Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga) (7 page)

“I actually slept like the dead.” I grinned at her and pulled her into my lap. “Do I rate a good morning kiss?”

She looked back down the hall and grinned back at me. “I think I can arrange something like that for you.” She sat down in my lap and leaned forward. I could smell her sweet breath and my heart started racing. As she kissed me, my heart skipped a beat and I felt that wonderful glow that always came when I was this close to her.”

When she didn’t break the kiss right away and the passion was building inside me. I murmured around her lips “Ummm, Father, Shotgun, I can’t run remember.”

“Darn!” She giggled and broke the kiss. “Dad is downstairs. He told me to call him when you needed to get down.” Jumping up off my lap she went to the head of the stairs and called down them, “Dad Jason is ready to come downstairs.”

“I will be right up.” I heard him call from below.

Dr. Grant was the only one in the house who could lift my dead weight so I had no choice but to wait for him. Luckily the downstairs bathroom was bigger than the one up here and my toiletry articles were all down there on a shelf that the doctor had cleared for me. I heard the sound of his footsteps coming upstairs.

He looked at me and then Katie and chuckled. “So you two managed to get in your first kiss of the day eh?

Katie slapped him playfully and giggled “Daddy! How did you know?”

“Well you two get this certain glow on your face when you have been smooching.” He grinned at her. Then he turned to me and asked. “Ready son?”

I nodded to him and said. “Yes thank you sir. I wish you didn’t have to do this like this. I would rather walk under my own power.”

He lifted me up and surprised me by saying. “I don’t mind it son but since you will be here pretty often in the next few years I have decided to get a lift installed for the stairs.”

As he carried me downstairs I said to him. “Sir you really don’t need to do that because I fully intend on walking again.”

“It's really no problem Jason and I will be happy for both you and Katie when you do start walking but I still want to do this for you.” Katie had been following behind with the chair and placed the chair down and opened it up.

Dr. Grant set me down in the chair. I looked at him gratefully. “Thank you sir. You have been really kind to me.”

“Nonsense son you have done Katie a wonder since the two of you got together. She actually has goals now and when she is not screaming at me to do something for her she is every bit of the daughter her mother and I love to have.” He ducked when Katie swung a broom at him that she had snatched from a hallway nook as he said that. “Of course it will be good for you to observe how to get out of her way when she throws one of her tantrums.” He laughed as Katie tried to hit him again and scooted in the direction of the kitchen.

Katie chased him into the kitchen and shortly after she returned to me with a bag in her hands. “Sam left this with me for you. You will need to take it with you today when we leave.” She placed the bag on the hook I had for carrying schoolbooks around and turned to walk back into the kitchen.

“What's in the bag Katie?” I asked as I followed her in.

She turned to me with a sparkle in her eye and said. “Swim trunks. We are going to the school for your swimming physical therapy. Mr. Moore said he would teach me how to do a proper muscle toning exercise and other things to stimulate your nerves. He is a very dear man, you know.”

“Well I hope I don’t sink to the bottom of the pool you would never be able to lift me with your skinny chicken arms.” I said and then I ducked as she swung the broom at me playfully.

“You’re learning quick son.” Dr. Grant chuckled from behind us. “Breakfast is ready if you want to finish your morning hygienic chores Jason.”

I nodded and went to the bathroom where my stuff was. After I completed everything I needed to do I returned to the kitchen and rolled to the spot at the table they had set up for me.

Katie handed me a serving plate with scrambled eggs in it and said. “Dig in Jason you will need your strength today.” I took the plate and put a portion onto my empty plate. “You will be the first to ride in the new car daddy got me Jason. I like it. Its blue.”

“What kind of car is it?” I asked as I snagged two pieces of toast and a couple of sausages.

“It’s an El Camino. Unfortunately daddy won't get me the Corvette I wanted. He says that’s something I can get before I go to college.” She tossed a pout in the direction of her father who chuckled and pretended to ignore her.

“Grandpa Sam was going to get me a vehicle for my birthday but then this happened.” I waved to my legs. “Now I am pretty much useless in driving any sort of vehicle.”

“Actually, Jason.” Dr. Grant interrupted me. “You will have a vehicle. The village is leasing a specially designed car for your use as long as you are not able to walk.”

“Why would they do that?” I asked flabbergasted.

“Well a lot of the members on the council are ashamed at what happened to you.” Dr. Grant said. ‘This is the nineteen seventies not the eighteen hundreds and we should not have any issues with racial differences. You did nothing more than to attempt to protect my daughter from an abusive person. From what I hear this Steve’s father is one of the biggest bigots in the area and that's where his son got his attitude from. You could have rightfully sued the village for what happened Jason and they are grateful your Grandfather did not pursue the issue.” He handed me the milk so I could pour myself a glass.

“That’s very nice of the council sir. Will the vehicle be ready when I get out of the hospital?” I bit the end off a sausage.

Katie spoke up and said. “We are supposed to go get the vehicle for you after your swimming therapy today Jason. Like I said the weekend is fully planned. You will probably be glad to get back to the hospital on Sunday night.”

“I doubt that.” I grumbled and the whole family laughed.

Mrs. Grant spoke up for the first time. “It will only be a couple more weeks Jason. Your grandfather is working on getting your room finished. I have been out there a couple times to help your grandmother with the interior. She is such a sweet woman.”

“Mimi is great and she keeps Grandpa Sam in a flat lope twenty-four hours a day.” I said grinning.

“How old is your grandfather, Jason?” Mrs. Grant wanted to know.

Dr. Grant spoke up. “He turns eighty-six this year dear.”

“Eighty-Six? My lord he doesn’t look a day over fifty!” Mrs. Grant exclaimed.

“He says he owes it to clean living, Mrs. Grant. And running from my grandmother every time she gets her tick up at him.” I said grinning. They laughed again at what I had said.

Katie jumped up and started clearing off the dishes from the table but Mrs. Grant stopped her. “I will do that Katie you and Jason better get a start on your day.”

“Ok mother and thank you. I am not sure when we will get home. I want to take Jason up to Ogdensburg and have a look at a late birthday present for him.” She reached for my jacket and tossed it to me then she put her own jacket on.

“When was your birthday Jason?” Mrs. Grant asked.

“It was the eighteenth of September Mrs. Grant.” I said “Two weeks after the beating.”

“That’s a shame that you missed it this year.” Mrs. Grant said. “Ok run along you two and don’t be too late tonight.

“We won’t Mama.” Katie said as she rolled me out the door.

Once outside I spoke to Katie. “You don’t need to get me anything for my birthday. Besides I haven’t gotten you anything.”

“Your waking back up was enough of a gift for me, Jason.” She said softly.

We arrived at the school and Katie helped me get back into my chair. "I really like your car Katie. Not too sporty and just enough of the look of a truck to make me feel at home."

"It's ok." she said non committed. "I would have rather had the Corvette but daddy wouldn't budge.”

We were entering the sports facility as she said this and then I realized I did not even know where anything was located. "How about the full tour of the school? I just realized I have no idea where anything is."

"You will have time for that later. Mr. Moore will be waiting for us." She wheeled me to the door of the boys locker room and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "I would help you get changed but we would get in trouble for being in the locker room together." Her lips caressed my ear and then she giggled at me and left.

The images her comment triggered in my head were very intense and provocative and I could feel my face getting red. I shook my head to regain my composure and pushed the door open to enter the locker rooms.

The rooms were very large and the sounds made by my chair bumping into various obstacles echoed off the walls. They had this hollow feeling made me feel as if nobody was in the room.

I changed as quickly as possible into my swim trunks. Then exited the locker rooms through the door that was marked ‘Pool’.

When I entered the pool area I saw Katie standing and talking to an older man at the side of the pool. I stopped when I first saw Katie. My heart went into overdrive. She was wearing a yellow swim suit that could have been stuffed into a gum pack and still have left room for a few sticks of gum. There was no doubt in my mind that she was female and my heart was beating so fast it could have run the Kentucky Derby and left all the horses two laps behind. She looked up at me and smiled and waved me forward. I cursed at myself and wished to god I had a way to hide the reaction my body was displaying in seeing her like this for the first time. I somehow managed to control my heart beat. I imagined myself sitting stake naked in a snow bank in the middle of a blizzard. By the time I reached her my reaction was not as pronounced and my face was only slightly warm.

She smiled at me and glanced down. Her face flushed as she quickly returned her gaze to my face and she said with great restraint on her part. "Hey Jason this is Mr. Moore he will be helping us today and show me what I need to know."

I extended my hand and managed to control the tremble in my voice. "Thank you Mr. Moore for helping us with this."

Mr. Moore's voice was a mid bass when he replied to me. "It's my pleasure Jason. I used to help in a hospital with hydrotherapy." This was a good thing to know. At least he would know what needs to be done. "Now Jason we are going to fasten this floatation device around your chest. We don't want you sinking to the bottom while we do this." He smiled at me and wrapped the flotation belt around my chest. "Err... hmmm I will have to get one with longer straps I can't seem to get this fastened. I will be right back."

I nodded at him and when he walked away I leaned forward and whispered to Katie in a hoarse tone. "Good lord girl do you know how good you look to me now?"

She giggle at me and replied. "I wanted to wear a one piece but I wanted to see your reaction to this one first. I have to admit it was pleasing to see"

"Remember Katie your father the shotgun the not being able to run. Are you trying to get me shot?" I smiled at her as I spoke.

"What father does not see will not hurt him Jason." She said with a frank expression on her face. She blushed.

I noticed that Mr. Moore was returning and said quickly. "I made a promise to your father love and its going to be hard to keep if you keep tempting me like this."

She looked pleased with herself. "Sorry I will try to be nice." She attempted a contrite look. "But don't hold me to my word."

"There we go." Mr. Moore said as he approached us. "This one should fit. I wasn't expecting you to be as developed in the chest as you are Jason." He fastened the floatation belt around my chest and then continued. "You need to back up a bit for the next step. I want you to be able to get into the pool with as little help as possible because clearly this young lady would have difficulty lifting you out of the chair like it's normally done. Lock the wheels of the chair in place." He looked around and spotted what he was looking for. "Katie grab that slide there and place it on the front of the wheelchair. Katie grabbed what he pointed at, came and lifted my legs out of the chair foot rests. She swung both foot rests to the side and fitted the slide onto the front of the chair letting her hands linger for a bit on the back of my thighs. I hoped Mr. Moore didn't notice.

"There" She said "They are in place."

Mr. Moore stood back as he directed. "Help him slide forward and down the slide Katie. Jason use your arms to move yourself along."

I did as he said and shifted forward in the chair Katie helped stabilize me as I slid down the ramp. "Ok Katie, I can slide to the pool now." Grunting in the effort is took me to move myself on the tile of the floor I was happy that someone had wet the area already. It helped me slide forward easily.

As I moved my legs over the edge of the pool Mr. Moore moved in to stop me. "Now Katie, get into the pool and position yourself in front of Jason. Leave enough room for him to slide into the water. He will go under when he slides in you just need to catch him so he does not go too far." Katie gracefully jumped into the pool "Now Jason ease yourself forward slowly."

I did as he asked and slid into the pool. Of course I sank but I felt Katie's hands catch me and bring me back up above water. Her face was close to mine as she did and I could smell her sweet breath on my face as she looked me in the eyes. "Careful there love." She murmured to me "I am right here."

Mr. Moore was saying something but I didn't really hear what he was saying I was totally engrossed with the proximity Katie was to me. Up until now we had never been this close with so many parts of our bodies lightly touching. My mind was boggled and slow to respond to anything but this delightful creation in front of me.

"Like this Mr. Moore?" Katie asked while lifting my leg at the knee.

"Yes Katie you want to move the leg in every natural movement a leg would make." He slid into the pool and placed Katie's hands in the proper position. "Massage the muscles while you are doing this. It will stimulate the nerves as you perform the exercises. Traditionally speaking the facilities provided here do not constitute what is needed for a proper hydro therapy session so we will be concentrating on range and motion exercises. You will need to also use the facilities at the hospital for alternating warm and cold temperatures. This will stimulate the muscles and nerves. Do this before you come to the pool here for your motion exercises."