's friend Eden at the wedding?"
"Nah, man. I was back in the hospital again with that infection, remember?"
"That's right. You obviously feel better with the way you smoked me tonight." Rudy motioned to her. "Eden DuPont, this is Chase Wheeler. He's like a little brother to me."
Chase extended a hand then pulled it back. "Sorry, my hands are dirty."
Eden smiled and shrugged as she extended her own. "I don't mind." She waited for Chase to take her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too." Chase eyed the bread and jam. "You guys must be headed to Miss Georgie's."
"How did you know?" Eden asked.
"All the moms on the street send food to Miss Georgie because she's a terrible cook, and they're worried about her health." Chase laughed. "That's the best thing about being in a wheelchair, Mom can't make me deliver food to Miss Georgie anymore, because she doesn't have a ramp."
"I think you should join us." Rudy grabbed the back of Chase's chair and pointed him down the street. "I'll find a way to get you up her steps."
"Oh, no you don't." Chase locked his wheels and swatted over his shoulder at Rudy's hands. "I don't need to visit her to be subjected to her cookies. She drops by with a plateful way too often." He wheeled backward when Rudy let go of his chair. "Enjoy your visit. Oh, and Eden, don't eat her cookies."
She laughed as she and Rudy walked away. She was more than a little terrified to face Miss Georgie and her cookies now.
Rudy turned and walked backward. "Chase! Did you check out those online classes I told you about?"
"Not yet, man," Chase called back. "But I will. I promise."
"You better." Rudy pointed a finger at him before turning back around.
"What happened to him?" Eden couldn't keep the curiosity out of her voice. He seemed like such a nice young man.
Rudy's jaw clenched and his gaze dropped to the sidewalk. He kicked a small stone into the road. It was several long moments before he spoke. "He and his buddy Ryan were in a terrible car accident almost a year ago." Rudy's voice was so quiet, she had to strain to hear him. "Ryan didn't make it."
"How horrible." She blinked back tears. "Survivor's guilt coupled with paralysis must be horrible."
"It is." Rudy’s voice was so husky, Eden studied him.
All joviality had disappeared. His rigid posture radiated tension, his jaw clenched, and his fists doubled. His right hand gripped the jam in a white-knuckled grip. She had a feeling that if she could see his eyes clearly, she'd find dark shadows in their depths created by painful memories.
Did Rudy have to investigate Chase's accident? Or was he thinking of another accident altogether? Perhaps the one that left the scar on his shoulder?
Trying to diffuse the tension radiating off him, she said, "He's a great shot. Did he play before the accident?"
"He had a scholarship to play college ball." Again, Rudy's voice was low and strained.
"I assume he lost it?" When Rudy nodded, she asked, "And you're trying to get him to start his education by taking online classes?"
Rudy found another pebble to kick at. "I'm trying to get him to do something. Anything. He's been depressed since the accident, understandably. But I worry that if he doesn't do something, his depression will only worsen."
“He sure perked up while you played with him.”
"I enjoy it." He shrugged. "When we were younger, he was just one of the pesky younger neighborhood kids, but now as an adult, he's alright."
