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her own two feet again, without anyone’s help. Guilt seeps into the mixture of her self-demeaning thoughts as she inwardly struggles with the kindness they are bestowing on her. She knows they mean well, but the need to stand on her own latches onto her with such intensity it takes all of her self-restraint to keep her mouth shut and grin and bear it until the nurse finally stops the wheelchair.
    If it wasn’t for the nagging pain that bites into her like an angry bulldog anytime she makes a sudden movement, Raina would jump out of the chair and sprint out of the exit. Instead, she forces a stoic smile and concentrates on making her face as emotionless as possible as she stands. She knows she has to start finding her strength again so she can push through the pain and fear, allowing herself to take back her life once again.
    Kas takes Raina’s elbow, trying to help her out of the wheelchair, but she pulls back as she smiles politely. Kas doesn’t miss how her lips are pressed too tightly together from the pain he knows that she is doing her best to disguise.
    “I’m fine, but thank you,” Raina manages to push out, even though breathing seems to be difficult while she gets herself to a standing position.
    Kas grits his teeth and forces himself to take a step back, so she can prove whatever it is she needs to prove to herself, but he isn’t the least bit happy about it. His self-restraint will only hold out so far, and if he hears so much as a tiny whimper, he will help her, no matter how hell-bent she is to stop him.
    Thirty minutes later, they pull into the cobblestone driveway of Kas’ place. Raina finds that she is suddenly very curious to see his home, to see how he spends his free time and where he lays his head at night. His jeep pulls to a stop, and he bounds out to open her door. She allows him to grab her hand and help her out, and his chest swells with the small triumph.
    Raina gazes at his house, admiring the dark stained wood and bold, cobalt blue tin roof. It’s a smaller home, but it has a huge tiered deck that wraps around from the front door to as far as she can see of the side of the house. The deck is stained just a shade lighter than the home, and its detailing is pure craftsmanship.
    Raina loves the way the tiers open up to larger ones as they ascend and how the front of the tiers and railing are accented by beautiful mexican tiles. The deck curves at one spot where a high bench has been crafted so people can lounge around the large wooden table that sits to its front, topped with the same tiling that accents the railing. There are six high-back bar stools on the opposite side of the large, inviting table. A top-of-the-line stainless steel grill is proudly displayed conveniently next to the French doors coming from what Raina assumes is the kitchen. From her vantage point, she can see that there is at least one other curve in the deck that bestows a lower, bigger bench that would accommodate even more people. She wonders at whether or not Kas entertains large crowds that would easily fit on his deck.
    The lawn isn’t as spectacular, but the grass is already a healthy green and is neatly trimmed with berry bushes edging the front and tall pine trees standing majestically from behind the house. An unfamiliar sense of belonging teases the back of Raina’s thoughts before she quickly banishes it, blaming the knock to her head for such idiotic sentiments.
    Raina takes a deep breath and starts towards the deck on her own. Kas begrudgingly allows her. The short walk to the deck is manageable enough, and she wishes that Dr. Merrick would have released her without making her promise that she would have someone be with her when help is needed. She straightens her shoulders with a slight twinge of indignation at the assumption that she needs assistance. She’s perfectly capable of managing on her own, she has for so many years, so, why should it be any different now?
    Kas stays just enough behind Raina