The Amendment (The Contract 2)

I met his gaze. He was beaming. I looked back at the bars and gritted my teeth.

“I want to try again.”

He stood. “Now you’re talking.”I spent three days of torture using the bars. Pushing upon my own, grasping the metal, and forcing my feet to move. Some attempts, the pain grabbed me, other times, it was absent.

I looked awkward and awful, but I didn’t care. I was finally free from that chair—even if it was only for a few moments. I pushed myself to the maximum every day. Maddox filmed my progress, letting me watch it after so I could see the improvement myself. The progress was there, but it was slow. I struggled both physically and mentally to go forward. To accept and to live in this moment and not get discouraged. That was one of the hardest things for me.

I sighed as I got dressed having finished my morning workout. Aiden and Maddox had sat down with me, and I knew what they were going to say even before they said it. They had to go home—return to their lives. Bentley needed them back in Toronto. I held up my hand before they could talk.

“I know, guys. You’ve given me two weeks of your time. I will forever be grateful for it.” I looked at Aiden. “I’ll work with Colin and on my own. I promise.” I rubbed my legs. “You’ve given me something I didn’t have before. Hope.”

“You will walk, Richard.”

“I know I will. However long it takes, I will get out of this chair.” I pulled in a long breath. “When do you leave?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

“Does, ah, Katy know you’re going?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. I missed her terribly. The texts and calls weren’t enough, and I was desperate for her to come home. As much as having Aiden and Maddox here was great, I wanted my wife and girls back. I was determined to talk to her today. I needed her to come here so we could talk face-to-face.

My thoughts were grim as I headed to the kitchen. Maddox and Aiden were standing in the family room, looking as if they were hiding something.

“What’s up?”

Aiden indicated the bars. My eyes widened at the sight of the person standing at the other end of them.

Katy.

“Hello, my darling,” she greeted me.

“Katy, sweetheart—”

She held out her hand. “I was told you had something to show me.” She waggled her fingers. “Come to me, Richard.”

Part of me wanted to scream no. I didn’t want her to see me that way—unsteady and vulnerable. However, seeing her there, so close, yet too far away to touch, I knew I had to show her that trust. To let her see me and accept me for the way I was now. Prove to her that her belief in me was warranted.

I wheeled over and pulled myself up. I held the bars so tightly, they shook under my grasp, but I was mercifully pain free. I looked at Katy, who stepped closer. “I’m right here, Richard.”

I concentrated on her face. Her incredible blue eyes that watched me, filled with nothing except love. One foot went in front of the other. Slow. Dragging. But the faltering steps led me to her. Time seemed to slow down as I moved toward her, closing the gap that separated us. Finally, I stood in front of her, shaking, sweating, and broken. All my effort went into standing. I stared into her eyes, watching the tears fill them and spill over down her cheeks.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, cupping my cheek.

I didn’t try to stop my tears. I allowed my emotions to escape, letting her know how grateful I was that she was there, how much I missed her.

I pushed my face into her hand and managed to get out one word.

“Stay.”

She leaned up, her mouth pressing to mine. “Yes.”

That one word had the power to break down the last of my walls. Not caring who was there to witness it, I let out my pain, knowing the woman in front of me would be the one to piece me back together.18KatyRichard lifted his face from my neck, his eyes red, his cheeks damp. I had never witnessed him break down that way. The rare occasions when he cried, he still held himself in check, his pride unable to allow even me to fully see his pain.

I grabbed the tissues Aiden had dropped beside us and wiped Richard’s face, cupping his cheeks.

“Hey,” I whispered, looking up at him from where I crouched between his legs.

“I guess I lost the last piece of my man card with that display,” he mumbled.

“I doubt it. Aiden was openly weeping before you even finished walking, and Maddox had to leave the room.”

He frowned in confusion. “Why?”

“They’re as proud of you as I am, Richard.”

“Where are they?”