"We got this." After being cooped up in the hospital then a rehab center for over two months, Paige refused to let this little setback keep her from going for a ride. "Give me a minute. I'll figure it out."
She shifted this way and that before leaning back against the seat, handing over a crutch, and grabbing a hold of the handlebar with her good arm. She pulled herself up as much as her strength allowed. "Help me lift my left leg in."
Riley obliged, being careful not to jostle Paige more than necessary.
"Okay, now give me a boost up with the right leg." Paige's voice was strained from the effort.
Riley clasped her hands together and put them under Paige's foot when it came off the ground and lifted so Paige could pull herself onto the seat.
"Yay, we did it!" Riley gave her a high five before closing the door.
Paige sucked in a deep breath and wiped the beads of perspiration from her brow before Riley climbed in the driver's side.
Just Gabe had said she was stronger than she thought, but Paige wasn’t so sure. No yet, anyway.
Thinking about her therapist brought to mind the strange dream she had this afternoon. Gabe had twisted her up like a pretzel then demanded she confess. She wasn't sure what he wanted her to confess, nor how her body contorted like that, so the whole thing left her feeling confused.
She'd read somewhere the brain processed emotions and consolidated memories while dreaming. What emotions and memories did she need to process from her PT session?
She recalled the way Gabe caught and held her secure in his strong arms. His concern and tenderness made her want to tell him exactly what drove her to dart in front of a car. She hadn't told anyone the full truth about Phillip, and apparently it was eating at her so badly it affected her dreams now.
She’d cried so many tears while in the hospital she thought she’d processed all the emotions from his deceit, but maybe she still had some unresolved issues.
"Paige?" Judging by the look on Riley's face, she'd said her name more than once.
"Sorry." She gave Riley a sheepish look. "What did you say?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Anywhere. I don't care." She waved her hand in a circular motion, ending with pointing out the window. "Let's drive up to the bluff."
"Are you okay?" Worry lines creased Riley's forehead.
"Of course, I'm fine." Paige pasted on a smile then changed the subject. "Where's Daniel tonight?"
"At his AA meeting."
"That's right. I'm glad he's still going."
"Me too." Riley put the Jeep into gear and backed out of the driveway. "He just started mentoring a guy who is ten years older than him."
"That's great."
They talked as Riley drove north of town, then turned to the east before hitting the Double Diamond Ranch that had been Paige's second home growing up. Even though it felt like old times, Paige's chest grew tighter with each mile. She didn't want everyone to know what happened with Phillip, but she needed to talk to someone. And Riley was her person. She talked to Riley about everything.
Riley had barely put the Jeep into park on top of the bluff before she grinned at Paige. "I've got a secret I've been dying to tell someone."
Paige smiled back at her best friend. She loved that she was Riley's person too. "What kind of secret?" She suspected she already knew, but she played along.
"I'm pregnant!" Riley said with a squeal. "But you can't tell anyone yet. We're trying to decide how to announce it to our families."
"Congratulations!" Paige carefully leaned over and hugged Riley with feigned enthusiasm. No, not feigned. She was truly happy for her cousin, but her own secret put a massive damper on her ability to be cheerful.
They chatted for several minutes about Riley's morning sickness, her due date, and whether they were going to find out the gender,then Paige couldn't fight it anymore. "There's something I need to tell you," she blurted out. "Phillip was cheating on me."
"What?" Riley's smile disappeared as she turned wide eyes on Paige. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." Paige held her gaze. "Actually, he was using me..." She jabbed a finger into her chest. "To cheat on his fiancée."
