Just A Smile

Chapter 13 : First Day of the Trip

It was the day. Max arrived at the center with her luggage to place them in the vehicle driving them. Once it ready, she went to her patients and helped them with their stuff, installing them one by one in the vehicle. Not all the patients were coming, not everyone was forced so some refused, which wasn't bothering Max, they had lots of patients, a little bit less wouldn't be bad. When Max entered the small bus, she noticed an empty space next to Jane that she didn't hesitate to fill with her body.

- "You don't mind if I sit here?"

- "I would have let nobody else sitting here," Jane answered.

- "Good answer."

The ride had lasted two hours, but Jane and Max wished it had lasted so much longer! They talked about everything and nothing. Max explained Jane that she had the desire to become a therapist after seeing Jane fighting for her health so much and seeing how important the therapist was for the mental of the patients. Jane told her how close she was of her sister when they left for Seattle. She had lived with her until she passed away. Max was glad to see that Jane was able to talk about her sister like that, it must have been hard to lose her so brutally, and now she could tell her everything about her. She still had some emotions in her voice, but it wasn't taboo anymore.

When they arrived, Boris took the keys of the rooms while the other therapists were taking care of their patients. The hostel was at the top of a hill, which meant that the view was beautiful, and the air was fresh. All the patients had the same stunned reaction. It was so different from the center; they couldn't believe it.

- "We stay only three days?" Jane asked.

- "Sadly, yes, but it's better than nothing! So? You're happy to be here?"

- "Absolutely!"

Jane took her crutches and walked a bit to the security barrier at the edge. Max, not sure of the brunette's balance and seeing that the other therapists were controlling everything, preferred joining her. Jane seemed fine; she was wearing a wide smile. Max was admiring so much Jane that she almost forgot that there was a landscape in front of her.

- "It's so beautiful," Jane stated.

- "Yeah, it is," Max smiled, her eyes still stuck on the brunette.

Jane turned her head to her. Max didn't even try to hide the fact she was staring, she just smiled more. The brunette bit her bottom lip and blushed before looking away like if it could hide her red cheeks.

- "Come on, let's join the others, I don't want you to use all your energy the first day," Max said softly.

- "Yeah, okay."

Jane slowly turned around, taking support on her crutches, and began to walk in direction of the others. Max helped her to reach her wheelchair and to sit on it without hurting her.

- "I feel like an old lady," Jane joked.

- "But...you are an old lady!" Max mocked with a serious tone.

Once Jane on her butt, she raised her right hand to show Max her middle finger, making laugh the redhead. The people separated in groups to join their rooms. Once everyone ready, they all took the elevator to discover the place where they were going to spend the two nights. Max and Jane's room had a balcony on the view, thrilling the six women of the room. Max and Tania helped them to install their stuff, then the group joined the others outside.

The program of the day was a lunch in a restaurant and a visit of the museum of scale models. The meal was really good, and everyone really had fun. The therapists even forgot that they were with their patients, they were more feeling like friends. Even after the ride, none of them seemed tired or annoyed, this trip was thrilling all of them, making happy Boris and Max who worked hard to organize this.

They moved on to the visit of the museum. Everyone enjoyed this moment because they were all visiting how they wanted to, they didn't need someone to look after them, even if the therapists were never far, they didn't want to follow them like children. It was their way to show them that they were trusting them. Max stayed with Jane, which wasn't a surprise, and she was stunned to see her walking this much! It wasn't a perfect walk, but she could put her foot in front of the other one, struggling more with her left leg, but it was very impressive. She didn't do the entire museum like that, but she did more than usual. Now Max was pushing her.

- "I'm so proud of you, you have no idea!"

- "Yeah? I'm very proud of me too. It's satisfying to be able to walk."

- "I believe you! And your balance is good!"

- "It is! Boris is a great therapist."

- "Yeah, I told you! I wasn't worried when he told me he had you. You don't feel pain when you walk?"

- "I do, not as much as before, but my left hand still hurts when I close it, and my back hurts too. But, at least, I can lay down now, it's so much better to sleep now."

- "That's great, that's really great. All of you made so much progress, and you all will keep making progress, believe me."

- "I won't be able to walk normally ever again."

- "It doesn't mean you won't be able to live normally. That's why we're here."

- "Yeah...Does...does your offer still work?" Jane asked shyly.

- "My offer? About you living with me?"

- "Um, yes..."

- "Of course. I have a room for you. And I've even found the perfect nurse to keep an eye on you the day, you won't be disappointed."

- "Cool. Thank you."

- "No problem," Max smiled.

The two girls kept watching all the scale models and had a moment of nostalgy when they arrived in the birds' section. There was, obviously, no rainbow lorikeet, but Max jubilated when she saw an eagle.

- "Ha! Common, but, at least, mine is in a museum!" Max stated with a proud tone.

- "Mine deserves to be known!"

- "Yeah, if you say so!"

Max chuckled which amused the brunette. Once the visit over, they slowly went back to the hostel to take some rest, eat dinner, and get ready for their first night. The first day was very well, Max was relieved that everything happened this good. And that moment with Jane near the edge was so strong that she thought they were going to kiss. She wished they did.