Destination Love

Destination Love-Chapter Twenty-Two

The stars were shining brightly over head as they made their way across the back yard, and entered the trail head. She kept her pace slow, and chose her footing carefully. 

Reaching the turn in the path, she paused, "Well, we're halfway to the beach, and I don't feel any pain. Let's keep going." 

They reached the beach, and began walking along the shoreline. Buddy ran ahead in to the surf, and turned to run back. 

"Where are your crutches?"

She hadn't heard him approach, "Alex. You startled me." 

"Sorry. Where are your crutches?" His voice held a tone of annoyance. 

"I don't need them, I am walking fine."

"You should still have them for support."

"Jason said I am fine. I'm not pushing it and I have no pain."

"You walked down here?"

"Yes, and I'm not feeling any pain. What are you doing here?"

"It's three in the morning, why are you walking around?"

"Not that I have to justify my actions to you, but Buddy needed to take a walk."

"What if you fell again?"

"I was careful."

"Let me drive you home. I've my car in the parking lot."

"No, I'm going to walk." She turned back towards the trail. More annoyed at her attraction to him than at his ordering her around. 

"Taylor, please." He grabbed her arm, and pulled her around to look at him. "It's dangerous for you to be out here in this weather, alone. You could fall, or catch a cold."

"Alex, I appreciate your concern, but you are no longer my doctor. I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself."

"Why do you do this?"

"Do what?"

"Take chances with your life."

"I'm not taking chances with my life." She snapped back, "I'm walking o the beach. Jason said I can do whatever I want as long as I don't run, and I stop when and if I feel pain. I'm not running, and I don't feel any pain. Now I'm going to go home, and try to get a few hours of sleep."  

"What are those kids going to do when you get sick and die of pneumonia?"

"Good Lord, Alex." She lifted the lapel of the light jacket she had thrown on when she walked out the door. "I'm wearing a jacket, Alex. Not like I'm walking out here with nothing on. I'm not even walking in the water." 

"I'm serious, Taylor." 

"What kids are you talking about?" 

"Brian and Andrea, to begin with, what would they do without you?" 

"Go on with their lives." Taylor laughed with a shake of her head as she shrugged off his hand and turned away. "Geez, Alex, I'm their Aunt. Not their mother." 

"Taylor..." 

With another roll of her eyes, Taylor quickened her pace. Moving much faster than she knew she should have, her leg was burning by the time she reached the trail head. 

"You should be in bed." Alex followed her along the trail. 

Taylor watched Buddy run ahead on the trail, and wished she could do the same thing. "That's where I'm planning on going." She snapped. Her leg buckled as she hit the halfway mark moving up the trail. She collapsed against a tree.