Chapter 14
Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter! I apologize for the delay as I was having a huge case of writers block for this story. Thank you so much for all your reviews! You guys are so sweet! :) PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless. :)
-Vegter999
Torsten's POV:
"Wanna rest for a moment?" Kate asked, gesturing to one of the benches that sat on the bridge crossing the small river that ran on the east side of town.
"Sure" I agreed. After all my arms were very tired from wheeling my chair all around town. I had shown Kate most of what there was to see, including the apartment complex where Naomi stayed, the line of shops, and the fountain downtown.
Kate plopped herself on the edge of the bench with a small groan while I wheeled next to the bench and sat on her right side. We both stared out at nothing in particular for a few moments, simply listening to the rush of the water over rocks in it's path and observing the snow on the banks and the mountains and rolling hills in the distance.
"It's so beautiful here" Kate remarked whistfully.
"You think so?" I answered, not knowing quite what else to say.
"Of course. It reminds me of my home back in the US but it's also different and beautiful in it's own way."
"Where are you from in the US anyway?"
"Colorado."
"Oh I suppose you must be into skiing and hiking then."
She giggled.
"No, I actually um..." she hesitated, suddenly becoming unsure of herself for a moment.
"What?" I probed gently, genuinely curious.
"I'm actually into gymnastics."
"Your a gymnast?!" I remarked, genuinely surprised.
"I was until...the accident." She looked down for a moment, obviously saddened by the memory.
"May I ask what happened?" I inquired gently.
She gave me a sad but, reassuring smile and gazed out at the river for a moment before speaking.
"Well, I started doing gymnastics when I was three years old. By the time I was twelve I had already won several good medals in competitions and by the time Matt and I got married I was on my way to the Olympic trials. It had always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl to compete in the Olympics and at every competition Matt was there cheering me on. During the Olympic trials, however, I was on beam and I was doing a back hand spring dismount but I landed wrong and injured my foot and the doctors told me I could probably never compete again. Shortly after that Matt was killed. I haven't competed or practiced since."
"Well isn't your foot better now?" I asked.
She turned her gaze on me.
"It's...just not the same. Besides it wouldn't be the same without Matt there."
"Well, how do you know? Have you ever tried to compete with it?" I asked gently.
She said nothing, but only gave me a meaningful gaze and looked down.
"My dad always used to tell us growing up that it's better to try and fail then to never try at all, and when you try you're living and not merely existing" I added, meaningfully.
She lifted her gaze again and this time it stayed level with my own.
The trance was soon broken, however, as a loud male voice shouted "Kate!"
Kate jumped and whipped around just in time to see a man with blond hair, brown eyes and a muscular frame coming towards her, arms wide open.
She had barely stood up and said "Garrett?" before the man, Garett, enveloped her in a hug. It was obvious from the stiffness of her body language and the fact that she barely returned his embrace that she was extremely uncomfortable and unpleasantly surprised.
Garrett finally pulled back and flashed her a seductive grin.
"So how are you? I haven't heard from you in awhile?" he asked.
"Um...Garrett what are you doing all the way here in Norway?" she asked, politely though I could tell she'd rather be anywhere but here talking to him.
"Isn't it obvious? To see you" he gave her a wink. I hated the guy already.
"Oh you didn't have to do that. I'm sure a flight here was very expensive" she remarked awkwardly.
"Nah, remember I'm worth 400 million back in the states so it was hardly a drop in the bucket. Speaking of money, how about I take you to a nice fancy dinner tonight?" he asked, taking her hand.
She firmly tugged it back and replied "That's very nice of you Garett but..."
"But she already has dinner plans with me" I remarked before I realized I was even speaking. I had rapidly grown tired of his flirting and attention to Kate which was obviously not welcomed by her.
They both turned and gazed at me for the first time since the start of their conversation and gave Kate a quick glance that said just go with it. I'll explain later. She gave an almost imperceptible nod and turned back to Garett.
"Oh yes I forgot to mention I had plans with Torsten tonight."
Garett snickered as he glanced at me up and down. "With him?! You can't be serious Kate!"
"Actually I was completely serious" she replied assertively, her eyebrows drawing together in anger and irritation.
"A cripple?! Come on Kate you deserve a real man" Garett winked at her again.
The insult stung me to the core and I was reminded of the vicious teasing I had received from the other boys in high school.
"Garett that is not kind. Please leave!" she snapped.
Garett put up his hands in a mock surrender.
"All right. But if you change your mind come to the hotel in town. Room #4. I'll be waiting" he called, as he jogged back down the street.
"Ughhh" she huffed, stamping her foot. "I hate dealing with that man."
She then turned to me.
"I'm sorry about that Torsten."
I rapidly blinked away the tears that had been forming in my eyes and tried to appear strong by asking "Who was that guy?"
"Oh that was Garrett. He used to work with Matt. He often tried to get me to go out with him before Matt and I dated and married."
"And now that your husband's gone he seems to be trying again."
"I'm afraid so."
"I'm sorry that I said you had dinner plans with me. I wasn't trying to make you feel uncomfortable. I was just trying to get him to leave because you obviously weren't ok having him around."
"No don't be sorry. I understand and thank you for that."
"I mean but would you like to...you know...go to dinner with me... you know just to keep him off your back for awhile in case he decides to come around to your house tonight or..." I stammered.
Gosh Torsten shut up!
"Actually I think that's a great idea" she replied.
"You do?!" I exclaimed, genuinely shocked.
"Yes but on one condition."
"And what would that be?"
"That you take me on a real date."
I swear my heart practically stopped in it's tracks.
This woman...this stunning gold medal-winning, almost Olympian gymnast wants to go on date with me?!
"You really wanna go on a date with me?!" I exclaimed, putting my own thoughts into words.
"Yeah why wouldn't I?" she replied, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Do you wanna go on a date with me? Please don't feel obligated if you don't want to" she reassured me.
"Kate I would love to go on a date with you" I replied firmly.
"Cool. Well, you have my number. Just give me a call tonight and tell me where and when you wanna meet." She then glanced at her watch.
"Oh I've gotta run back to John. Will you be alright getting back home on your own?"
"I'll be fine" I reassured her.
"Good. Well thanks for showing me around Torsten and I'll see you tonight" she called, waving as she headed down the street.
I waved back, feeling a warmth in my heart that had never been there before.
Wow was this a hard chapter to write but by the grace of God I did it! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you thought of this chapter. God Bless.
