I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Seventy-Three

The second day of June we rode up to Banbury with the physiotherapist, the sky seemed the bluest possible blue and flowers of every hue burst forth around us, as if welcoming us back to the real world. We'd left our home when it was cold and still a bit grey, but we were returning to warmth (for Britain) and colour. Even the usually annoying traffic was nice to see—it meant we were returning to some state of normality. Anthony had agreed to drive us so I could sit in the back seat with Alex. I held her hand and watched her as she watched the countryside roll by. Anthony and Alistair chatted in the front about the cricket and I was grateful to be able to sit quietly with Alex. In what seemed like no time we crunched up the long drive and suddenly The Bower came into view, purple and yellow flowers planted by Mr Brinson and his son all along the front garden. The house looked larger and more forbidding now that I had to consider it from Alex's point of view, where every step took an age.

Anthony asked where he should park and Alistair said wherever we normally would do. Anthony caught my eyes in the mirror and I said, 'We usually park by the kitchen entrance, but that's very far from the stairs. We can start parking in the front.' I looked to Alex for her opinion and she nodded and Anthony pulled around the small circle drive. I jumped out and hurried around to Alex's side and her brother and I danced around one another a bit in an effort to be the most helpful. She cocked an eyebrow at us and hauled herself out on her own, pushing herself up on her cane and looking up at our house.

The therapist brought out a little notebook, 'No rush, we'll simply go through and see which rooms need outfitting.'

I nodded, 'Right,' and looked up. Why hadn't we bought a cottage? I met Alex's eyes to see if she was ready and she nodded once. Up the five front steps to the doors where Thailia and the dogs greeted us.

She beamed, 'Hello, Alexandra. Welcome home.' Alex nodded and smiled and Thailia picked up Little Cate to sniff Alex's hand. I picked up Clem and loved her a bit and let Alex say hello to her as well. She seemed genuinely happy to see them, she, 'Hi'd' at them and they wiggled gleefully.

After I introduced Alistair, 'This is the dogs' foster mother, Thailia,' we went through. Foyer, down a step, living room. Alex had to rest a moment before trying to scale the stairs.

As I sat beside her on the sofa I said, 'We could move our room down here until you're better.'

'No.'

'All right.' I walked behind her up the stairs in case she lost her balance while Alistair scribbled notes. I asked, 'Too bad our house isn't chrome and modern, then metal rails would fit right in.' I rather hated the idea of putting in something so ugly, but at least it would be temporary.

The therapist said, 'Actually, they can use wooden rails, which shouldn't stand out too terribly.'

It took several minutes to reach the first floor, where she stopped and rested. Then we clomped along to our room, her cane stumping along, muffled by the rug along the hallway. I pushed open our bedroom door and Alex, Alistair and I went in, the therapist looking around in a critical way and making notes.

I turned back to find Anthony standing in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. When our eyes met he said, 'I think I'll put the kettle on,' and disappeared before anyone could respond. Alex and I exchanged "Oh, well" expressions and she sat on our bed while I showed him the bathroom.

'That tub is going to be problematic, as it's freestanding. It will be difficult for her to get into and out of a tub of that depth.

'We'll do whatever we have to. Put in a new shower...move to a room with a different bath...whatever.' I poked my head through the door and addressed Alex, who was watching Cate investigate her cane, 'Is it all right if we put in a walk in shower?'