Bob went with Louise in the ambulance knowing it was the only way she would have it. Linda would drive Tina and Gene to the hospital. Cheryl heard the commotion and came out to see what was going on.
"Louise is sick! She has to go to the hospital! I am going with them!" Zeke cried.
"Ezekial, I know you mean well but that is not a good idea. She won't be able to have visitors for the first day." Cheryl warned.
"But I want to be there for Tina and Gene." Zeke whispered.
"You can call them later but for now they need privacy." Cheryl insisted.
"I will call as soon as I know anything." Tina assured.
The Belcher family had grown painfully accustomed to waiting rooms over the past few months, but this time was different. This time Louise could be dying. Even after the initial fall Bob and Linda didn't think that she would die. She was awake and aware in the ambulance. To see her so out of it was purely terrifying.
"Family of Louise Belcher?" A doctor called from the doorway.
"That's us." Bob replied.
"Louise has a UTI." The doctor replied.
"But Louise gotten lots of UTIs and never got this sick." Tina commented.
"She was premature and dealt with them a lot until she was about five." Linda explained.
"UTIs are common in paraplegics. She likely developed the infection days ago and did not notice due to the lack of feeling." The doctor explained.
"She had an accident at school the other day. Could that have caused it? She said she waited too long but could it have been both?" Linda asked.
"It's possible." The doctor replied.
"When can we see her?" Tina asked.
"Visiting hours for intensive care end at seven. Unless the patient is expected to pass during the night. So unfortunately, you will not be able to see her until morning." The doctor explained.
"We are just relieved she is going to be OK. She is going to be, OK? Isn't she?" Bob asked.
"The next twenty-four hours are very critical but yes. She is expected to survive." The doctor replied.
Louise did survive the UTI. Though she did end up spending over a week in the hospital. She came home in time for Christmas. Though the Belchers had a far quieter holiday than they were used to. Louise was still on the weak side and didn't feel like doing much. There wasn't much to do anyway. Gloria was still recovering from her stroke and Big Bob came down with the flu on Christmas Eve.
"Merry Christmas Louise." Tina said, handing Louise a small box.
"Is it something that will make my legs work again?" Louise asked.
"No, it's uh a copy of that Kuchi Kopi special they showed a few months ago. If I could I would have given you, my legs. Well, I guess my spine, but I would have made you walk again." Tina stammered.
"Jesus! Tina! I was kidding! I know nobody can fix my legs. Besides this is way better. This DVD isn't supposed to be released in the states for another six months." Louise laughed.
"I know but Susmita's cousin is doing a semester abroad in Tokyo. Susmita told him about your accident. He wanted to do something to boost your spirits. When Susmita told him how much you liked Kuchi Kopi. He went right out and bought this DVD." Tina explained.
"Your mom and I got you a present too." Bob announced.
"Oh, wow my parents got me a Christmas gift. What a stunning development." Louise chuckled.
"Louise" Bob warned.
"Here you go." Linda replied.
Linda placed a large box in front of Louise. She opened the box slowly. Unsure of what to expect. The box showed a track along a ceiling and a smiling boy in a harness.
"It's a special lift that will make it easier for you to get in and out of the tub. We wanted to get you one after that accident, but everything was too big for our bathroom. Then last week Ginger emailed me about this. Teddy is installing it tomorrow." Linda explained.
"Wow" Louise gasped.
"We just want you to have as much independence as possible." Bob replied.
"Thank you" Louise sniffed.
"I couldn't get you a fancy DVD or a special lift, but I wanted to get your something special." Gene began.
"What is it your collection of used gym socks?" Louise teased.
"No, I want you to feel the wind in your face again." Gene replied.
"Huh?" Louise asked.
Gene wheeled Louise to the staircase. He helped her into the lift and escorted her downstairs. He hoisted her onto his back, instructing her to hold on tight. She complied, he gave a thumbs up to Bob and Linda who stood in the doorway. Before taking off, run down the street. Louise could go pretty fast in her wheelchair, but she had forgotten what it felt like to run. Unathletic Gene managed to run her around the block three times. Before returning to the apartment and collapsing onto the floor.
"You, OK?" Louise asked.
"I am going to be sore until the day I die but it was worth it to hear you laugh." Gene replied.
"Thank you, Gene." Louise whispered gently kissing her brother on the cheek.
The trial was set to take place on the six-month anniversary of the accident. Until that day Louise did not think that it was possible to literally add insult to injury. On the day of the trial Bob dressed in a suit borrowed from his father. Linda wore the dress she was going to wear to the symphony. They dressed Louise in the black and white dress she wore to catering jobs. Tina and Gene would not be attending the trial. The judge, and Bob and Linda collectively agreed it would be best if they did written statements. Rather than actually appearing in court. They instead got to stay home with Teddy. Louise looked down at her statement scared to death. They were getting ready to leave when the phone rang. Bob stepped into the kitchen to answer it.
"That was the lawyer. We don't have to go to the courthouse." Bob announced.
"Please tell me it's not a Zoom trial." Louise pleaded.
"We are not going to the courthouse. Because the Barbashs took the last-minute plea deal. They settled out of court!" Bob cried.
"So, what did we get?" Louise asked.
"What we initially proposed the cost of medical bills and Chloe has to submit to counseling." Bob explained.
"I was hoping for all their money but right now I am just glad this is over!" Louise cried.
Time continued to pass by, and Louise became more adapted to her disability. She still had her share of hardships. Missing out on certain games and activities. Her friends tried to accommodate her, but it was not always possible. Rudy always offered to stay back when those activities occurred, but Louise always insisted he go. She began spending more and more time with Benj. It was hard when he graduated and moved on to Huxley High, but Louise joined him a year later. Benj eagerly joined the trio, and they began a puppet troupe putting on shows about people with disabilities at different schools across the state of New Jersey. In Louise's junior year the trio was given a special award by the governor for their efforts. Junior year was also the year most of Louise's peers got their driver's license. The hardest milestone for Lousie to miss. There were special cars for paraplegics, but Louise knew her family would never be able to afford one. At least Seymour's Bay was walkable or rollable. Still, it hurt watching as one by one her classmates became licensed drivers. She mourned her independence in private until one day Tina came home from college with a surprise. It was an accessible car! A car she could drive!
"Tina? How did you ever afford this?" Louise gasped.
"We did a car wash. My roommates and I." Tina lied.
Louise immediately went down to the DMV and signed up for driving lessons. They had to drive two hours away to Trenton to find a school that could work with Louise. She got her permit and one year later Louise had her license. She drove everywhere the first few months. She even drove to Mort's once! For the funeral of Rudy's step grandmother Diane. After that Bob made a two-block minimum rule for driving. Still, she drove at every opportunity. She loved her car until one fateful day. It was two weeks before her eighteenth birthday. Gene was home for college for the weekend. Gene's college was a preforming arts school in Bog Harbor, but he had rented an apartment with Courtney and Alex. He still came home most weekends. Including that one. They were playing truth or dare while Linda was visiting Tina at her college and Bob had gone to the restaurant supply store.
"Truth" Gene declared.
"OK tell me a secret. A secret that somebody told you. That they made you swear to never tell a soul." Louise deviously replied.
"Something I promised to never tell a soul. Uh well most people don't trust me with secrets for this exact reason, but I do have a big one." Gene stammered.
"Let me guess you have seen mom's tattoo." Louise guessed; Linda apparently had a tattoo. All she would say was that it was on a part of her body covered by underwear.
"No! I got over the Oedipus thing years ago!" Gene cried.
"Well, what is it then?" Louise demanded.
"TINA SOLD CHARIOT TO PAY FOR YOUR CAR!" Gene cried.
"What?" Louise gasped.
Louise could not believe her ears. Chariot was one of Tina's most prized possessions. Her attachment had waned after the convention incident, but Tina still adored that plastic pony. Louise always assumed Tina would be buried with Chariot. For her to sell her. For her. That hurt Louise's heart in ways she could not explain.
It took another six months, but Louise finally found a Chariot doll at a shop three hours away. It was seven hundred dollars. Almost all of Louise's savings it didn't even have camel toe! But Louise had to get that doll for her sister. So, on a day when Gene had a show. Louise faked sick and waited for her family to leave the house. She wheeled to her car. Her precious car. The car Tina had sacrificed so much to get for her. She drove to the shop. Parking in the wheelchair spot and wheeled inside.
"Excuse me I saw online you had a Chariot doll uh from that old Equestranaut show." Louise said.
"Sorry we sold it two hours ago!" A large man barked.
"But I called and reserved it." Louise sighed.
"Well, a man came in and offered twice what we were selling it for! Early bird gets the worm and we do not coddle cripples!" The man cried.
"I wasn't expecting special treatment, but I put down two hundred dollars." Louise sniffed.
"Too bad! No refunds!" The man cried jumping over the counter and lunging at Louise.
"Excuse me? Do we have a problem here?" a familiar voice demanded.
"This little lady thought she would get special treatment cause she's in a wheelchair." The man laughed.
"I called and reserved a doll for my sister. I put down two hundred dollars and he sold it out from under me." Louise sniffed.
"Is this true?" Zeke demanded.
"Zeke? is that you?" Louise asked.
"It sure is." Zeke replied.
"Aw that's so sweet. You know each other! You can cry about it together!" The man laughed.
"Listen here buddy. You can either give the lady her money back, get the doll back and give it to the lady, or I can call the law!" Zeke spat.
"And tell them what?" The man questioned.
"That you are harassing a paraplegic." Zeke hissed.
"Hey, I'm just running a business." The man countered.
"Well, we can always settle up." Zeke snarled grabbing the man who was only two inches shorter by the collar.
"You don't scare me." The man laughed.
The next thing Louise knew Zeke had the man pinned to the floor. Louise wanted to stay and see the action, but Zeke ordered her to leave. She knew she was only twelve when Zeke moved away but he should have known she liked to watch this kind of action. Still, she complied.
At Zeke's insistence he drove her back to Seymour's Bay. Though he did allow her to park her car at his apartment complex to avoid fees. He explained she was a dear friend and got the super to allow her to use his spot overnight.
"Zeke is that you?" Tina gasped.
"I thought you were sick, Louise." Bob commented.
"I lied. I wanted to buy Tina a new Chariot doll. She sold her old one to pay for my car. I just wanted to make it up to her. I went to a pawn shop. The man threatened me. Zeke saved my life." Louise sobbed.
"Why would you do that Louise?" Tina demanded.
"Didn't you hear me? I wanted to make it up to you." Louise commented.
"Louise, you don't owe me anything. I loved Chariot and I still miss him sometimes, but I love you more. I want you to be happy and safe. Promise me you won't do anything that crazy ever again." Tina insisted.
"I promise" Louise sighed.
"Zeke thank you so much for saving Louise. I mean it's been six years and still. God thank you." Tina sobbed.
"Aw it was no trouble. I never let a lady or a person in need get hurt if I can help it." Zeke replied.
Tina and Zeke talked into the night. Even though he had been gone for years. it was like he never left. She rode back to Zeke's home with them, and they talked for another four hours. Louise used the time to explore Zeke's new town. Though she did steer clear of the pawn shop. Tina and Zeke talked a lot after that. They did a lot more than talk and six months later they announced their engagement. They married the following year, and four months later Tina announced she was expecting a baby.
Seven months later Louise became the best aunt ever. Gene found themselves flirting with a male nurse and they would announce they eloped eighteen months later. Two days after they returned from their honeymoon David treated a young man for an asthma attack. The young man was Rudy Stieblitz. Who had just gotten out of a bad marriage to the woman who had put Louise in her chair. That one took more time but two years later Louise finally began dating Rudy. They also eloped but they eloped after only two months of dating.
"Lily? Why don't your mommy's legs work?" A girl asked five-year-old Lily Stieblitz on the playground one day.
"Isabella!" Isabella's mom hissed.
"One day a mean girl made her fall off the monkey bars." Lily replied.
"Why?" Isabella asked.
"Because she was stupid and mean." Lily replied.
"Is she sad?" Isabella asked.
"Isabella!" Her mom hissed again.
"I used to be, and I still am sometimes but a lot of good things came from my accident. Including your friend Lily." Louise explained.
"Just don't paralyze yourself." Lily warned.
"Why would I do that?" Isabella asked.
"I dunno my Aunt Tina said her friend Jocelyn broke her arm once because she was jealous of my daddy's cast." Lily laughed.
"OMG I never thought that my daughter asking way too many questions about somebody in a wheelchair. Would lead to a totally hilarious story about my wife in middle school!" Tammy laughed.
"Oh God the arm story!" Joclyn moaned.
"Wagstaff sure was interesting. Besides Chloe." Louise smiled. Her life was not what she expected but she definitely was not sad.