Finding Jaime

Chapter 125

Pete POV

"Okay, Jaime. Once more," the physiotherapist said.

Jaime frowned but turned around and made his way, albeit slowly, back to his wheelchair. He was now walking but couldn't stand for more than about five minutes without his legs giving out. That was a stamina issue, and he was working on strengthening his legs. And his gait was unsteady. But he could make it from one end of the parallel bars they had him walking between to the other and back before his legs started giving out. Weeks of therapy had brought him to this stage, and he was doing better than he gave himself credit for.

I knew today he was going to be exhausted after therapy since he had started his day with speech therapy and then had occupational therapy followed by this physio session.

I watched as his therapists helped Jaime sit in his wheelchair. They both gave him a fist bump and talked to him briefly.

Tony, his primary physiotherapist, approached me while Anita, his partner, helped Jaime get settled in his chair and talked to him a little longer.

"He's doing really well," Tony said to me. "He's walking better than I expected at this point, and his attitude is definitely improving. I think now that he's seeing actual results, he's going to find things go a lot faster. I'm going to suggest an hour at least in the stander at home, and encourage him to walk with it as much as possible. And of course, swimming is still a great exercise for him."

I nodded.

"His speech is also really coming along," Tony said.

"It is. Which I think is definitely helping him with his attitude," I smiled. Tony nodded, agreeing.

"Dad, can w-we go?" Jaime asked as he rolled up to me. His speech was so much clearer, and he stuttered fairly infrequently. "I-I'm tired. It's b-been a l-long day."

"You got it," I smiled at him, gathering the few things I'd brought with to work on while Jaime had his therapies. "Starbucks on the way home again?"

"Sure," Jaime said, a slight smile on his face.

"Want me to push you? Or are you good to push yourself?"

"I'm okay," Jaime said. "I-I'll let y-you know if I need y-you to push. Okay?"

"Definitely," I said. Jaime pushed himself harder now. He was really working on building up his stamina and doing as much as possible for himself.

I followed Jaime out of the physiotherapy department and to the elevators to the parking garage.

He rolled off the elevator and through the door before I'd had a chance to process that the elevator had stopped.

"Dad!" he called out from outside the car. "S-Shake a leg!"

"Smartass," I said, smirking at him as I approached the car. I unlocked it and opened Jaime's door, helping him get into the car by holding him up as he stood on his own, pulling himself up with the frame of the car and holding on. He lifted his leg and, though unsteady, got into the car with minimal help from me. I just helped him maintain his balance and held him as he pulled himself into the car.

I folded up his wheelchair and put in the back of the car, hopping into the driver's seat and pulling out into the street.

Jaime was quiet, looking out the window as we drove home.

"What do you want from Starbucks?" I asked him, handing him my phone. "Order from the one on Hollywood, and we'll pick it up."

"'Kay," Jaime said, taking the phone from me and opening the app. "What d-do you want?"