Disclaimer: None of this mine, nor will it ever be. The characters belong to Stephenie Meyer and I just like to play with Edward and Bella.
Also, thank you so much for your support for my writing. It means to me more than words can say.
"It is better to take many small steps in the right direction than to take a giant leap forward only to stumble backward."
Old Chinese Proverb
Chapter Four
Bella was sitting in the van, glowering at the gym that Jasper had sent her. It was the bottom floor of a medical complex. "Do you think they'll help me, Mom?" Bella asked.
"I have a good feeling, Bella," Renee answered.
"I'm afraid, Ma," Bella whispered. "Jasper gave me something that I haven't had in a long time … hope. Hope that I can walk; that I can take control of my life again. I miss my freedom … I miss teaching. I miss living."
"You could go back," Renee offered. "To teaching, you know."
"I could, but I don't feel like I'd have any authority. Not from the chair. I know that there are teachers who do this from a chair, but I'm not strong enough. It's a mental thing. But, I can't just ignore it," Bella sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. At the spa a couple of weeks ago, Bella was spoiled with a complete makeover. Her toes were painted a brilliant pink and her hair was cut, styled and dyed a rich, chocolate brown, with caramel highlights, hiding the grey that had sprung up since her spinal stroke. She looked like the Bella from her memory and not the shattered woman who'd had her life thrown into upheaval. "Being a book editor is much more flexible for the amount of physical therapy that I need. I can work on the books when I can't sleep. It's also a bit more lucrative than teaching. Not by much, but my salary is better than when I worked at the middle school."
"I would suggest maintaining your credentials. Just in case, baby girl," Renee said. "Now, shall we meet Alice?"
Bella nodded and released her chair from the back of the van. Pressing a few buttons, the door opened and she eased down the ramp. Renee walked beside her as they entered the facility. Bella introduced herself and she was led to a private room by the receptionist. With some assistance, Bella settled on a table and filled out the insurance paperwork. As she was finishing, the door opened and petite woman walked in. Bella recognized her from the photo on Jasper's desk.
Trailing behind her was the most beautiful man Bella had ever seen. He was well over six feet tall, with broad shoulders, slender waist, pale skin, with a smattering of freckles across his nose and along his hairline. His hair was a cross between red and chocolate brown, appearing to almost bronze in color, with many multifaceted colors of blonde, caramel and light brown. His eyes captured Bella's attention. They were crystalline, bright green, swirling with concern and genuine warmth.
"Isabella Swan?" chirped the woman. Bella waved her hand. "I'm Alice Whitlock. This is one of my best physical therapists, Edward Cullen."
"Please, call me Bella," Bella smiled, shaking Alice's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you. This is my mother, Renee Swan."
"Nice to meet you," Alice said, shaking Renee's hand.
"A pleasure, Ms. Swan," Edward said softly, taking her hand in his. Bella shuddered, feeling a shock radiating through her arm. "Are you alright?"
"Just a chill," Bella laughed. "I'm okay. Thank you, though."
Alice sat down on a stool and took out a tablet. "I received your file from my husband. I also took the liberty of contacting your previous rehab center. They sent over your progress; from the moment you entered the residential center until you were discharged a few months later."
Renee huffed, crossing her arms over her chest with disdain.
"Do you have something to add, Mrs. Swan?" Edward asked, arching a brow at Renee.
"That place never helped her in her goal of wanting to walk again," Renee scowled. "They just taught her out to handle the wheelchair, getting in and out of a car, and building up her upper body strength. Bella was determined to walk again. Her muscles worked. She felt her legs. They never listened to her."
"We will listen to her," Alice said quietly. "However, Edward and I would like to talk to Bella. We also have to do a preliminary examination. It's easier without an audience."
"Bells?" Renee asked.
"I appreciate you taking me here, but you know I hate feeling weak in front of anyone," Bella said, reaching for her mother's hand. "I love you …"
"I love you, too, baby girl," Renee said, kissing her cheek. "I'll be thinking positive thoughts."
"Give us about an hour to do our examination," Edward said softly, giving Bella a crooked smile. "We will need your help with her exercises at home." He offered Renee his arm. She blushed, taking it and they ducked out of the room.
"I know that your recovery has been a challenge. How much of what you put out is a front?" Alice asked.
"Almost all of it," Bella sighed. "I'm frustrated. My legs haven't worked properly since that night. The first time I moved my legs was when your husband used that wheel thingy on my shin. On top of that, my ex-husband gave up on me and my sons are still struggling with his absence and the changes in the house."
"That was a bullshit move," Alice sneered.
"You're telling me," Bella grumbled, shaking her head.
Edward knocked and came back into the room. "My apologies," he said. "Your mom went to go get some coffee. A treat after your first appointment."
"It's been hard on her," Bella muttered. "It's been hard on all of us. And it's all so senseless. I don't understand why this happened to me."
"Why don't you tell us about your physical activity level prior to your stroke?" Alice asked.
"I was very active. A few months prior to the stroke, I had just completed a half marathon," Bella said. "I'd always been active. I worked out to compensate for being clumsy. I found that if I exercised, I wouldn't stumble over my own feet as much."
"With you being in such good shape prior to your stroke, it should make things easier with your therapy," Edward said. He sat down in the chair that Renee had vacated. "After discussing it with Alice and Jasper, I'll be handling your case. I worked closely with another spinal injury patient and we got some excellent results. If you don't mind, of course?"
"I thought I'd be working with Alice," Bella spluttered. "Dr. Whitlock said …"
"Your type of physical therapy is very intense and requires a great deal of strength," Alice said, giving her a soft smile. "With my own condition, I'm taking a more administrative role in my practice."
"Are you ill?" Bella asked.
"Pregnant," Alice grinned, pressing her hand to her flat belly. "We just passed into the second trimester."
"Congratulations," Bella breathed. Blinking to Edward, she gave him a sheepish grin. "I'd be more than happy to work with you. I'm sorry about …"
"It's not a big deal, Ms. Swan," Edward chuckled. Bella arched a brow. "Bella …"
"If I remember correctly, the movements can be relatively intimate," Bella blushed. "I'd prefer you call me by my first name, Edward."
"By all means," he grinned crookedly.
For the next half hour, Bella told both Alice and Edward of her stroke, the therapy she'd endured and her frustrations with her body. They also delineated a plan of attack for their physical rehabilitation. With that, Alice left and Edward ran some tests on her body. He tested her upper body strength and was shocked at how strong she was. Where she lacked strength was in her feet, legs, and hips. She had good range of motion, but the muscular atrophy was quite apparent.
"So, what's the plan?" Bella asked as she settled back into her wheelchair. She bent down to pick up her shoes, but Edward gently lifted her leg. "I can do that, Edward."
"I know," he said, his eyes crinkling. He guided her leg into his lap and slipped on her sock, followed by her sneaker. "In regard to the plan, we need to get your spine speaking to your lower limbs. We also need to work those muscles." He picked up her other foot, still bare and he chuckled. "Pink … I like it."
"My mother picked out the color," Bella blushed. "I would have gotten something more sedate."
"It suits you," Edward beamed. "Can you try something for me?"
"I can try, but that may not necessarily happen," Bella quipped.
Edward captured her big toe. "Wriggle this," he said.
"I've been trying to wriggle my toes, roll my ankles, bend my knees … none of it works," Bella snapped. Angry tears welled in her eyes and she gripped the handles of her wheelchair.
"Hey," Edward said, moving closer and his legs were on either side of her chair. "Your body went through a trauma. You need to reteach it how to do the basics." She looked at his polo shirt, tears brimming in her chocolate eyes. A drop fell onto her cheek and Edward gently wiped it away with the back of his knuckles. The motion was comforting and intimate. "Look at me, Bella." Her eyes fluttered shut and more tears fell. She wiped them away before looking at him. "'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.'" He flipped his hand, showing her a tattoo on his forearm, written in Chinese characters. "Wriggling your toe is the first step to your next marathon." He rolled back and picked up her foot. "Can you feel my hands on your foot?"
"Yes," Bella nodded.
"Describe it," he commanded.
"They're warm, soft and big," she blushed.
"Well, your feet are tiny, Bella," Edward snickered. "Now, focus your attention on your big toe. Take a deep breath and allow your muscle memory to work." Bella gave him a scowl. "Think positively, Bella."
"It's hard to think positive when your life went to hell in a handbasket, Edward," Bella grumped. Edward gave her a wry smile. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize, Bella. Move your toe," he said simply. "Mind over matter."
"You're not going to make me read self-help books, are you?" Bella snorted.
"Not yet," Edward laughed. "Toe? I'm waiting. I'm not going to let you leave until you at least try."
With an adorable scowl, Bella glowered at her toe. The bright pink nail polish glimmered against her pale skin. Edward's hands surrounded her foot. She wanted to feel more of his hands on her skin. With a huff of breath, her toe wiggled, brushing against Edward's wrist. "I did it."
"Yes, you did," Edward beamed. "One more wriggle?" Bella nodded and her toes pointed, making her cry out in happiness. He put her sock on and her toes moved freely. When he tied her shoe, he gently lowered her leg. "Now, we'll start easy. I would like you to try to point and flex your toes ten times before you go to sleep and ten more times when you wake up."
"When will I come back?" Bella asked.
"For now, we'll go every other day," Edward said, standing up and opening the door. Bella rolled her chair past him. "Does this time work for you?"
"My schedule is flexible," Bella replied. "And I can drive myself. I have a modified van."
"I'll put you on the schedule," Edward smiled as he strolled next to her. He plucked a card from the counter, scribbling on the back and handed it to her. "If you need to reschedule or cancel, just let us know as soon as you're able. If it's after hours, you can text me. I've included my cell phone number on the back."
"One question," Bella mumbled. "Will I work in that room with you or out in the gym?"
"At first, we'll work in the room. I want to manipulate your legs and get those muscles going. When you get stronger, we'll move out to the gym. We also have a pool and an aquatic treadmill."
"Aquatic treadmill?" Bella asked. "What's that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Edward smirked. "A treadmill, under water. It allows you to strengthen your legs, build your resistance, but at a low impact. You're reteaching your body how to move, how to walk. It's important to make it as less stressful as possible."
"Okay," Bella nodded. "I trust you. You're already doing more than my other rehab facility."
"Excellent!" Edward said. "I'll see you in a couple of days. Don't forget to wriggle those toes. Slow and steady, that's what wins the race."
"I hope so," Bella sighed.
Edward squeezed Bella's shoulders and gave her a deliciously crooked grin. "Remember that feeling when you wriggled your toe. You can do this, Bella. You will be running a half marathon again." He squeezed her shoulders again. "I'll see you in a couple of days."
"Bye, Edward," Bella said, waving as he walked back to the gym.
My mom came up behind Bella, holding a cup of coffee. "Oh, he's cute!" she squealed.
"Mother, really?" Bella deadpanned.
A/N: So, Edward and Bella have finally met. I like this Edward … he's a hard ass, but with a heart of gold and schmexy tattoos. A picture of his tattoo, among other things, are on my blog. You can find a link for that on my profile. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. I'm also on twitter, too: tufano79.
I'll see you in a couple of days! Thank you for reading!