Unlikely Allies

"I'm sure community college has art classes, but I'm thinking of doing a dual major anyway. I was hoping you two would be a little more excited about my news."

"Believe me, I'm excited about the idea of seeing you more, but I better go check on your mom. I'm sure this has her quite upset," Rick said, heading out the door.

"Well, that was a disaster," I muttered. "I thought you guys would be happier."

"I'm excited, beach bu

"I'm not changing them, I'm just adapting them to include you," I said, snuggling into his arms.

He kissed the top of my head, but remained silent. We continued to watch TV and eat, but neither held the same appeal they had just a few minutes prior.

The next few days were busy as the doctors released me to the capable hands of my mom and Rick. They shuttled me back to the hotel they had checked into weeks ago. My mom wanted to take me home to California, but I balked at the idea. I wasn't going anywhere until Mason started physical therapy and was well on the road to recovery.

I expected her to fly home, but she remained in Colorado with me.

On Monday of his third week in the hospital, Mason was due to start physical therapy. The doctors thought it would be best if we let Mason do the first few sessions without an audience, so Rick and I waited until after lunch to visit.

I was anxious to see him. Over the last few days, I noticed a subtle change in him as he started to distance himself from me. I tried to chalk it up as anxiety over physical therapy, but I was worried it was something else.

Mason was already back in his room when we arrived.

"How'd it go, son?" Rick asked, trying to ignore the sour look on Mason's face.

"It was crap," Mason said, sounding bitter.

"What happened?" I asked concerned.

He remained silent, fixated on the TV above our heads.

"It's going to take awhile to build up the appropriate muscles…" Rick replied until Mason cut him off.

"I'm not doing it anymore," Mason bit out angrily.

"What?" Rick and I both said at the same time.

"I'm a cripple now. Going to stupid-ass physical therapy isn't going to change that," he said, looking at his injured leg with disgust.

"Mason, it'll get easier. You're not a cripple," I said, fighting tears as I reached for his hand.

He jerked it away. "Why are you even here? I'm not worth throwing your life away," he said harshly.

"Mason?" I said, shocked at his words.

"I'm going to step out a minute and give you guys a chance to talk," Rick said, already heading for the door.

"I'm not throwing my life away for you," I said, stepping to the side of his bed "But that doesn't mean I can't be here for you when you need me," I added, reaching for his hand.

He reared back like I had slapped him. "I don't need you," he said sternly, not meeting my eyes. "I don't need you to keep saving me," he growled.

My heart dropped to my knees. "I know what you're doing," I said in a shaky voice.

"I'm not doing anything. We sought each other's comfort in a time of need, but we both know we have nothing in common."

"I thought we were falling in like with each other," I said, forcing a smile through a veil of tears.

"Oh, I like you, but that's all I feel," he said, turning away from me.

"I know you're just saying all of this because you're in pain. I'll be waiting for you when you're ready," I said quietly.

"I wouldn't hold my breath," he muttered as I softly closed the door behind me.

Rejection was a cold slap in the face anytime it happened, but coming from him like that was enough to make me want to curl up in a ball. I resisted the urge, holding my head high as I walked down the hall.

"I'm going home," I told a surprised Rick.

"Kimmie," he said, pulling me in for an awkward hug since my crutches got in the way. "He doesn't mean it. He's just frustrated."

"Maybe, but I don't think my staying is doing him any good. He needs to focus on getting better first. I'll be in touch," I said, holding my tears in by a thread.

"I've really enjoyed being with you this summer, despite the mishaps," Rick said, pulling me in for another hug.

"I feel the same," I said as a tear slipped down my cheek. "I'll be back, Dad."

"That sounds nice to hear," he said, acknowledging the fact that I was finally calling him his parental name.

"It feels right," I said, giving him a watery kiss on the cheek. "I'll call," I said, hurrying down the hall as fast as my aluminum crutches would allow before my tears tainted my exit.

Chapter 16

"You okay?" my mom asked for the hundredth time as our plane landed.

"Mom, I'm fine," I said, exasperated.

"I know, you've said that, but we left in such a hurry that I'm not sure you said your goodbyes properly."

"Mom, you're the one that wanted me to come home," I said wearily, grabbing my carryon bag.

"Not with your tail tucked between your legs," she muttered behind me, grabbing my bag from me and handing me my crutches the flight attendant had handed her.

"When can I be done with these stupid things?" I grumbled, hobbling off the plane.

"I'm taking you to see Dr. Roberts tomorrow. She'll give us a verdict then."

By the time we made it out of the airport, I was ready to throw the crutches into the nearest dumpster. My armpits protested the hard cushions that dug painfully into them with each step I took. It felt better to complain about that kind of pain, rather than deal with the true pain I was feeling. After much soul-searching the night before, I felt Mason had lied to himself and me about his feelings. I had to fight the urge to run to him and make him admit it. He needed to believe in himself before he could begin to explore the feelings he had for me. Putting distance between us seemed to be the best option I could think of. One day he'd be ready to own up to them, but for now, I'd have to give him the space he needed, no matter how painful it was.

Carol was waiting for me when Mom pulled the car into the driveway. I climbed out of the car smiling, and was surprised when she nearly bowled me over in a bear hug.

"Kim, I've been sooooooo worried about you," she said, dragging out the word.

"When I heard you were lost with some guy, I about died. I begged my mom to let me go with your mom, but she said I would just get in the way. As if, right? I mean, seriously, I'm not a two-year-old," Carol chatted on as she helped my mom drag my luggage down the hall to my room.

"I'll get you girls a snack while you catch up," Mom said, giving me a knowing look.

She knew I was dying to tell Carol everything and was giving me the space to do so. I knew she wanted to know too, but respected the new boundaries I had set up between us. For years, she had been my sounding board, my shoulder to cry on, my everyday champion, but her betrayal, although forgivable, had erected a wall between us that I wasn't ready to scale just yet.

"So, what's the deal with that," Carol asked, settling on my bed beside me.

I shrugged my shoulders "We're working on it, I guess. She came clean for her reasons in Colorado and I forgive her, but it just still feels off. I have so many other things to deal with that I've pushed it to the back of my mind for now."