Chapter 17 - Learning to Walk
Rehabilitation became Luca’s new war.
Except this war could not be delegated.
Nobody could take the steps for him.
Rachel made sure he understood that every morning.
“Again.”
Luca hated that word.
Maya loved it.
“Again.”
He moved between the bars.
His left leg strengthened faster.
His right remained unreliable.
Some days he managed six steps.
Some days two.
One morning he could not stand at all.
He threw a towel across the room.
Maya watched from the doorway.
“You’re being dramatic.”
Luca stared at her.
“I am experiencing neurological frustration.”
“You threw a towel.”
“Accurately.”
She walked over and picked it up.
Then she sat beside him.
“You know what Tommy does when he misses the ball?”
“Blames the bat?”
“Yes.”
Luca almost smiled.
“And then?”
“He tries again.”
“Maya.”
She looked at him.
“You were asleep for twelve years.”
“My legs were.”
“Same thing.”
She shrugged.
“They probably need practice.”
Luca stared at her.
No physician had given him a better explanation.
He returned to the bars.
That afternoon, he walked eight steps.
A month later, twelve.
By Maya’s birthday, he could cross the gym with a cane.
He kept that secret.
The birthday party happened on the baseball diamond.
No politicians.
No executives.
No photographers.
Just children.
Elena.
Tommy.
Staff members Maya actually knew.
And one recovering criminal uncle under court supervision who watched from a distance because Maya had asked if Dominic could come.
Luca had almost refused.
Then Maya said.
“If people only get to be family when they never mess up, we won’t have many people.”
Luca could not argue with that.
When the cake arrived, Maya looked toward Luca’s empty wheelchair.
Her eyes widened.
He stood near the porch.
Cane in hand.
Then he started walking.
One step.
Two.
Three.
The diamond went silent.
Maya covered her mouth.
Luca crossed the grass slowly.
Twenty-two steps.
By the time he reached her, tears were running down Elena’s face.
Maya hugged him carefully.
“You saved it.”
“For your birthday.”
She looked up.
“Best present.”
Then the trustee approached Elena.
His face was wrong.
“Ms. Harper.”
“What?”
“The trust activated ten minutes ago.”
“That was expected.”
May you like
He swallowed.
“There is another beneficiary.”
