CHAPTER 3
After spending five days at Dr. Wright's clinic, Jeremy is taken home in the middle of the night. He still doesn't want anyone to see him, until he breaks the news to Candy. While the exercises did help a little, like the tingling he is feeling in his legs now, they did not provide the miracle that Jeremy was hoping for. But he is not giving up just yet.
Now sitting at the table in his cabin with Jason, he is waiting on Josh to bring Candy to see him. How he dreads telling her the awful news, but he knows he has to tell her before someone else finds out and tells her.
Josh opens the door and steps aside, letting Candy enter first. Her face brightens when she sees Jeremy sitting at the table and not laying in bed. "Well, look at you," she says as she rushes to him. "I was wondering when you were going to get out of that bed." She stands behind him and puts her hands on his shoulders while kissing the top of his head.
Jeremy gives her a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing."
Jason rises from his chair. "Good morning, Candy. Here you take my seat," he says as he holds the chair for her. "Jeremy, we'll be outside," he says as him and Josh head out the door.
Jeremy only nods. Looking at Candy, he feels so much love for her. How do I tell her this? She is going to be devastated, but she'll act like there's nothing wrong. Taking her hands, he can't find the words to start.
"Jeremy? What's going on? I can tell there's something you're not telling me. I've felt that way ever since your accident." She squeezes his hand.
"Candy, there is something I've been keeping from you. Oh God! How do I tell you this?" he fights back the tears that are ready to fall.
"Jeremy! You're scaring me. What's wrong?" She puts her arms around him and holds him while tears run down her cheeks. "Jeremy, please!"
Jeremy sits up straight and wipes the tears from her eyes and face with his hands. He looks into Candy's eyes and begins. "Candy, I hope you know how much I truly love you. I love you so much."
"I know you love me, Jeremy, just as much as I love you. I never have any doubts about that."
"I don't want to tell you this, but I can't hide it any longer."
Candy bites on her lip and blinks back her tears. "Jeremy? Jeremy, did something happen while you were in Tacoma? Were you unfaithful to me?" she asks as she stares at him.
"What? Oh no, Candy! No, I couldn't do that to you. I will never be unfaithful to you." He swallows hard. "But I wish that was it, instead of what I have to tell you."
Candy looks at Jeremy with a puzzled expression. "Jeremy, you're not making any sense. Just tell me!"
"All right." He takes a deep breath before saying, "Candy, I was hurt in the accident. Hurt bad."
"Jeremy, you look fine. Well, except for the bruising and some cuts."
"I know it looks that way, but. . .but I can't. . .I can't move my legs." Tears slowly fall from his eyes.
Candy gasps and puts her hand on the side of Jeremy's face. "Oh Jeremy. I. . .I don't know what to say." She bites on her lip again. "What does Allyn think about this?"
"She doesn't know much about this kind of injury. She's been working with me on some exercises."
"Have they helped?"
"I don't know. Maybe a little. There's now a tingling feeling in my legs. If that means anything, I don't know."
Candy rises and walks over to the window and looks out. "Jeremy, why are you just now telling me this? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I mean, you obviously told Allyn, Jason, and Josh. Why not me? Do you not trust me?"
"Trust has nothing to do with it, Candy. I trust you with my life. It's just I didn't want to worry you or cause you any pain. I still don't." He puts his elbows on the table and holds his face in his hands. "Candy, I know this is not what you signed on for. I may not ever be able to walk. I might not be able to be a . . .a husband to you. If you want to run out that door and never look back, I'll understand. I wouldn't blame you one bit."
Candy walks over and sits back down, taking Jeremy in her arms. "Jeremy Bolt, how could you ever think I would do such a thing? I love you. You're not going to get rid of me that easy," she says as she kisses his cheek. "I'm going to be here for you and we're going to beat this. We're going to do this together and we're going to win. I know it. I know it in my heart."
"Candy, I can't ask you to give up your life to take care of me. I can't move. Jason or Josh has to carry me. Do you know how humiliating that is? I'm a burden, and I'm afraid I'll always be a burden."
"You're no burden because we all love you and we want to help you any way we can. Jeremy, please let us help. All of us. Not just Jason, Josh, and Allyn, but me too."
Jeremy wraps his arms around Candy and they hold on to each other. "Thank you, Candy. I don't know what I ever did to deserve a beautiful loving woman as you." He gives her a soft kiss on the lips. "But will you do me a favor?"
"Yes, of course. What is it?"
"If this ever gets to be too much for you, and you want out, you'll tell me. I don't want you to stay with me out of pity or because you feel like it's your duty. Promise?"
She kisses his lips tenderly. "I promise, but it will never happen. I know we haven't said our wedding vows yet, but they say through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do us part. Well Jeremy, that is the promise I'm making to you right now. I love you, Jeremy Bolt."
"I love you too, Miss Pruitt." Jeremy places his lips on hers and they have a very long tender kiss.
Parting, they sit and hold hands. "Jeremy, can I get you anything? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"No, we haven't eaten yet. I wanted to talk to you first. I was afraid if I ate, I'd get sick when I told you." They both laugh.
"Well, I'm going to fix us all something to eat. And afterwards, the four of us are going to sit down and make out a schedule. I know Jason and Josh need to get back to work. So Mr. Bolt, it looks like you're going to be stuck with me most of the time. Think you can take having me around all day?"
"I know I can, but Candy, you don't have to stay with me every minute of the day. I want you to have a life."
Candy smiles at Jeremy and kisses him on the tip of his nose. "You are my life, Jeremy. And don't you ever forget that."
Candy goes to the door, opens it, and calls for Jason and Josh to come inside. The Bolt brothers sit at the table talking while Candy fixes a breakfast of eggs, bacon, potatoes, gravy, biscuits and coffee, lots of coffee. And like Candy said, they all four make out a schedule that will work for all of them. At least for awhile.
