Learning to Walk, a City Hospital Novel Read Free Page A

needed in the earliest days, in the hospital, and that it would fade over time. Also, he knew that Neil was going to be touching him a lot more as they worked together. Neil had been good about it the last time they’d had therapy, so Kit did his best.
    “As long as Dad can work and do what he needs to do.” That was all that Kit needed, right then. An easier life for his dad.
    “You let me know if there’s other stuff we can help out with that’ll make life better for you and your Dad, okay? There’s a lot of resources out there.”
    Kit bit at his lip and nodded. “Mostly it’s just stuff like this. Making me independent of him so he can still have a life. He shouldn’t need to take care of me all the time.”
    “No, but he’s there for you -- he wants to be. Don’t shut him out totally.”
    “No, no. I wouldn’t.” Not his dad. That was all he had left. “But he works all day, comes home and cooks for me, helps me do the dishes, helps me make my lunch for the next day, does the laundry ‘cause I can’t reach... it’s just so much for him.”
    “You’ll get there, Kit. Your prognosis is so good. You’ll be helping out in no time.”
    Kit closed his eyes so Neil wouldn’t see them rolling. “We’ll see.” The pain meds were doing their job, though, and the constant pressure he felt was easing off a little. “Maybe.”
    The bus pulled up by one of the hospital entrances. “Here we are -- didn’t take long at all, did it?”
    No, it really hadn’t. Great.
    Kit nodded and sat up a little straighter in his chair, trying to look like he was eager to get right to it. He used to love working out.
    Between the driver and Neil, they had him out of the bus and through the doors in no time. Neil let him wheel himself down the hall to the elevators. “You ready for a hard workout? I’ve put together a pretty vigorous regimen for you.”
    Kit looked up at Neil, not bothering to hide his grimace. “I assume you took into account how fast I hurt and how tired my arms get?”
    “Yep. I’ve got cool down times, hot-tub time, as well as work at the bars. I know what I’m doing, Kit.” Neil pressed the button for the elevator.
    “Sorry,” Kit mumbled. “It just...” He shut up. He wasn’t going to say he was worried about the pain getting worse. He wasn’t going to tell this guy he was scared.
    “What? Hey, man, if you have concerns, you need to tell me. I’m not a mind reader, okay?”
    “It gets frustrating. Having everyone in my life planning things for me to do. I don’t have much control over anything right now.” There. True and enough of a share. Kit looked at the numbers above the elevator and willed the doors to open.
    They opened, but that didn’t stop Neil from answering. “I can see that. We can adjust your schedule, your workouts, as we find out what works for you. I’ll consult you.”
    Kit looked up at Neil, probably a little too fast. “Yeah?”
    “Yeah. This is your recovery, Kit.”
    “But I’m your patient. And everyone else’s.” He did roll his eyes then. “Can we go in now?”
    Neil opened the door to the therapy room for him. “After you.”
    Kit pushed at his wheels and moved into the room. His second time and he was already starting to hate it, even though Neil had put some personal touches into it. “Okay. Ready.” Ready or not, here he was.
    ***
    They fell into a pattern, Neil grabbing the parabus and going to help Kit get to the hospital. They’d do the physio, and then Kit would head on to other appointments while Neil worked with his other patients.
    Neil thought it was going pretty well.
    Today would be the test -- he hadn’t gone with the bus to get Kit and could only hope that didn’t mean Kit decided to skip it today. It was important, though, that Kit could do this on his own. If the man didn’t want to get well, he wasn’t going to.
    He glanced at his watch and forced himself to stay seated at his desk and not go look out the window to see if