"One more, you can do it," Ally urged as Camila pulled against the strength-resistant band with her ankle. She slowly let her leg come back to its original position and Ally gave her a warm smile and a pat on the shoulder.
"I'm gonna be sore," Camila huffed out, pulling her foot from the band.
"You probably will be," Ally answered, "But that's not a bad thing. You're still healing."
"I've been walking in the mornings," Camila said, "Sometimes Dinah comes with me."
"It's good to have a partner," Ally said, "Provides motivation."
"There's this really hot mom who is there with her daughter some days," Camila said smiling, "She always gives me a wave. Motivation enough."
Ally laughed loudly and shook her head, "Whatever it takes, Mila."
Camila chuckled and took a sip of her water. They moved to a table where Camila laid down and Ally began to massage her leg and hip to end their session.
"You know, you seem to be doing better," Ally said, "And I don't mean just physically. It's good to hear you laugh."
"I'm trying," Camila said, "I signed up for a painting class."
"Painting? Really?" Ally asked, her voice encouraging, "A scientist and an artist – you're quite the renaissance woman."
"I used to love painting when I was a kid," Camila said, "My mom was an artist and I used to hang around in her studio all the time. After my parents died I stopped."
"Well, I'm glad you're trying it again," Ally said, "What about the new job?"
"It's only been a few days but it's going well," Camila answered.
"Tell me what you're doing again," Ally requested.
"Consulting for Whitmore Labs," Camila said, "My friend Ed runs the place. We met in college and he offered me a job right after the accident. I wasn't ready, obviously. He called again a couple of weeks ago with some work I can do from home at my own pace. It felt like the right way to get started again."
"What kind of consulting?" Ally asked.
"I have a masters in chemical biology, so it's related to that," Camila answered, "I'm working on some new methods for studying protein sequencing."
"Sounds...interesting?" Ally said, with a sarcastic grin.
"I'm a nerd, what can I say," Camila answered, smiling.
"No, you're a boss," Ally replied, "With a nerd brain."
"I'll take that," Camila answered.
"All done," Ally said, "You're good to go until Friday."
Camila returned to her apartment and took a quick shower. She got out and went to the refrigerator and pulled out the chicken breasts, mushrooms, spinach and gnocchi she had bought earlier in the day. She opened her phone to recheck the recipe and got started. Dinah walked into the apartment as she was adding the spinach.
"Wow, it smells incredible in here," Dinah said, "What the heck?"
"Go change, I made us dinner," Camila answered, smiling.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Dinah said, happily. She went and got into some comfy clothes and walked out to find Camila sprinkling parmesan cheese over a plate at the table. She sat down and looked at Camila with a big grin.
"It's chicken and mushroom gnocchi with a spinach cream sauce," Camila said proudly, "I didn't make the gnocchi myself but I did everything else."
"Wow," Dinah said, grinning as Camila served her plate and sat across from her, "What's the occasion?"
YOU ARE READING
By Sun and Candlelight / CAMREN
FanfictionLauren is raising her three-year-old daughter alone. She's moved them to Alta Vista where she'll teach at the community college to get a fresh start and get away from her family. Camila lives in Alta Vista with her sister Dinah. She's trying to reco...
