28. Reaper

28

Reaper

I could hear Sarra humming to Glory and smiled. I was going to the doctor today, and Sarra was staying behind because she was driving me crazy with her worry. I could feel her staring at me, so Maverick was taking me instead.

"Are you ready?" Maverick asked, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"I could hear you limping. Isn't your leg getting better yet?"

"You can't hear me limping. My leg is coming along just fine; it's only been a week since I fell off that damn cliff. I didn't know a mountain lion was stalking me. I was in California, not the fucking jungle."

"Okay, I didn't hear you limping, but I heard you breathing. You need to practice your breathing technique," I said, smirking.

"You're funny."

"I'm excited to get these bandages off. I can't wait. My baby is scared of them. When I hold her, all she does is stare at them."

"How do you know that's what she does?"

"Because Sarra told me. Let's get these off."

"Are you leaving now?" Sarra asked, walking into the room.

"Yes, sweetheart, give me a kiss for good luck. I haven't had a headache, so that's a good start," I said.

"I don't know why I can't go with you."

"Because I know you will get your hopes up, and I don't want to hear that sadness in your voice if Jack says I have to keep the bandages on a little longer. This way, Maverick can call you and inform you before we get home."

"But what about his leg?"

"My leg will be fine; I drive with my right foot, and even if I didn't, I'd be fine," Maverick said.

"Okay, call me right after you see the doctor. And Maverick, just because you are my cousin doesn't mean you can talk to me like I'm a child."

Maverick chuckled. "I will call you." I stood up and got my cane. I would rather use the cane than have someone guide me around the house. I knew where all the steps and tables were, so it was easy while I was inside. It was going outside where Molly, Bub, and Alpo wanted me to play with them, which was nerve-wracking.

I sat in the doctor's office while he turned off the light and looked into my eyes for what seemed like forever. "Does the light bother your eyes?"

"No."

"How about now?"

"It feels overly bright, but it doesn't hurt."

"How have your headaches been?"

"I haven't had any headaches."

"That's good. This is what we will do. I'm going to give you some dark glasses to wear. You have to wear them all the time, except when you are in the shower or sleeping. You can't screw this up, Knox. This is serious stuff. You could become blind for the rest of your life if you don't listen to me."

"I promise I won't take the glasses off until all the lights are out at night. A dark shower is fine; I'm in the dark now. I just have to keep my eyes out of the water."

"Good, I will see you back here in a week."

"Thank you, Jack. You saved my life."

"Your life is worth saving."

"Damn, you always have been a sweet talker. That's how you got Jodi to marry you. How many kids do you have now?"

"Six, four boys and two girls."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. Here you go. These glasses stay on your face until I say otherwise."

"They will. I feel like I should kiss you or something."

"We'll shake hands. See you next week, Knox."

Maverick stood up with a grin on his face. "I see you got the bandages off."

"Yes, but I have to keep the glasses on all the time. Let's go home; I'll surprise Sarra."

I spotted her as she and Glory were walking back from the corner grocery store. Maverick honked. She stopped, and I knew she would cry. "I'll walk with them," I said, getting out of the vehicle.

I walked up to them, and Sarra threw her arms around me and kissed me.

"Get a room," Ryan Reed called out as he drove by. We waved, and then I turned back to Sarra.

"I'm so happy you got your bandages off."

"I have to keep the glasses on all the time. I can't expose my eyes to light, but at least I don't have to wear bandages. Now, let me see how much my baby girl has grown. Look at Daddy's baby girl; she is the most beautiful baby in the world." I picked her up, and she smiled at me.

"She likes me again. Thank goodness. I was worried she would be afraid of me with these glasses on. I'll carry her as we walk back to the house."

"I'm so happy your headaches have gone away."

"As soon as my eyes get back to normal, we are going on a honeymoon."

"I can't wait to fly in a plane again."

I stopped walking and looked at her. "Sweetheart, I forgot you haven't flown on a plane. You'll love it, I promise."

"Let's not talk anymore about it, or I'll chicken out. It has to be like a big casket in the sky. How does it stay up there? How many people are on the plane? I'm going to have to walk through a plane before I get in one. Would you hate me if I was scared to get in one of those crowded planes?"

"We'll take our plane, and you won't have to get on a crowded plane."

"You have a plane?"

"Our company has one."

"Who will fly the plane?"

"One of us can operate the plane."

"Can we just go somewhere like Alaska? I'm not sure about flying just yet."

"Alaska will be perfect."

"Do you think I'm acting like a big baby?"

"No, I don't think that at all. You've lived a different life than most of us. When I first went on a plane, I was shaking, and I was thirteen; Grandpa gave me a drink of his whiskey to calm me down. Don't tell anyone I told you that because I'll have to deny it."

"That's so funny. Did you get drunk?"

"No, I went to sleep. I slept until we got to Florida and Disney World."

"Disney World? I bet that was fun."

"Would you like to go there as well?"

"Yes, I wonder if any of the others will want to go?"

"We can ask them. I think that would be fun. We can push Glory around in her stroller and take turns with the other parents on the rides."

"Yes, that's what I want to do. When you have time between jobs, we'll go somewhere else. We are going to have a beautiful life together."

"Yes, we are, sweetheart."