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Chapter Twenty: Therapy Day Part One

"Hey, Mom." Cole greeted as he poured himself a bowl of cereal while Marty meandered into the kitchen.

"Morning sweetie." Marty mused absently kissing his head.

Walking over to the fridge she noticed the calendar had today's date December 30 circled in red and marked in John's chicken scratch therapy day. Today was her first session with Dr. Saunders the hypno-therapist Dr. Miller had recommended.

Sighing she ran her fingers through her hair wondering what was going to happen at the therapy session. Shaking her head as if to empty it of the nervous thoughts she was feeling she opened the fridge and poured herself a glass of milk.

"Don't worry about your therapy session, Mom," Cole says thoughtfully, "It's going to help you remember. You'll be fine."

Marty smiled at Cole as she pulled him into a warm embrace. Ruffling his hair she asked, "When did you become so wise, kiddo?"

"I'm your son so I must have gotten it from somewhere. Besides you always said that Dad was a pretty smart guy."

"Funny, Cole, very funny."

After finishing her milk and taking all of her prenatal vitamins John had laid out for her the night before she walked back to her bedroom but stopped in front of the door. John was standing in the middle of the room having just come out of the shower. A navy blue towel slung low on his well-defined hips.

This was probably by now a normal occurrence for both of them. Walking in when the other was dressing or undressing considering she was pregnant, but it wasn't normal for Marty anymore.

Unable to stop herself she let her eyes rove over his body. From his still wet dark brown hair to his chiseled jaw line, his well honed and toned muscled chest and abs; following the familiar ridges her hands had traced to nights before underneath his tank top.

Her eyes then followed the path of his fluid biceps moving effortlessly through his designated drawer to find clothes to wear and the strong muscles of his defined back that were moving as well and she swore as her eyes fluttered closed she could remember feeling the heated skin move beneath her seeking fingers.

As Marty felt the heat rise in her cheeks she tried to calm her racing pulse before she walked into the room. She then cleared her throat alerting John to her presence.

John heard the familiar sound of someone clearing their throat behind him and when he turned around he saw Marty walking into the room. Smiling at her he was about to say hello when he noticed how flushed she looked. Her cheeks were tinted a deep crimson that was slowly creeping down her swan like neck.

"Hey, lady you all right?" He asked walking over to her.

"I'm fine." Marty squeaked too entranced by the smell of fresh Irish Spring and a heady masculine scent all his own to muster much of a response.

John gently caressed her cheek, brushing her hair out of the way as he rested his cheek against hers trying to figure out if she was warm. With all the pregnancy books he was reading the pestering of Mike he was doing after Marty's accident he wasn't taking any chances with her or the baby. Then he remembered today was her first therapy session; she was nervous.

"Are you worried about the therapy session?"

A small nod followed by the quiet whisper of "Yes." Was all John needed to know gently he brought her body to his and wrapped her in his arms. He knew it wasn't much and that she probably wanted and needed words of encouragement but this was the best he could do.

"You'll be fine."

"You know Cole said the same thing earlier. I hope both of you are right. I'll just um be going and let you finish getting dressed. I-I can come back when you're finished."

As the words came out in a hurried rush of embarrassment, John realized it wasn't the therapy session that had Marty flustered. It was the fact that he was in her room in a towel. That was why she was red and a little warm. She didn't remember the day to day aspects of their lives.

Running his fingers through his hair he let out a breath of forced air through his nostrils and as Marty was about to leave he gently pulled her back to him saying, "If this is going to bother you how about we keep the door shut and knock from now on?"

"I can handle it, John. I just didn't expect to see you in a towel that's all. We're both adults here. I'll be fine." Marty said holding firm.

John held up his hands in defeat as a low chuckle escaped his throat, "Whatever you say lady."

The pair then dressed for the day John in his usual black attire while Marty looked considerably bright for the winter. She wore a red wrap style top that belted around her waist in a bow with dark wash jeans and red ballet flats.

The ride to Llanview Hospital was quite for both of them as they tried to think positively about Marty's first therapy session.