“Please tell him I said hello.” Adam held out his hand. “Thank you again for the donation.”
“My pleasure.” He returned the man’s firm clasp, then shoved his fingers into his back pockets. “I haven’t done carpentry work in quite a while, but if you could use another pair of hands on your set-building crew, I’d be happy to pitch in.” Though that offer hadn’t been in his plans for this meeting, suddenly it felt right.
A succession of emotions paraded across the other man’s face. Surprise. Shock. Incredulity. “Sure. We’d be happy to have more help. I can, uh, email you the work schedule if you’d like, and any time you can squeeze us in, we’d be glad to have you join us.”
“I’ll make time.” He pulled a card from the holder on his desk and held it out. “My email is on there.”
Adam took it. “Watch for the schedule this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
As his visitor disappeared out the door and down the hallway, toward the stairs that led to the first level of the building, Martin slowly exhaled.
The meeting he’d dreaded with the man who had every right to dislike, if not hate, him had gone far more smoothly than expected, thanks to Adam’s graciousness.
There was a lesson there about forgiveness and overcoming adversity and looking to the future instead of the past.
And it was one he intended to keep in mind as he set about reorienting his life to create a better tomorrow.
“Are you certain it’s okay for her to go back to work, Dr. Sherman? I mean, she was on a ventilator less than four weeks ago.”
As Devyn directed that question to the neurologist, Lauren sent her a dark look from the adjacent chair. The doctor’s stamp of approval on a limited return to work was fantastic news, and she wasnotgoing to let anyone nix this.
“Devyn. I’m not going back tomorrow.” Lauren leaned toward her. “Dr. Sherman said after Fourth of July. That’s almost two weeks from now. And I’ll only be assisting for two hours two days a week, until I see how I do. I’m ready for this. I feel stronger and more like myself every day.”
Her sister’s forehead crinkled. “But why rush the process or risk a setback?”
“Your concern is understandable, Devyn.” The doctor stepped back in, her manner calm. Reasoned. “But believe me, I never advise patients to move faster than I consider prudent. Your sister has made remarkable progress, and I think her recovery will accelerate even more once she gets back to her routine. I also believe she’s smart enough to cut back if she needs to.”
Devyn let out a slow breath. “You’re right. I just want what’s best for her.”
At the concern on her sister’s face, Lauren’s throat pinched.
Maybe they’d never been close growing up. Maybe she’d shut Devyn out of her life for years. Maybe she’d held on to resentments for too long.
But during the weeks since her sister had been in Hope Harbor, it had become clearer with each day that passed how much she wanted to reconnect.
And truth be told, she was beginning to want that too.
“Hey.” She reached out and took Devyn’s hand. Squeezed. “I know that, and I appreciate it. I also appreciate you being here for me through all this. I promise I won’t do anything to cause a setback. If two days is too much, I’ll adjust my schedule. Okay?”
Devyn squeezed back. “Sorry. I don’t mean to put a damper on happy news.” She turned toward the doctor. “What about driving?”
“I’m not ready to sign off on that yet. Lauren hasn’t had any complications like seizures that would require a legal moratorium on driving, and she aced the neurological tests I did today. But let’s take it one step at a time. I’ll reevaluate on her next visit in July.”
Lauren frowned.
No driving was a big glitch. She did have to get to and from the dental office in Coos Bay, and—
“I can take her to work until you give her the all-clear to get behind the wheel.” Devyn leaned back in her chair.
“Or I could Uber.” Lauren jumped back into the exchange. “If you take me, you’ll be on the road two hours a day.”
“Not if I stay in Coos Bay while you work. I can poke around the town, treat myself to a fancy coffee.”
The doctor stood. “I’ll let you two work out the details—but I do have one more piece of good news. You can ditch the cane, Lauren.”
“Hallelujah!” She raised a fist in the air.
“She hasn’t been using it much the past few days anyway.” Devyn sent her a pointed look.
