“That was very brave of her. Terrifying for you, though, I imagine.”
Rick nodded. “Lara’s doctors had been very clear about the risks she was taking, but she’d made up her mind and she told me that the thing she most wanted from me was my support. So, despite my own doubts, I gave it.”
“Wasn’t that the right thing to do? You were her husband, not her doctor.”
“Maybe. Things might have turned out differently if I’d said more. It’s too late now, and I’ll never know.” He had to live with the guilt of that, and the burden had become familiar. “But as a doctor, I’m very clear about what my responsibilities. I know that you’ve been through a lot, and that you deserve a break. And please don’t think that I underestimate how hard this is for you. But I honestly think that the best way to help is to keep pushing you.”
“So...you’re saying that you’re not letting up on me. I either have to put up with having you on my case or find another doctor?”
Something about Fleur’s smile told him that she wasn’t going to be asking for a different doctor. Or perhaps that was wishful thinking on his part. “That’s about it.”
“Okay. You’re right, I do need you to keep pushing me. And I really appreciate that you’ve made it clear to me where you stand.”
“So you’re ready for whatever I can throw at you?”
Fleur smiled. “No, I’m only just getting to grips with not being ready. Thanks for the talk, though.”
“My pleasure.”
Fleur got to her feet and he offered her his arm for support. But when she slid her hand into the bend of his elbow, it felt as if maybe they were supporting each other. He’d told himself that he didn’t need the touch of a woman, and that he and Ellie were just fine on their own. But suddenly he needed Fleur close.
Things had come full circle. Their relationship had changed, from open warfare to good-natured teasing. And now had come another subtle change. Rick was supposed to have all the answers, but he was beginning to suspect that Fleur was the only answer that made any sense at all.
* * *
Rick was always cautious in his use of the word breakthrough, because he knew that rehabilitation could be a two steps forward, one step back process. But it seemed that Fleur truly had broken through her fears. Every day she was walking further alone, and when she did use a crutch to support her, she didn’t rely on it as she had before.
“How was your day, Ellie?” This was one of their evening rituals. Coffee for Rick and juice for Ellie. They’d sit on the high stools in the kitchen together and discuss their day.
“Uncle Salty told us another story.”
“About sea monsters?” Rick wondered whether he’d have to explain to his daughter that sea monsters weren’t real.
“Yes. I felt sorry for the monster.”
“Okay.” Clearly, Salty Harrington had once again failed to frighten the children with his stories. Or maybe he was missing the point. The children were the ones that Salty could really communicate with.
“And we learned a dance. Fleur taught us.”
A little thrill tingled through Rick’s senses. It seemed that Fleur’s daily schedule was becoming busy. And that she’d broken through her self-imposed barriers once again and had moved on from ordinary steps to dance steps.
“Can I see it?”
Ellie nodded, and Rick lifted her down from the stool. “This is the one the sailors do...”
Ellie started to caper around in a fair imitation of a seaman’s jig. She was singing a tune to go with it, and stamping out a rhythm on the floor with her feet. She finished with an exaggerated mock stumble.
“What’s that for?” Rick wondered whether the stumble had been intentional on Fleur’s part.
“Fleur says that they’re on a ship. And it’s in a storm.”
Rick chuckled. “Okay.”
“And this is the monster’s dance.” Ellie flung her arms above her head, starting to sway mournfully. Even though she was only four, the dance had something about it. Fleur had injected meaning into the gestures she’d taught the kids.
“The monster’s sad, is he?”
“She. She’s very sad because she’s all alone at the bottom of the sea. But she dances with the sailors and that makes her happy. You can’t buy happiness, you know.”