Things Unseen

Chapter Eighteen

"That's a good sign, Alyssa." Tom's deep voice was dampened in the small room, but it was positive.

"You honestly think so?" Alyssa glanced down at her useless legs.

He leaned forward and put his hands on his knees. "Of course it is. They're not having you meet with a different therapist because the other one is incompetent. It's because it's a different level, the next level. Like you made it past the first round and are moving up in the game."

"The game," Alyssa smiled and shook her head. "I guess that's one way to put it. Still makes me nervous." She let her gaze wander to the wide windows along the wall of her room. The harbor was still, and the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds. Spring was finally showing up. "I mean, to me it doesn't feel like anything has changed."

"But it is changing. You just don't see it yet. You've got to have faith." Tom smiled at her. "Faith in what you don't see."

"Yeah, I know." Her smile threatened to lessen, but she held it still. Tom's surprise visit at eight in the morning had already given her day a good start, and with two planned visitors and a meeting with another therapist scheduled for the same day, she needed the time with her Dad.

Thoughts suddenly rushed into her brain, images of them together when she was little. They were pictures, the very same pictures that had burned in the fire, but they would never leave her memories. A picture of the two of them building a snowman, and of them and her mother at the beach. Pictures of the entire family when they had adopted three-month-old Tina. Life had thrown them things they never could have pictured – good and bad – but the one thing that had remained was the tight bond between each of them. The way Tom leaned forward in his chair, not wanting to portray anything other than strength, she knew how hard he was trying. Even despite the worst tragedy that had ever struck the four of them, he wasn't going to let his family be taken apart.

"How's Mom doing?" Alyssa asked. "I know she says she's fine every time I call, but... well, you know her."

Tom chuckled. "Well, I hope so." His laugh dissolved into a sigh. "She is doing pretty well, I mean, considering everything. Focused on her parents and Tina and me and you. Keeping herself busy. Every so often she'll stop and remember something we lost, and she has gotten pretty upset at times. But she's strong, 'lyssa. Like you."

Alyssa gave him a little smile before letting her eyes drop to her legs. How many times had she gotten "pretty upset"? How many days went by where all her strength was put into not going crazy in this chair? "I'm not strong, Dad."

"Yeah you are, honey." At that, he rose from the chair and walked over close to her. He knelt down beside her chair. "I have no idea what it's like for you, Alyssa. I couldn't imagine it. But you're here, you're working every day at this. You're smiling. You're still making Tina laugh every time you call. I see it. I still see you, despite everything. If that's not strength, I don't know what it is."

Her smile returned, genuine this time, and she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck like when she was Tina's age. "Thanks, Dad."

Tom's arms wrapped around her slowly, and he stayed there for over a minute. She knew they were both savoring a moment where all problems faded, time stood still, and for an instant she felt like a child again.

After a minute, he slowly stood and reached out to muss her hair. She ducked. "Oh no you don't. I already fixed it, and I don't have time to do it again."

"Oh, you don't? Got a lunch date?" Humor twinkled in his eyes, but it was eclipsed in worry. Worry as to just who was coming to lunch.

Alyssa rolled her eyes. "No, not a date. But I am going to lunch and I am going to be talking to someone. Dr. McCarthy from the hospital."