Chapter 7
That afternoon, like every week, I took Ryan to Harmony Medical Center for his regular checkup.
His so-called "attending physician" was Kevin Grant.
When Kevin saw me pushing the wheelchair in, he put on a professional, perfectly measured smile.
"Miss Cooper, you seem to be looking a bit better today," he said.
"Really?" I said. "Thanks for caring, Dr. Grant."
Ryan sat in the wheelchair, giving his best impression of someone weak but still hopeful.
Kevin went through the motions of the standard checkup, then spoke in that same tired tone I'd gotten used to over the past four years, "I've got some good news."
I looked at him.
He went on, "The Spinal Recovery Institute here in the country just got clinical approval for a new technology. For spinal cord injuries like your brother's, the success rate is really high. I've already got Ryan a spot in the trial."
"How high is the success rate?" I asked.
"Over seventy percent."
Ryan's eyes got misty right on cue.
"Claire, did you hear that? I might be able to walk again," he said.
He reached out and grabbed my hand, his grip very strong.
Back then, whenever he grabbed my hand like this, I'd get a lump in my throat and feel like crying.
But now, all I noticed was how warm his hand felt.
A paraplegic's hand shouldn't be this warm.
"That's amazing," I said. "Ryan, you're definitely going to get better."
Kevin added, "But the treatment has to be done at the Spinal Recovery Institute in Riverside City. It's a closed program, so he'll be there for about one to two months."
"One to two months?" I echoed.
"That's right. Family members can't visit during that time. It could interfere with the treatment," Kevin explained.
But I knew they were doing this so Ryan got to disappear for a month or two and didn't have to keep pretending around me.
Emily's birthday was the day after tomorrow, and there was a party at the Grand Crest Restaurant. If Ryan didn't have to go home for a while, he could spend all that time with Emily, no need to sneak around.
"When does he leave?" I asked.
"The day after tomorrow," Kevin replied.
The day after tomorrow was November 17th.
It was my birthday. And Emily's birthday, too.
Ryan really nailed the timing.
"I'll take Ryan there," I said.
"No need," Kevin said quickly. "The institute will send a car for him. You only need to drop him off at the hospital entrance."
I nodded.
Ryan squeezed my hand again. "Claire, once I'm better, I'll make you the happiest girl in the world."
His acting was better than it was four years ago.
Tears welled up in his eyes but didn't fall, his voice quivered a bit, and his lips set in a stubborn line.
Anyone who saw him would feel their heart ache.
My heart ached, too.
But it was not for him.
It was for the girl I used to be four years ago, the one who actually believed that look and ended up torn apart inside.
"Alright, I'll wait for you," I said.
Kevin said the checkup would take a while and had me wait outside.
Normally, I'd use this time to hop over to my part-time gig and earn a few bucks.
But today, I stayed put.
I stood by the hallway window and watched as Ryan came out the back door of the exam room, changed into casual clothes.
His back was ramrod straight. He walked with long, confident strides. There wasn't a moment's hesitation.
When the elevator hit the first floor, the doors slid open and there was a black sedan waiting outside.
Emily was in the back seat, lowered the window and waved at Ryan.
He bent down and ducked in. As the car door shut, I couldn't hear anything.
I turned away and made my way to another exam room on the third floor of the inpatient wing.
The sign on the door said: Oncology Department.
The doctor was Stephen Reed.