Chapter Seven

Nolan arrived a half an hour later. I tried to beat Dad to the door, but since he could walk and I couldn't, he made it there first. I was in the living room with Mom, and I craned my head to get a glimpse of Nolan.

He looked borderline terrified, borderline apprehensive.

"Hello, Nolan," my father said sternly. It was more of a growl than a greeting.

"Mr. East."

"You have two hours. I trust that Starr gave you the rules," he said.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you for having me over," he replied stiffly.

Dad nodded and finally stepped back to let him in. Mom rushed forward and gave Nolan a big hug.

I smiled. Things have been so backward lately. Usually it was Dad saving the day after Mom made something uncomfortable. When she pulled away I locked eyes with Nolan, and he smiled—the genuine happy-to-see-you smile.

"Come on, Aaron," my mother said as she went over to my father, and gently grabbed him by the arm. It took a few tugs before he relented and let her walk him out of the room.

"Oh, hey. Mr. East?" Nolan called out.

Dad spun around immediately and looked at him questioningly.

"Does my hour start now or when you opened the door?"

I had to stifle a giggle. While it was a truly valid question, I could hear the slight sarcasm in his tone.

"Your hour starts when the two of you are in the kids' room or alone in Starr's," Mom answered.

"Thanks, Mrs. E," he replied with a nod.

She smiled and yanked Dad out of the room. Nolan came over and kissed me quickly before sitting down next to me on the couch.

"So, my parents want to meet you," he said conversationally.

"Why?" I asked more defensively than I meant to.

"Morbid curiosity I would imagine," he replied with a shrug.

"Ah, the ‘Why is my son in love with a girl in a wheelchair?' morbidity," I said knowingly.

"Actually, it's more ‘We can't believe he's in love, we have to meet the girl who's the object of his affection' curiosity," he amended.

"And would you say that you're in love?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I could be convinced to share my feelings of intimacy with you," he said, clearing his throat.

"Oh?"

"Yes, but... There's something I would require from you first."

"What's that?"

He shifted on the chair so that I could see how serious he had suddenly become.

"I need you to promise that you'll only reply truthfully. I don't want to be told what I want to hear when I make this disclosure. I want to hear what you truly and honestly feel."

"Fair enough."

"The first time your parents came to my house to welcome us to the neighborhood, I could see how tired they looked. Not physically, but emotionally. I've always been empathetic I guess, and I could tell that something was weighing heavily on them. Now, mind you, I was in a different room, hiding behind a door while watching them talk to my parents—before I was called in and formally introduced. They shared a glance and asked me how old I was. I told them and that's when they asked me if I would like to come over and meet you. Possibly try to get you out of the house more often; on a strictly friendly basis only. I agreed when they told me how you were... chair bound. I guess it reminded me of when I was on crutches and no one wanted to play with me," he said with a chuckle.

"So this was a pity friendship?" I asked.

"Not at all, Janey. Let me finish please. Anyway, did you know that your father carries a shit ton of pictures of you in his wallet? Like, I mean when he opened it, a fold-out hit the floor. He has everything in there from when you were born, to a few months ago when Stella turned seven. My parents thought it was a little weird, I thought it was great. I remember that Dad asked him why he carried so many pictures. He was probably thinking you were terminal, but your father told him it was because he loved you so much and wished you had a normal life. Your mother started sniffling while I went through the pictures. Mom asked her to join her in the kitchen. I knew it was so she could cry, and I pretended not to notice. Back to the pictures, though. There was one of you holding Liam when he was just born. You were smiling so grandly, and Stella was standing next to your chair making a face. You had an arm around her and were struggling to hold Liam. But I think it's the way you held your little brother. The way you made sure Stella still felt wanted, so loving and awkward at the same time... That's around the time that I truly and helplessly fell in love with you," he finished, glancing at me.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out, so I closed it. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth again, but only a squeak came out.

I wasn't trying to be coy, and I wasn't trying to be cute. I was honestly at a loss for words. I hadn't expected a speech. I only expected a yes or no.

"So, I have to ask this now. Do you love me?" Nolan inquired.

"What I have to say will not be as meaningful as what I just presented, so please don't hate me. All I can honestly say is that what I feel for you is much more than I ever thought I could feel for anyone. I've never been in love before, but I would imagine that this would be it."

He let out a huge sigh and sat back against the couch. I watched him, wanting to reach over and kiss him... when the kids came barreling into the room.

"Nolan!" they both yelled happily, jumping on him.

"Hey, guys!" he greeted enthusiastically.

"It's Starr's birthday!" Liam told him.

"That's right! Did you bring her a present?" Stella asked, pulling away from him.

"He already gave it to me," I answered with a smile.

"What'd you get?" she asked excitedly coming over to me.

"A very special promise," Nolan said mysteriously.

"You can't wear a promise," Stella said in disappointment.

"Rabbit, not every present has to be something material. What Nolan just promised me is something no one else ever has," I said reprimanded.

She pouted for a moment, before her seven year old mind took over, and she told us to go upstairs with her and Liam.

When we got to the stairs, Nolan leaned down. I lifted my arms, expecting him to cradle me, but instead he stood me on my feet. A sharp pain shot through my left leg, and I winced.

"Today, Janey, on your twenty-first birthday, you're going to fulfill a dream. You're going to walk up to the kids" rooms," he said, getting behind me.

I felt tears welling in my eyes, and I didn't know if it was because he had so much faith in me or if it was because the pain kept resonating throughout my body.

"I don't think I can," I said miserably.

"Yes you can, Starr!" Liam said. I looked up and saw him and Stella sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for me. They both had huge, encouraging smiles on their faces.

"I won't let you fall. Promise," Nolan whispered into my ear.

I looked down at my feet and up at the long arduous task in front of me. I took a deep breath and put my hand on the railing. Nolan put his hands on my hips to steady me and I bent my leg.

My first footstep turned out to be quite agonizing. And it wasn't the fact that I bent my leg or that I moved my hips; it was putting my foot down and putting pressure on it that made me bite my lip and blink back tears.

"Hold on," Nolan said. I think he noticed the problem as quickly as I felt it. He used his hand to gently move my foot off of the step. He shifted again behind me and gently raised me high enough to place my feet on top of his. With an arm around my waist, he slowly began to climb up the stairs, careful not to step too harshly on the steps.

Now, I get it; I didn't exactly walk up the stairs by myself. But Nolan did his best and something no one had ever thought to do before him. Since my legs and hips couldn't take my weight on top of them, he gave me the sensation of walking, by letting me use his feet to rest my weight on.

"Mommy! Daddy! Come see! Starr's walking!" Liam yelled proudly at the top of his lungs.

"Liam, what in the world are you yelling about? Mom asked entering the room. "And where is your big sister?"

I took my hand off of the banister and raised it.

"Oh my God, Aaron! AARON COME QUICK!" Mom yelled, half crying, half laughing.

"Jessie, what are you the children screaming about?" Dad asked in exasperation.

Nolan took the last step up the stairs and onto the second floor landing. He hugged me tightly against him and I smiled at the kids. They were whooping and jumping up and down.

"Turn me around," I said to him.

He turned slowly, making sure to keep my feet on his and to balance both of us.

"Hi, Daddy," I said, waving.

He put a hand to his mouth and even from where I stood I could see the tears starting to spill over onto his cheeks.

"I walked up the stairs. Are you proud of me?" I asked, gripping Nolan's arms.

"I've never been so proud of you in my life," he said through his tears.

"Taking her back down the stairs will be easier and a lot faster. And just as safe, I assure you," Nolan reassured my parents.

Dad nodded and reached for my chair. He folded it and began to climb the stairs when Nolan shook his head.

"Unnecessary, Mr. East. We'll be walking today for as long as our legs can hold us," he said, giving me a gentle squeeze. He turned us around and smiled at the kids. "Let's go!"

"Come on guys! Let's go play!" Stella said, happily leading the way to her and Liam's room.