Leanne's jaw stiffens as she stares into her daughter's eyes. She tugs down the sleeve of her shirt as it creeps up her arm. Her stomach twists in knots as she tries to find the words to explain the unimaginable.
"The simple answer is, yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ariel's nostrils flare.
"There are some burdens a child does not need to carry."
"You could have been upfront with me while sparing me the details."
"You're right. I just didn't have the right words to tell you."
"I'm sorry if I violated your privacy."
Leanne furrows her brow, "Was that your intention?"
"No."
"Ariel, I'm going to be fine. I promise."
Ariel's head tilts, "Who's at the door?"
Leanne shrugs as she vacates her seat. She exits the kitchen, and makes her way to the entryway. She finds a familiar face on the other side. The door effortlessly swings in, and she motions for the party on the other end to come in. She rubs the back of her neck with her uninjured hand.
"Cole, what are you doing here?"
"I just came by to check on your hand."
She offers a puzzled look, "You could have called for that. I am sure I could describe in accurate detail the progress I've made so far."
"I understand you just got back to work. How was it?"
She shrugs, "You know me. I'm always up for a challenge."
"I do know you, and that's why I'm here."
She exhales, "I am certainly trying to understand why you would drive nearly three hours to stop by."
"Because I am worried about my friend, and she isn't taking my calls."
"I just want to…"
He cuts her off, "Live in denial? Leanne you can't do that. Even with physical therapy, and occupational therapy there is no guarantee that you regain one hundred functionality of your hand."
"Well at least it's my non-dominate hand."
"And it won't heal if you don't find a way to deal with the psychological toll."
"Did you just stop by to lecture me?"
"No."
"Do you want stay for dinner?"
Cole's face puckers, "You cook? One handed?"
"I do cook, but Ariel made dinner."
Ariel materializes from the kitchen, "I heard my name."
"I was just telling him that you made dinner."
"To be fair I only heated up the lasagna."
Leanne shakes her head, "I didn't do anything with my bum hand when you made it a few days ago, before it got stuck in the freezer. To be fair I think the only thing I did was recite the recipe which took zero effort on my part."
"There is plenty. Please come eat some of it so that I don't have to eat it for the next ten days. It's enough to feed like sixteen people. I'm not sure where she gets her measurements, but we can literally never manage to eat the whole pan."
"I could eat," Cole agrees.
An hour later Ariel is watching Leanne as she watches him leave. She locks the door behind him. When she turns around she nearly knocks Ariel over.
"Why are you standing so close?"
Ariel grins, "You're kidding, right?"
"No."
"He drove from San Diego to come check on your hand?"
"He's a surgeon," Leanne points out.
"I doubt that he makes house calls for all of his patients."
"He is a friend. I work with his father. He was concerned."
"He should definitely be concerned about your hand, since you refuse to take anything for it."
"I don't need any assessments from the armchair doctor, Ariel."
"Fine. I'll move on to something more obvious then."
Leanne glances at her watch, "That it's getting late, and you should be getting ready for bed?"
"It is eight thirty, and that is not what I was referring to."
"I am sure that I am going to regret asking, but what are you referring to?"
"He's totally got a thing for you."
"I assure you that is not true. Nothing could be further from the truth."
"How do you know?"
"Because I kissed him."
"What? When?"
"Years ago."
"Ooh la la. Were there fireworks?"
"He left."
"In the middle of the kiss?"
"No. He packed up his office, and left his job."
"So you think that means he can't possibly have romantic feelings for you? He was probably just scared. I've certainly been known to run when I'm scared."
"Ariel he's not a kid."
"Well maybe his body isn't, but his heart might not be healed from whatever his life has thrown at him."
"And on that note if you're not going to get ready for bed, I am going to."
"Rude! We're having a meaningful conversation here, and you're shutting me out."
"It feels like pure speculation. After all day at work I don't have the patience to indulge you any longer."
Ariel rolls her eyes, "It hardly seems fair that we have to discuss any of my potential romantic suitors in great detail, but discussion of yours is out of the question."
"Good night, Ariel," she turns to head down the hall to her room.
"I hope one day at your wedding we can laugh at this," Ariel taunts.
Leanne face palms as Ariel starts up the stairs.