That's What Love Is For

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

The two weeks passed quickly for Jamie and Sydney, they were so busy between taking classes to care for Eddie, remodeling the house, and preparing their lives for Eddie. The time crawled for Eddie. She hated being in rehab and progressing so little. Finally it was here, the day she was going to go home.

Jamie arrived at noon with his classic 1000 watt smile. Sydney was at the apartment getting things ready for Eddie's arrival. "Hey, look at you! You look like you're ready to blow this popsicle stand!"

Jamie stepped closer and gave Eddie a hug. "Wait until you see the place, Eddie. Sydney went a little overboard with the bathroom, you can live in there..."

"Well, I'll be spending time in there," Eddie replied. "All of that stuff over there is for me. Some of this stuff is pretty gross, Reagan. You sure you know what you are getting into?"

"Yes, helping my best friend. I took all the classes and it's almost noon. You'll be due for your lunch and some hygiene. Pop send over chicken salad, Sydney probably has it on the table. Let's head out."

Jamie sighed the necessary papers and pushed Eddie's chair to the doors. "You ready for this?"

"I've been ready for this for two months," Eddie replied smiling as the warmth of the summer sun on face. Jamie had pulled the Mustang to the front of the hospital. Eddie wasn't ready to self-transfer, far from it, Jamie easily put her into the front seat of the car and secured her with the seat belt. He stored he chair and the bags in the back seat of the car before turning the car on and heading for the Upper West Side.

After circling the garage, Jamie finally found a reasonably close parking spot before going around to help Eddie out into her wheelchair from the back seat. With a gentle pat of her shoulder Jamie wheeled her towards her building balancing the bags on his shoulders, using the elevator to get up to their floor.

"Here we go, home sweet home," Jamie grinned, stepping aside to unlock the door before pushing Eddie inside.

"Syd, we're home."

Sydney walked out from one of the back rooms smiling brightly, walking closer to give Eddie a gentle hug. "Hey Eddie, welcome home."

"Thanks Syd, and thanks for doing this."

While the girls caught up Jamie brought Eddie's bags into her new room, coming back still smiling. "Hey so why don't we show you to your new room huh? I'm not one to brag but it looks amazing."

Eddie couldn't help but laugh at Jamie giving him a look as he wheeled her past the living room towards the back where their bedrooms were located. As they rode through, Eddie noted marked changes in the living room as well as the ample hallway. Eddie could see where the doorway had been widened, her chair sailed right through. The living room sported a brand new power recliner, a smart TV the obeyed voice commands, and was devoid of all area rugs and obstacles that could make driving difficult. The hallway was also devoid of carpeting and the door leading to Eddie's room had been widened to accommodate her chair.

Inside, Sydney had made the room lovely. The bed was as functional as a hospital bed, but wider, at least a full size and was situated next to the window with shades that could be operated with voice commands. The purple and white comforter was drawn back to reveal Egyptian cotton sheets that were softer than a bunny's fur and beside the bed was a voice prompted light, night table with drawers and a place to plug in her chair to charge the battery. On the wall in Eddie's line of vision was another smart TV. "Oh wow!" Eddie gasped. "This is like a palace."

"Wait until you see what Sydney did to the bathroom. There's one of those tubs with the warm seats and a shower with a built in chair so you're sturdy. She even had a set of drawers put in near the toilet for the supplies Eddie required for her bladder and bowel regiments. "You're worth it Eddie. You think you can feel like this is your home?"