Chapter 25
Jasper
My cell phone rang as I entered the elevator at the rehab center. I was on my way to see something exciting Alysa wanted to show me, and there were very few people I wanted to talk to right now. When I pulled out my phone, it was one of them.
“Hello, Ms. President. How are you today?” I asked.
Reesa chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing you call me that.”
“That is your title,” I stated.
“For the rest of the world, maybe, but not for my baby brother,” Reesa corrected. “Are you ready?” she asked.
“Of course I am. But Alysa called me earlier and said she has something she wants to show me. Did I tell you that she made it all the way down the parallel bars with very little assistance yesterday?” I couldn’t believe how well Alysa was doing. I knew part of it was because Logan was an incredible surgeon, but it was all Alysa after that. She had been pushing hard each day at rehab, never doubting herself. Well, if she did, she never voiced it out loud. I’ve never known anyone as strong and determined as she was.
“That’s wonderful,” Reesa said. “Please tell her how proud I am of her.”
I knew Alysa wished it were going faster than it was, but Logan seemed extremely pleased with her progress. She was just tough on herself and wanted everything to be as it was before. But that wouldn’t ever be the case. In the old days, she did everything for herself; now, she had me.
“I’m sure you called for something other than a status update,” I said.
“Yes. I am wondering if you and Alysa would like to come and stay with me for a short time once she’s all recovered.”
“You can’t tell me you’re already lonely. I’m sure you are busier than you’ve ever been in your life,” I said.
“I am, but since we no longer have to hide the fact we are related, I want to be able to have my brother around.”
I got it. She had done what no one thought possible, and won the election. But now the hard part started. Not only Tabiq, but the whole world would be watching her to see what she did. “I want to be there to support you, but I can’t leave Boston just yet.”
“I know. I just had to tell you that you’re missed.”
It felt good. “I love you, Reesa.” It was a word that didn’t feel so strange now that I’d said it to Alysa. “I promise I will come back to Tabiq one day. Just need to wait till Alysa is ready to travel.”
“The door is always open, Jasper. And I love you, too. Now I’ve got to run into a late-night meeting,” she said. “I can’t believe how much needs to be done here.”
“You’re the woman to get it done,” I said, before ending the call. If I didn’t know she could do it, I’d never have talked her into putting her name on the ballot.
Now it was time to see what surprise Alysa had in store for me. I exited the elevator and headed towards the physical therapy room. She was sitting in her wheelchair, talking to her physical therapist. I was glad she was distracted for the moment. I had something I needed to do.
Walking over to the parallel bars, I pulled out a small box and put it on the table just beyond the bars. When she finished her walk, I was going to ask her to marry me. I wished I didn’t have the cast on my leg, so I could drop to one knee and do it the traditional American way, but hopefully she would say yes anyway.
As I waited at the end of the bars, Alysa wheeled herself into position. Instead of the therapist helping her up as usual, Alysa pulled herself into a standing position. I couldn’t help but smile at her accomplishment.
“Wow. That’s fantastic,” I said.
Alysa didn’t say anything, just held onto the bars as she took one slow step and then another. Each day I saw an improvement, and today was no different. She was almost at the end and had only a few steps to go when she blew my mind. She lifted her left hand off the bar and walked a step holding on with only one hand. Then she released her grip with that one too, and took another step.
Oh, my God.She was walking without support. Granted, they were small steps, but in my eyes, they were magnificent. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hug her tight and tell her how proud I was of her. But I didn’t want to distract her. Instead, I stood there quietly watching, waiting, and eventually she came to the end of the bars.
“What do you think?” she asked.
That you’re amazing.
“You’ve been working extra hard when I wasn’t looking,” I said.
She smiled. “Maybe. I figure you’re going to need my help when you get your cast taken off next week,” she teased.
“You did promise me you’d help me shower,” I said softly so the therapist couldn’t hear.