Free Leap of Faith by Fiona McCallum Page B
Authors: Fiona McCallum
door close, âcan you please give me a hand?â
Steve appeared at a run, followed by Laurel and Hardy, who bounded over to where she was having another rest on the front of the float. Steve looked momentarily shaken until heâd cast his eye over her. He put a hand to his brow.
âGod, I thought you must have fallen or something,â he said, a frown etched in his face.
âNo, Iâm fine.â
âWhat have you been up to?â he asked in a scolding tone, despite knowing the answer as he was now looking down at the tubs. âYou should have your leg up. I said Iâd do this when I got back.â
âI was trying to help.â
âHow did you get the tubs in?â
âThrew them.â
âYou silly duffer,â he said, kissing her forehead and wrapping his arms around her. âThanks for doing what you have. Are they ready?â
âJust need to add some water and mix it through.â
Jessica had hoped to surprise him by having it all ready and being back in the house, but heâd arrived before sheâd worked out how to get water from the rainwater tank. The large plastic jug she normally used would be impossible for her to handle.
âI hope you didnât take painkillers on an empty stomach.â
âItâs okay, I didnât.â But Iâm beginning to wish I had.
âWell, you go back to the house and Iâll deal with those two hungry beasts. Night rugs off, day rugs on, and Betadine on Princeâs legs? Anything else?â
âNo, thatâs perfect. Thanks so much.â
âGo on then, off you go,â Steve chided. âDogs, go and see she does as sheâs told.â
Jessica didnât need to be told again. She was now in so much pain she wasnât actually sure how she would make it back to the house, but sheâd have to find a way. And she figured she could almost justify spending the day resting. With each hobbling step she thought about the comfort of the couch, the breakfast and the pain relief awaiting her, and managed to put her crutches in front of her feet and her feet in line with them enough times to get her there.
Inside, she practically collapsed onto the cold leather. After staring at the blank screen for a few minutes, she turned Sunrise on.
âSeriously, Jess, youâve got to rest up and keep your leg elevated. Doctorâs orders, remember?â Steve said when he came in around ten minutes later. âNow, toast and vegemite?â
âYes, thanks.â Jessica watched as Steve bustled about. She noticed him regularly glancing up at the kitchen clock. Every time he did, she felt a stab of guilt. Gary would be here any minute. She wanted to say, You go, Iâll sort all this out . But of course she couldnât. She couldnât so much as get a cup of tea and carry it back to the couch on her own.
Steve delivered her toast. Between bites, Jessica watched surreptitiously as he ate his breakfast standing up, snatching bites here and there, or carrying a piece of toast around and holding it between his teeth while he got the bits and pieces out of the fridge to make his lunch.
Finally he placed his small Esky and a thermos near the door. He brought over another thermos and two bottles of water and put them on the coffee table in front of Jessica. Next he went to the cabinet below the TV and took out all the DVDs and placed them in several low piles on the table.
âThereâs a ham and cheese sandwich in the fridge for you. Iâll let you get up for that,â he said. âOkay, is there anything Iâve missed? I wonât be back until late this afternoon, early evening. Though if you need me, call. I hate leaving you like this,â he added, standing beside her, looking torn.
âIâll be fine,â Jessica said, trying to sound upbeat. âIâll just sit here like Lady Muck and work my way through movies and books.â But inside she
Steve appeared at a run, followed by Laurel and Hardy, who bounded over to where she was having another rest on the front of the float. Steve looked momentarily shaken until heâd cast his eye over her. He put a hand to his brow.
âGod, I thought you must have fallen or something,â he said, a frown etched in his face.
âNo, Iâm fine.â
âWhat have you been up to?â he asked in a scolding tone, despite knowing the answer as he was now looking down at the tubs. âYou should have your leg up. I said Iâd do this when I got back.â
âI was trying to help.â
âHow did you get the tubs in?â
âThrew them.â
âYou silly duffer,â he said, kissing her forehead and wrapping his arms around her. âThanks for doing what you have. Are they ready?â
âJust need to add some water and mix it through.â
Jessica had hoped to surprise him by having it all ready and being back in the house, but heâd arrived before sheâd worked out how to get water from the rainwater tank. The large plastic jug she normally used would be impossible for her to handle.
âI hope you didnât take painkillers on an empty stomach.â
âItâs okay, I didnât.â But Iâm beginning to wish I had.
âWell, you go back to the house and Iâll deal with those two hungry beasts. Night rugs off, day rugs on, and Betadine on Princeâs legs? Anything else?â
âNo, thatâs perfect. Thanks so much.â
âGo on then, off you go,â Steve chided. âDogs, go and see she does as sheâs told.â
Jessica didnât need to be told again. She was now in so much pain she wasnât actually sure how she would make it back to the house, but sheâd have to find a way. And she figured she could almost justify spending the day resting. With each hobbling step she thought about the comfort of the couch, the breakfast and the pain relief awaiting her, and managed to put her crutches in front of her feet and her feet in line with them enough times to get her there.
Inside, she practically collapsed onto the cold leather. After staring at the blank screen for a few minutes, she turned Sunrise on.
âSeriously, Jess, youâve got to rest up and keep your leg elevated. Doctorâs orders, remember?â Steve said when he came in around ten minutes later. âNow, toast and vegemite?â
âYes, thanks.â Jessica watched as Steve bustled about. She noticed him regularly glancing up at the kitchen clock. Every time he did, she felt a stab of guilt. Gary would be here any minute. She wanted to say, You go, Iâll sort all this out . But of course she couldnât. She couldnât so much as get a cup of tea and carry it back to the couch on her own.
Steve delivered her toast. Between bites, Jessica watched surreptitiously as he ate his breakfast standing up, snatching bites here and there, or carrying a piece of toast around and holding it between his teeth while he got the bits and pieces out of the fridge to make his lunch.
Finally he placed his small Esky and a thermos near the door. He brought over another thermos and two bottles of water and put them on the coffee table in front of Jessica. Next he went to the cabinet below the TV and took out all the DVDs and placed them in several low piles on the table.
âThereâs a ham and cheese sandwich in the fridge for you. Iâll let you get up for that,â he said. âOkay, is there anything Iâve missed? I wonât be back until late this afternoon, early evening. Though if you need me, call. I hate leaving you like this,â he added, standing beside her, looking torn.
âIâll be fine,â Jessica said, trying to sound upbeat. âIâll just sit here like Lady Muck and work my way through movies and books.â But inside she