When the cab pulled up to the Street house, Dan and Daisy Street came outside. Daisy walked up to the back passenger door and helped her daughter out while Dan got Della's bag. The young woman paid the driver, and he left. Dan insisted on taking Della's bag, and that Daisy help her, "really, dad, I'm fine."

Once the three were inside, Daisy sat Della down on the couch, "if you're fine, then why are you still using a cane?"

"My balance is still off. The doctor wants me to keep using it for the time being."

"Then you're not fine. Besides, you just called off your engagement to the love of your life."

"Perry's not the love of my life."

"Just because you say it repeatedly, doesn't make it true."

"He wouldn't accept the fact that it was over."

Dan had gone to take his daughter's bag to her room. Daisy sat in a chair to face her daughter, "Della, why did you end it? Be honest with me."

"I did it for him," she said.

"Doesn't sound like he wanted this."

"He's too stubborn to admit that this will become too much after a while. He keeps saying how he enjoys taking care of me."

"Sounds more like a good man than a stubborn one."

"Mom," Della paused to try and keep her emotions in check, "I can't let him do this." The tears began to fall. "This could happen again. Next time, it could be a lot worse. Perry would never leave me. Even if he was tired of caring for me. It's better for him if I end it now."

"I feel like there's more to this."

Della took a shaky breath and let it out, "the doctor isn't sure I'll be able to walk without the cane again."

"Why not?"

"My balance hasn't improved since my surgery. He thinks the stroke was more of a minor one than a mini one."

"I'm guessing you haven't told Perry this."

"I couldn't," Della said. "I just couldn't."

Daisy moved to sit next to Della. She pulled her daughter into her arms and held her as she cried. That's how Dan found them. It was then he realized just how broken his daughter truly was.

In the week that Della had been staying with her parents, her health declined. She was quite depressed and neglecting her overall health. Dan and Daisy became extremely worried about Della. Dan had Daisy call Perry without telling their daughter. Della was sitting on the couch when there was a knock at the door. She didn't hear her parents, so they must have not heard the door. Della slowly stood and leaned heavily on her cane as she slowly walked to the door. She was shocked by who was on the other side, "Perry, what are you doing here?"

"May I come in for a moment?"

"Sure," Della let the man in and locked the door. "You can have a seat on the couch."

Perry did, but when he saw Della struggling to get to her seat, he went to help her. Once she was seated next to him, Perry decided to explain, "your mother called me. She and your father are worried about your health."

"They're not the only ones."

"Why don't you let me take you to the hospital around here? If you don't want me to take you, then allow me to help your parents get you there."

"Perry," Della looked at the man.

"What is it?"

"Take me home, please."

"Are you sure?"

"I was so stupid to leave like that. To leave at all."

"Do you think you're okay to ride in the car that long?"

"I just haven't been eating or sleeping much."

"I'll get your things." Perry found Della's parents eavesdropping in the kitchen. He smiled, "where are Della's things?"

"Right there," Dan pointed to a suitcase behind his wife.

Perry chuckled, "how did you know?"

"We've seen our daughter when she's with you and without you. She was far too miserable to stay away from you forever."

"Thank you for calling me."

"Thank you for taking such good care of her," Dan hesitated, "please let us know what the doctor says."

"I will," Perry said. "I'll put this in the car and come back for her."

Perry took the suitcase to the car while the Streets went to say goodbye to Della, "are you angry with us?" Daisy asked.

"No," Della said, "quite the opposite. Thank you," she smiled.

Perry returned, "you let him do what's necessary to get you well and keep you safe."

"Yes, ma'am," Della smiled. She looked at Perry, "I guess that means you have to carry me."

The man instantly bent down and lifted Della. He took her to his car while Dan followed with the young woman's cane and his wife right behind him. They said their final good-byes and the couple left.

Della slept the entire way home. Perry ended up carrying her from the car to her bedroom. He placed her engagement ring on her nightstand and retrieved a glass of water for her before climbing into bed with her. Della was startled awake during the night. Perry woke up when the bed moved. "Hey," he said sleepily, "what's wrong?"

Della looked at him, "oh, Perry." She threw her arms around him and cried.

"Hey, what's got you so upset?"

"I've been lying to you."

"About what?"

"My doctor's appointments."

"You mean about possibly having to use the cane permanently?"

"Did my mother tell you?"

"No, your doctor did."

"When?"

"Right before we went back to work. After that appointment, you stepped out for a moment to go to the ladies' room. He told me then."

"He told me when you went to get the car."

"He wanted to know how you should be informed. I said that you may not want to be told with me around."

"I wish I had known that. Maybe I wouldn't have been so stupid."

"I feel like there's something else that's upsetting you."

"I had a nightmare that you had left me. It was so real. When I saw you, it just brought all of that emotion out."

"I'll never leave you. At least not of my own free will. Now, I think we need to forget about work and focus on you. You're so anxious to get back to normal that you haven't been focused on anything else. We'll go up to the cabin and see if we can get you to 100%."

"We just went back."

"I know, but I never sent those letters to my clients. Not yet anyway. I had a feeling things were going to change rather quickly."

"When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow, well, today."

Perry and Della went back to sleep.

The next day, they went to Perry's cabin. Perry stood close by as they went up the stairs. He tried to not help Della unless she asked. Perry unlocked the door and held it open for her. "Perry," Della breathed out.

"Yes, dear?"

"I'm a bit tired after that. I know it's not far, but could you help me to the couch?"

"Of course," Perry helped Della lie down and gave her a blanket. She hadn't walked up many steps, so her stamina, while okay for walking on flat surfaces, was not back to what it needed to be to climb stairs.

They spent a great deal of time taking walks while at the cabin. After a week, Della tried taking walks without her cane. She'd leave it at the cabin and hold onto Perry's arm. Her grip loosened with every walk. She started helping Perry in the kitchen and doing things on her own. On occasion, she'd trip or lose her balance, but she'd always catch herself. By the end of the month, Della was 100%. That meant, there was going to be not one, but two weddings. They would be a day apart too.