Page 64 of March 5

Searing pain struck his head, and his vision blackened.

Chapter Twenty Six

Mr. Adams scowled at Skye. On her knees in front of his wheelchair, she held the strap six inches above his feet.

"Three more times." She softened her voice. "You're doing wonderful."

"If I'm doing so great, why do I need to do more?" He fisted his hands and slammed them down on the arms of his wheelchair. "I'm not getting out of this damn chair anyway."

At fifty-seven years old, Mr. Adams suffered a vehicle accident while driving a semi-truck, breaking most of the bones from his waist down. While he had feeling in his legs again, his muscles had deteriorated. The doctors weren't sure he'd ever walk again, but he would regain movement.

"The exercises will not only help when you'd like to move from one chair to another but will also help with the pain and restlessness you suffer with now, Mr. Adams." She kept the strap strung out in the air. "Three more and we can finish with your last exercise." She leaned forward and lowered her voice. "The next one is your favorite."

Her patient grunted his cooperation. Gripping the handles of the wheelchair, he managed to lift his right foot six inches off the floor. She counted each time and put the strap down the moment he completed the set.

Standing up, she went to her bag and returned with a bottle of lotion, waving it in front of her. "Okay, let's do ten heel lifts on each leg to get those muscles nice and warm, and then I'll finish up with the crème de la crème of massages."

Behind her, Mrs. Adams laughed. "That's all he talks about all week."

"I don't blame him." She looked over her shoulder. "The lotion is my favorite, too."

Thankfully, her patient's doctor okayed her use of lotion with CBD and THC infused in it. Depending on the injuries and the outlook, she often used the lotion on her younger, healthier clients and had a good response to it.

Mr. Adams stopped the final exercise and motioned for her to apply the lotion. She slipped on gloves and kneeled in front of him again.

"Okay, you know the routine. The lotion is cool to the touch, so brace yourself." She rubbed her hands together to warm it for him and then touched his thigh.

He inhaled swiftly but quickly relaxed as she manipulated the weak and unresponsive muscles. She'd seen an improvement in his results over the last month. He was getting stronger, even if he'd never walk again. And that was the reason for her job.

"I heard the kite show is next weekend." She looked over her shoulder at Mrs. Adams. "Have you ever gone?"

"Oh, yes. Many times." Mrs. Adams smiled. "Hopefully, the storm today will clear out before this weekend. Even the ocean seems angry today."

Skye moved down to Mr. Adams' calves,spreading the lotion along the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles. "I read on my phone app that we're supposed to have sunshine next week. It sounds perfect for kites."

Every year, she went to the show. She loved watching all the kites fly in the sky. But this year, she'd miss going. The high-security measures Havlin Motorcycle Club was under made it impossible to get away for a couple of hours.

Usually, Mariah would go with her every year. She would've loved to have taken Dio—her stomach warmed at the thought of him.

She sat back on her heels and pulled off her gloves. "That should help you for the rest of the day. Call your primary doctor if you have any unusual cramping or pain after I leave."

Mr. Adams grunted with his eyes closed. She looked at his wife and winked. She'd worn the older man out. It wasn't rude that he dozed in his wheelchair. She took it as a compliment.

She gathered her supplies, zipped up her bag, and whispered, "I'll see you next week."

"Thanks, dear." Mrs. Adams struggled to push herself to her feet.

"Please, don't get up. I'll see myself out." She smiled and walked to the entryway.

Peeking out the door and seeing Brett, she slipped outside. Although it was his job to watch her, she still felt guilty for having him wait. The poor guy sat on his motorcycle, drenched and miserable.

She looked up at the sky. The thick cover of clouds moved fast. One of the things she loved about Seaglass Cove was the constant change of weather. Astorm could blow in and the next day the sun would visit.

In the summer, storms were good and bad. For a few hours, rain dampened everything in sight and the waves came in bigger and stronger, washing any debris from the sand that the tourists left behind. But, lightning could always start fires inland.

"I'm all done for the day." She opened her car, tossed her bag inside, and raised her shoulders against the raindrops. "Have you heard from Mariah?"

"Nope." Brett rolled his Harley out from behind her car. "She gets off work in an hour."