Alex placed his hands on the arms of his wheel chair and lifted himself into a standing position. James, his therapist, grinned when he took five steps forward. "Awesome, Alex! Are you still keeping your progress a secret from the Tanners?"
"I am, but not much longer. I want to surprise Hannah and the others when I'm able to walk ten steps."
James replied, "Before you know it, you'll be completely mobile with the use of a cane."
James pushed the wheelchair to Alex and he sat back down. Since the day he and Hannah had shared an unmistakable connection, he had concentrated all of his effort on recovery. The day he asked Hannah for the truth he wanted to stand before her. If she admitted their relationship was as he believed, he would share his burgeoning devotion to her and his belief that they could recapture what had been stolen, but only if she wanted it. His fear was that she did not want it.
The day of reckoning finally arrived with the first snowfall. Alex texted Hannah and asked if she would come to his room. He'd never made such a request and he knew she had to be curious. He locked the wheels of his wheelchair, braced his hands on the armrests, and pushed himself upward. It was quite easy now. Soon he would be standing without having to push himself up. He walked about five steps and then backed up. He would save his energy until Hannah arrived. Sitting back in the chair he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. In a few minutes he would know the truth. He waited anxiously for Hannah's arrival.
Within minutes there was a soft tap on his door. Inhaling and releasing a long cleansing breath, he whispered to himself, "The direction of your life is about to be determined, old boy."
He wheeled to the door and opened it.
Hannah, dressed in her usual attire of jeans, boots, western shirt, with a vest and jacket added for warmth, looked adorable. She asked with a concerned expression, "Is something wrong?"
Alex smiled. "Not at all. I asked you here because I want to show you something. Please come in." He backed his wheelchair up and Hannah stepped into the room. Her concerned expression had turned to one of relief, and now curiosity. Alex rolled around her and shut the door.
Hannah's eyebrows rose. "Hmm. Now you've really got me curious."
Alex grinned, rolled across the room, set the brake on his wheelchair, and without a word pushed upward until he was standing.
Hannah gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. "Alex! When did this happen?"
Staring intently at her, he replied, "I've been making phenomenal progress for a few weeks. I didn't say anything because I wanted to surprise you."
Hannah fingered a tear. "Other than you not dying in the attack, it's the best surprise I've ever had."
"Well, it's not over, luv," he said as he started toward her. Just ten steps. Just ten steps. Ten steps until I know my future.
He completed the ten steps and stood directly in front of her. For long moments they stared into each others eyes and then he lifted his hand to caress her face. He was going to kiss her with such passion it made his knees weak. He swayed and she gave a little shriek, placing her hands on his forearms to steady him.
Her cell phone rang.
"Go ahead and answer it," he said, so as to buy time to compose himself. Keeping her left hand on his right arm, she lifted her phone and answered the call.
"Hi, Dad."
Because Alex was standing so close, he could hear Sage's words.
"Hannah, I just got a call from Alex's uncle." She shifted her gaze upward until she was staring at him.
"And?" she asked cautiously.
There was a pause before Sage said, "Alex's father just died of a heart attack."
Alex heard the news and everything became surreal. His father was dead? The father he couldn't remember. The father he wanted desperately to remember.
Hannah rasped into the phone, "I'll come to the house in a few minutes." She disconnected before her father could respond. "You heard?" she asked.
Alex nodded. He was feeling weaker by the second and Hannah must have known because she said, "I'll bring the chair to you."
He nodded again and used the remainder of his strength to stand until he felt the wheelchair against his legs. He practically fell into it. Hannah stepped in front of him and went down on her knees. "I'm so sorry, Alex. Do you want to come to the house and talk to my dad or do you want me to get the details first?"
For a moment Alex had a selfish thought. Is my life ever going to right itself? Then he felt guilty about his selfishness when his family in England was suffering. He reached to stroke a hand down Hannah's silky hair and sadly said, "I'll go speak with your father, then I need to return to England as soon as possible."
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No."