Smoke

Nineteen

He squeezed his eyes closed and took a deep breath, trying to settle his mind as another anguished cry escaped from her, the physiotherapist trying to gently encourage her to take another step,

“Come on Scarlett! You’re doing brilliantly! Keep going!”

She cried out again, He rushed to her side, hooking his arms through hers and holding her hands, he took her weight, trying to help her ask much as he could, she shook violently as she moved, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks,

“Come on love, it won’t be long before you and Bayleigh are running rings around me again!”

He adored being a husband and a dad but occasionally found himself missing watching the football with his feet up, his life had become about painting nails and braiding hair and he was fairly certain he wouldn’t forget his first tea party, or the way he hid in the bathroom to shed a few tears on her first day of nursery, even after he had mocked Scarlett for it, he’d give anything for another lazy Saturday with he two of them, a kids film on the telly and a take away pizza.

He hadn’t felt this lost before.

Another three weeks had passed by, another three weeks of cannulas, pain killers and physiotherapy, a nurse poked her head in,

“Morning pet” She said quietly, “No husband today?”

Scarlett shook her head, she had to talk Kevin in to taking a few hours a day to go back to Bayleigh so she didn’t feel so lost in the storm, she got lonely at the hospital but she knew it was best for both Kevin and Bayleigh,

“Not yet, hopefully soon though I’ve got physio again this afternoon and as cheesy as it sounds I don’t think I’d get through it without him”

The nurse smiled,

“From looking at your notes you’re doing amazingly well anyway!” she walked over to the bed “Did you want to stand up and have a stretch? We’ll get you in to your chair?”

She placed her foot on the cold tiles,

“I’m here if you need me Scarlett” the nurse nodded towards her, “You’re doing really well”

With stiff legs, she stood up right, still at first, she turned slowly placing one hand on the now empty bed next to her, she placed one foot in front of her and shifted her weight, her chest throbbing with excitement she took a step forward, she looked at the nurse her face stretched in to a wide grin, she looked at the nurse, tears welling in her eyes,

“I can do it!”

She spluttered her voice thick with emotion,

“Well done Scarlett!”

She sat back down her hands still shaking, she smiled at the nurse, biting her lip,

“Don’t tell Kevin”

She was overwhelmed with excitement.
“And they all lived happily ever after”

He closed the book looking at Bayleigh’s happy face, he swelled with pride, she had adapted so well since Scarlett’s accident, reprimanding Kevin when he made a mess,

“It’s got to be tidy for mummy!”

She would scowl, he often found it difficult not to crack a smile, with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face, she was the double of her mother, the only feature she shared with her father were his dark eyes, she had Scarlett’s thick tresses and the light dusting of freckles across her nose,

“Shall we get ready to go to Nanny’s”

He asked stroking her hair, she nodded as he scooped her up and carried her through to her bedroom, he smiled at the photo on the wall, she was only a few months old Laying in her father’s arms, her mother’s hand lovingly sweeping her hair from her forehead, Bayleigh’s eyes transfixed on the shiny buttons of their formal uniforms, Kevin’s eyes transfixed on Scarlett, he sighed,

“Not too much longer”

He thought to himself as he rooted through his daughter’s wardrobe.

He stepped in to the small side room, a nurse stood sorting the night stand out. He looked over to his wife, her hair fanned out on the pillow, she slept peacefully, the nurse turned to him,

“Hello Kevin, she’ll probably wale up soon, she’s been asleep for a few hours now”

“Any wonder she sleeps at night!”

He chuckled making her eyes flutter,

“Kev”

She looked at him beaming, sitting herself up she pecked him on the cheek,

“Alright Love? You’re happy, have the doctors been? Have I missed something?”

She shook her head,

“Nothing I can think of”

He shrugged as a doctor strolled in to the room,

“Ready for physio Mrs Medhurst?”

She nodded, Kevin stood to help her off the bed, she batted him away, pushing herself forward with a small groan, she smiled as the chill of the floor touched the soles of her feet, she stood next to him, smiling as his face broke in to a smile, he stuttered as he reached out for her,

“Scar...You’re…Look at you”

He beamed, pulling her in to his chest, he felt his chest tighten and his stomach knot for the first time in nearly a month he was holding his wife close to him, holding her in his arms, she nuzzled in to his chest stroking her thumbs either side of his spine, she had waited for this for longer than he cared to admit, it was the small things he had missed, little kisses and quick cuddles.