Bound for Christmas (11 page)

Lifting his hand up to her mouth she kissed the back of it. “You didn’t do anything to him. Nor can you live his life for him.”

“I know. I tried. Then I became angry because I hated every minute of it. Even though I knew my father was finally proud of me. When I’d come home, he’d look at me with the same loving gaze in his eyes that was only reserved for Derek. But, I couldn’t do it. As I neared my halfway point I knew I had two choices, get out or stay. I’d been miserable for long enough and I just wanted to be happy.”

This time when he looked at her, she saw a different emotion other than grief but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Your dad will either have to learn to live with it or he won’t. However, for what it’s worth I think you made the right decision.”

He nodded, she didn’t know if that meant that he agreed with what she said or that he was still wrestling with it in his mind.

“So, how does a man deal with so much built up emotion and degradation.”

“I felt close to losing my mind.” He exhaled and rose; pulling her along with him. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you. Right now, let’s get some hot cocoa and finish this walk before the zoo closes.”

“I will hold you too that.”

*           *           *

The week passed and Christmas grew closer as she and Evan fell into a routine. They kept their relationship to porch side discussion and late night movies while she was at the house. When their off day coincided they spent it at her apartment, making love, going on dates and enjoying getting to know each other. She knew Mr. Douglas, her patient, was not happy about it, but neither she nor Evan allowed it to dampen their mood.

Deciding since she was going to be spending Christmas day with Evan and James that the house needed decorating for the holiday. One day she searched the garage and located a box with holiday lights and a fake tree that had seen better days. Most of the bulbs were cracked or missing and the tree limbs were dusky and badly bent. Instead she found a company that delivered a fresh one and got that one ordered and up. Mr. Douglas even allowed her to play Christmas music during his therapy sessions, he said that it drown out the pain Lily put him through.

Her only concern was that even though his health was improving Mr. Douglas still refused to put any effort into walking or using his right hand.

One day while on the phone with Evan she had expressed to him that if his father did all the things he was supposed to do, he wouldn’t need around the clock care and could live a more productive life.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said

*           *           *

“Hello, Dad.” Evan arrived home two days later after talking to Zoey one night about his dad and the lack of progress. The angry words and snide comments between the two of them had calmed down over the last few weeks, but his father was still in the same rut.

“Evan. Tell Teresa to stop making me eat this shredded rat food, I want oatmeal.” His father, in blue seersucker pajamas, was leaning back against his pillow with a frown.

It was the expression James often wore when Zoey was off.

“I’ll let her know when we’re done.” Evan moved deeper into the room, still in his uniform with a package in his hand.

“Done with what? In a few minutes my John Wayne marathon is going to start and I don’t want to be disturbed.”

“You will have to DVR it, because Lily will be here in thirty minutes for your session.”

“Call her and cancel it.”

Lifting and eyebrow he stared at his father. “That is not going to happen.”

Evan set the package on his father’s lap.

“What’s this?” He scowled at the blue wrapped package as if he expected a snake to pop out of it.

“An early Christmas present. Open it.” Evan crossed his arms over his chest.

“I think I’d rather wait until Christmas,” his father grumbled.

“Then I’ll do it.” Before his father could object, he unwrapped the gift and pulled out the item inside.

“How are you going to open another man’s gift? And I told you I didn’t want any new house shoes I’m not going anywhere.”

Tossing the package into the small trash can, Evan smiled at his dad. “Oh, but you are.” Evan played a game of tug of war with his father and the cover until finally he pulled it out of his dad’s single handed grasp.

“No, I’m not.” His father banged his fist against the bed.

Evan shoved his father’s feet into the shoes, then went across the room and got the walker that Lily had brought over last week. On his way by the TV he unplugged it again.

“Why’d you do that?”

“You want John Wayne then you show me you’re willing to be at least half the man you used to be and try to walk, partner.” After he removed his coat and tossed it on to the rail at the foot of his dad’s hospital bed, Evan scooped his dad up and set him behind the walker.

“Teresa, help me, the man is mad!” his father bellowed.

“You want Teresa, let’s go get her, dad.” Gently, so as not to hurt his dad he straightened out his arm and helped his father wrap his fingers of his right hand on the bar of the walker as he held him up from behind.

“Why can’t you just leave me in peace?”

“Because even though you’re an ass I love you. You’re my dad and all I have left.”

There was no response.

Making sure his father’s feet were set, a little awkward, but in the best position possible. “Now just take a step, Dad.”

“I can’t.”

“Lily said she’d been working with you for months now and your legs muscles are strong you just don’t use them. One step.”

“I can’t.”

Evan took a deep breath, feeling the trembling in his father’s body; fear. He understood at that moment that it had been easier for the last seven months for James Douglas to lie in the bed and not try than to admit his strength failed him.

“Dad, it is just you and me. I’m right here. I won’t let you fall and I’m not going anywhere.”

The shaking increased, but finally his father moved, barely an inch but he took a step.

“Let’s try another one, dad.” Tears were making his eyes blurry but Evan kept his voice steady, refusing to let his father hear the soft emotion. With one hand on top of his dads and the other around his waist they took another step. This time on his father’s good foot.

It took twenty minutes for his father to walk four feet, both of them were sweating but by the time Lily showed up both of their faces were wet and his father was in a better mind frame for physical therapy.

Evan stayed and assisted Lily, more like received training from her in how to work with his father when she wasn’t there, now that James was willing to learn to walk.

“Okay, dad, I have plans for tonight but tomorrow we’ll do it again.” When he helped his father into bed over an hour and a half later, got him set up with a cold glass of ice water, two of Zoey’s holiday cookies and started the recorded episode of his western marathon there was just a little light in his old man’s eyes. Not quite a sparkle and there was no smile on James Douglas face but the two of them had started in the direction of crossing a bridge.

“You going out with Zoey?”

“Yes.” Evan waited for the normal ridicule that would come from his father.

“You two are quite a team.” His father’s eyes were beginning to droop; Evan doubted if he’d make it through the opening of the movie.

“It’s looking that way. We’re trying,” he confessed.

“Don’t mess it up,” James said seconds before he drifted off to sleep.

Evan closed the door, leaving it open a crack. He went into the kitchen where Theresa was reading a book to let her know that his dad was resting. Then he jogged up stairs admiring all the holiday changes in the house. He knew it all was Zoey’s doing. The woman had come into their lives and changed more things in the house than the decorations.

His father had advised him not to mess things up and he didn’t plan on it. Tonight was going to be an important night in their relationship. It would prove whether or not it was even possible for him and Zoey to have a relationship together. He was prepared to reveal all; he hoped she was ready to receive it.

Chapter Ten

“I missed you.” Evan said to Zoey after he’d freed her mouth from a passionate kiss. However, he still had her pressed against the wall with her legs wrapped around his waist.

“Well, hello to you to.” She giggled. “I missed you as well.”

“The house looks amazing. It hasn’t been decorated for years for the holiday.”

“That would explain the level of dust in the boxes and all the missing or worn down items.” She ran her hands along his short hair. It was longer now than when she’d first met him, but he still kept it tapered and above his collar.

“Definitely.” He kissed along the side of her neck as he squeezed her ass.

Rotating her hips against the hard bulge in his pants she asked, “You just want to get naked and stay in tonight.”

He groaned as he stepped back and allowed her to plant her feet on the floor. “Oh, my angel, I’d love to say yes, but there’s some place I want to take you.”

“A surprise?” she asked feeling giddy, she loved surprises.

“Not really.” He moved to the center of her living room shoved his hands down into the pockets of his pants as he gazed at her. “You once asked me how I dealt with all my emotions from my father and myself.”

She wasn’t sure how to feel at the moment. Happy that he was willing to confide in her, but nervous because his tone had changed some. Gone was the passionate man who greeted her, now he appeared serious and slightly withdrawn.

“Okay. Whatever that is I want to know. It’s a part of you, therefore, important to me.”

He nodded. “I hope you still think so once you see.”

Now she was almost scared, but she’d never been one to back away from a challenge before. “Am I dressed okay? Do I need sneakers or a sweat suit?”

Currently she was wearing a satin green top, cream pants and her boots.

He frowned. “Where do you think I’m taking you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know a boxing gym or something.”

“I’m not even dressed for a workout.” Moving his hands up and down his body he indicated his own apparel.

That was true. Dressed in all black, he wore khakis, a t-shirt and casual shoes. His coat and scarf were black as well.

“Just so I’m clear before we walk out the door, you’re not involved in any kind of wicked worshiping are you?” She needed to know if she should start running the other way…far away from him if he was.

His bark of laughter made her feel a little more at ease.

“No. Not at all.”

“Good. So, what do I need to wear…black maybe?”

“Let’s see what you have and I’ll help you choose something appropriate if you don’t mind.”

“Anything that keeps me from sticking out like a sore thumb I’m game.” She led the way into her bedroom.

An hour later, they were in the car driving to destination unknown and Zoey found herself dressed in a white corset that she had in her closet from a costume bachelorette party last year when she and her friend’s had gone out bar hopping dressed as naughty nurses. Evan had her put on a grey mini that was almost too tight to be decent, something she’d bought at the request of her ex but could never bring herself to wear outside of the house. Her only other apparel was her white leather boots.  She was thankful to have it all hidden under a dark trench coat, but she dreaded the moment she took her coat off.

“How was your dad when you left?”

“Because today was sort of a good day, I will let you talk about work…for a moment.” He glanced over at her from the driver side of the car.

“Thank you.” Right now she needed something familiar and that’s what work was for her. “What happened?”

“My father took some steps with his walker.” Pride radiated in his voice.

“Oh, Evan that is wonderful. How did Lily convince him to use it?” She turned a little in the seat and stared at his profile.

“Actually, I got him up. With a lot of threats, but he did it.”

She leaned her head to the side against the headrest. “With you…that is amazing. Maybe now you both can start moving forward.”

As they passed beneath a street lamp she notice there was a little light now in his eyes.

“I hope so.”

They talked a little more, but before she knew it Evan was pulling up beside a large brick building in the row of other warehouse. The parking lot wasn’t packed but there were a lot of cars around them.

She saw a few other people going in with long coats on, leather of different styles. When the door opened she could hear loud music and she wondered if it were one of those underground rave parties.

“While we’re in here, Zoey, remember that I will always be beside you. You will not be forced to do anything you don’t want to and whenever you are ready to go just say the word.”

Do things? What kind of things? God please don’t let this man be into swinging or drugs.

She nodded and he got out of the car. Coming around he opened her door and she stepped out. He kissed her lightly on the mouth, and then took her hand. The last thing he told her before they entered was that while they were there he was going to call her Nightingale and she needed to call him Flyer.

Next thing she knew, Evan allowed a big burly man at the door to scan his card and then she was inside of a world she had only heard joked about by her E.R. nurse friends.

Evan removed her coat and gave it to an attendant standing at the door of a small room. The woman had on a school girl skirt no top and what Zoey assumed were nipple clamps on her bare breasts. Zoey tried not to stare, but couldn’t help herself.

Claiming her hand again, Evan told her about the large room with the stage, he had to lean close to her in order to speak in her ear over the loud techno-style music.

People in all state of dress, undress, black, leather and rubber were dancing, drinking or staring at people in cages beside the stage.

“Come.” Evan urged her forward.

They walked through another door and she started to comprehend a little more. Evan was into kinks and fetishes of some sort.