Page 130 of Fierce-Matt

“I learned that the hard way at work,” she said.

“And you don’t let it happen again. I want you to be happy, Anya. That’s all a parent ever wants.”

“I want to be happy too. I am. Excluding the last seven hours. I’ll be happier to get some food in my stomach. I’ll bring a sandwich for Matt.”

“See,” her mother said. “Nurturing. He’s been taking care of you and you’re going to take care of him. Go home with him tonight. You both need it.”

“You’re right, we do.”

36

ALL YOURS

“How is your dad feeling?” Matt asked Anya two days later when she returned to his condo.

“Better. He remembers nothing that happened, and he was agitated this morning when he woke up. He’s in some pain, but there doesn’t seem to be anything else.”

“No long-term effects from him being out of it for twenty-four hours?”

Elliot had woken up last night before Anya and her mother were set to leave. They were allowed to stay later for that reason. The surgery had been a success from that morning as well.

“The doctor doesn’t think there will be, but his neurologist would be the one to talk to more about it.”

“Will he come see your father in the hospital?” he asked.

“Not my father’s doctor, but someone else will see him tomorrow or Monday. They are planning on moving him to rehab Monday or Tuesday. He can’t get up on his own and my mother isn’t strong enough to help.”

“Is it because of his leg or his ribs?” he asked.

“I think his ribs. He’s just in a lot of pain there.” She flopped on the couch. “My biggest fear there is how weak he’s going toget in rehab. It happens all the time and whatever he loses, he won’t regain back fully. This is only speeding up the process of other things. That’s my mother’s fear.”

“You can’t think like that even if it’s true,” he said. He sat next to her. “Did you eat? Do you want something?”

He’d stayed home today and let her go with her mother. He’d been there all day on Friday and left before dinner. Anya went home rather than returning here since she’d been at the hospital so late.

“I had something there with my mother at four. We both ate around eleven and then at four. I forced her to eat knowing she wouldn’t once I left.”

It was five now. “How come you left so early tonight?”

“My father is tired. They’ve got him medicated more and between the pain meds and his other medicine he’s sleeping a lot. They kept him up as much as they could to see where things stood, but he needs his rest. My mother was leaving shortly too.”

“How is she doing?” He pulled her close and under his arm. Anya didn’t hesitate to put her head on his shoulder.

“Hanging in there. She’s exhausted, but I think she’ll sleep good tonight. Last night, even though my father was awake, it was the adrenaline of that knowledge and the worry he’d have an awful night. Tonight, she’ll know he’ll be fine.”

“I’m glad. Does your father know he’s going into rehab?”

“Not yet. I don’t know that he’ll understand either. That’s the hard part. My mother will spend time with him there daily.” She turned her head. “She thinks he’s coming home in a few weeks, but I’m not so sure.”

“Why?”

“Just a bad feeling. I’m not trying to be negative, but it’s hard. The less he moves, the harder it will be for him to do it. It’s going to be six to eight weeks with the cast on his leg. Broken ribstake several weeks too. I know physical therapists are going to be working with him.”

“That’s right,” he said. “Don’t let your mind run a marathon. Not even a sprint. Stay in the warm-up phase.”

She smiled and kissed his neck. “That’s a nice thought. I’m exhausted. Mentally and physically, but I feel so much better. Which is silly since we know there is a long road ahead of us.”

“That’s right. A long road that you need to be strong and healthy for,” he said. “Turn. Let me rub your back. It will help you relax.”