best thing that's ever been mine - a Kaylor story

Chapter 20

The next few days pass slowly for Karlie and even slower for Taylor. After a day in bed next to Taylor, having quiet conversations whenever Taylor wasn't sleeping, Karlie starts getting restless. She follows her doctor's advice and gets out of bed on the third day after the accident, leaving Taylor alone to rest in the dark and silent bedroom.

She calls for her mother to come help her in the bathroom and grits her teeth as she helps her out of the sling. She likes to think she's comfortable with nudity, being naked in front of people on a regular basis is kind of part of her job after all, so she's surprised at how weird this feels. Her mother helping her out of her clothes is something that hasn't happened since she was old enough to dress herself, and it manages to make her blush just slightly.

"I know, sweetie," her mother says, as if she can read Karlie's mind, and turns around to put away the clothes.

Standing in front of the mirror, Karlie looks at the huge, deep purple bruise on the side of her chest and she studies it for a while.

"It looks horrible," Tracy remarks, "how's the pain?"

"Manageable right now," Karlie replies, her eyes flicking towards the shower, "but I'm not looking forward to this little adventure."

"We'll get it done as quickly and gently as possible," her mother promises.

Karlie feels like she's five years old again when she steps into that shower, her mother helping her wash her hair, but she's glad to have her there. Karlie's arm hangs limply by her side and her entire focus is on not shaking it whenever the now-familiar tingling feeling comes crawling down it. She's sure she would not have fared so well in the shower if she would have had to do this alone.

By the time her mother has helped her put on some clothes and coaxed her arm back into the sling, she's exhausted. When will this end? she thinks to herself as her mother again helps her into bed next to Taylor.

She spends the next hour daydreaming about what it will be like when she can finally move around freely again.

***

Two days later, on Sunday, Austin comes over for the small and belated birthday party they're throwing for him.

Karlie is in the kitchen with Andrea, watching her put the finishing touches on his birthday cake, when the doorbell rings.

"I got it," Tracy calls out from the living room and soon Karlie can hear the door being opened.

She listens to Austin and Tracy introducing themselves to each other and smiles. Pieces of their conversation make their way into the kitchen and Karlie feels like her ears are straining themselves to listen in on it.

"It's so lovely to finally meet you," Karlie hears her mother say. "Karlie has talked so much about you."

A hand on Karlie's shoulder startles her a little and she gasps, both from the surprise and the pain.

"Oh my goodness," Andrea says quickly, "I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's okay. I was just trying to listen in on their conversation."

"I know," Andrea replies with a wink. "I was going to tell you to go join them, I'm almost done here."

Karlie looks at the cake and smiles.

"Are you sure? It looks beautiful, by the way."

"I'm sure. Go." Andrea smiles and returns to working on the cake. "And thank you, sweetie!"