“Yeah, and I’m scared.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What if we can’t get through this? What if he hates me because I’m too hard on him?”
“Will you let up?”
“No. He needs this.”
“And you’re willing to put your relationship on the line?”
“To give him his life back? Yes.”
“Then you’ve already made your mind up. Only thing to do now is follow through.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“For what it’s worth, I think you’re giving him too little credit. Set boundaries right off the bat. When you’re in the rehab center you’re not his woman, you’re his Physical Therapist, and he’s your patient. When you’re outside of that, you’re just Jagger and Blanche.”
“We both know spill over is bound to happen.”
“Yes, but I know you plan to eventually get him to work with other therapists, so you’re trying to hold out and get him to that point.”
“It’s true. Is that awful?”
“No, I think it’s brave of you to do.”
“Remind me of that when I’m trying not to choke him out.”
“I’ve seen you work magic with people. Now will be no different, and if anyone deserves their happy ending, it’s you two. Does he know you’ve been in touch with his mom?”
“Umm no, one crisis at a time. I didn’t want her to think he’d given up on her. I keep her in the loop, that’s all.”
“Uh huh. You know if I was into that sort of thing I’d have married you a long time.”
“And we’d be well-dressed and blissfully happy,” I agree. “Speaking of happy. Any dating partners on the horizon?”
“I wish I could tell you yes. Slim pickings here, sister.”
“Boo. You need to come visit soon. You can enchant someone here and inspire them to move.”
“You say the sweetest things, B.”
I smirk. “I speak the truth. Men flock to you.”
“But they never stay,” she whispers. The sadness in her voice makes my heart ache.
“I’m sorry, babe. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to.”
“Some days I wonder. Maybe I was meant to be alone? Maybe that’s the price to pay for being so driven?”
“I don’t think I buy that. One shouldn’t cancel out the other.” I wish I could wave a wand and make the right man appear in her life. I can hear the loneliness in her voice, and it slays me. She’s too beautiful inside and out to have such a difficult time finding a mate.
“Grandma would say I need to stop looking and he’ll find me.”
“And what do you say?” I ask.
“I say, I’m not leaving my destiny up to anyone else.”