“Got it. Keep the place clean. Get him out of his apartment. Treat him like we always did,” Dane listed.
“Like he’s an asshole,” Baer finished.
Wiley poked Baer in the stomach. “Be nice!” he hissed.
“What? Cort knows I’m teasing. Plus, he spent five minutes with Grey. He knows he’s an asshole.”
“Yeah, but he’s our lovable asshole,” Wiley countered.
“There’s so much wrong with that sentence,” Lucien muttered.
Wiley turned his attention to Cort as he was still struggling to hold in his laughter. “We were thinking about getting him one of those home personal assistants like Alexa or Google Home. Do you think that would help?”
Cort nodded. “That would be great, actually. Most of my clients tend to be elderly, so the learning curve for them is kind of steep, but Grey is likely to take to it quickly. At the very least, it would help him keep track of time.” He paused and looked around the group. “Any other questions?” They all shook their heads. “Good. The key thing is to give back Grey’s confidence and independence. My focus will be getting down the basics for him in his apartment, but I’m also going to make sure that he’s getting exercise and checking on his diet. He needs that if he’s going to heal properly. As we venture more and more into the main house, I’ll make sure to involve as many of you as I can.”
“Excellent. We’ll be here any time you need us. We want to be involved,” Dane said eagerly.
“But, no offense, we’re all hoping we don’t need you long,” Lucien tossed out with a smile.
Cort chuckled and held up one hand. “None taken. I’m sorry that anyone needs me, but we all know life happens. Because of that, I’m glad I’ve got the skills to help people like Grey.”
“And his family,” Wiley added.
They all stood and Cort shook their hands again before Clay casually walked him through the house to the front door. He got more glimpses of dark hardwood and a grand swirling staircase.
“This is a beautiful house you have here,” Cort observed.
Clay nodded. “It’s getting there at least. When we moved in, the place had been uninhabited for about thirty years. Dane was hired to rehab the entire place.”
“Lots of work for one man,” Cort said in awe.
“Too true, but he’s done a spectacular job. Baer and I have been lending a hand where we can, but we’ve also learned to stay the hell out of his way when necessary.”
“Smart man,” Cort laughed.
Clay shook his hand again. “Thanks again for coming out and working with Grey. I know it’s your job, but we want you to know that it means a lot to us. We want Grey to get the best care possible.”
“I’ll see that he does, but really, having a supporting family like this goes a long way to helping him heal and get on his feet again. Even if he never gets his sight back.”
Clay’s expression became dour, but he nodded in agreement. Cort always saw himself as being pragmatic. There was nothing wrong with optimism and positive thinking. God knew it had gotten him through some tough times. But he’d seen a lot of clients suffer some terrible setbacks when they clung too long to the hope that their sight was going to improve when the doctors had been making it clear that it was an unlikely scenario.
“Tomorrow, then?” Clay asked.
“Bright and early at nine a.m.” Cort started down the stairs and stopped himself. “Is there a better place for me to park when I’m here? I don’t want to disturb the whole household every time I show up.”
Clay grinned at him. “You can walk through the front door banging pots and pans together every time you arrive if you want. We won’t care. But if it makes you feel more comfortable, feel free to park in front of the garage. First bay on the right is the closest to the door leading to the apartment.”
“Gotcha. Oh…and if you don’t mind me asking, did Grey choose that apartment, or was it the luck of the draw or…”
Clay’s smile never wavered as he answered. “Grey chose it. Wiley is right. Grey’s an introvert. Being around people—even those he cares for—is exhausting for him. He started in the main house but moved to the apartment a few months ago. The physical distance has helped lessen the strain on him.” Clay paused and shoved his hands into his pockets. “We offered to move him back into the main house—there’s plenty of room. But he refused. I haven’t pressed the issue because he did seem more relaxed in the apartment. Do you think he would be better off here? I don’t like him being isolated.”
Cort shook his head. “I don’t think it’s isolation so much as a refuge for him. A haven. As long as he’s getting out and spending time with his family for a few hours a day at least, I think he’s fine in the apartment. Forcing him out would likely be more stressful and do more harm in the long run.”
A heavy sigh of relief escaped Clay, and his shoulder slumped. “Thanks.”
“You guys have got this. It’s only been a week, and everyone is learning. Grey is going to be okay. You all will be.”
Clay flashed him a crooked smile and lifted a hand in a wave. “Thanks. Drive safe.”
“See you tomorrow, Clay.”
Cort walked over to his black Honda civic and dropped into the driver’s seat with a sigh of his own. He was exhausted but feeling better about Grey’s chances than he had been when he’d left the man. Yeah, his mood was bleak and he was incredibly stubborn, but Cort could work with that. His job was always so much easier if there were people in a patient’s life who were there to support and help when necessary. Those guys might like to tease and crack jokes, but it was clear that they were incredibly worried about their friend and only wanted him to feel better.
As he sat behind the wheel, he stopped before pushing the button for the ignition, his gaze straying up at the massive three-story white house with the impressive row of columns and wraparound porch on the first and second level. Live oaks draped with Spanish moss crowded close, offering shade from the late-day sun while birds darted across the yard. There was almost a weird kind of magic to the place, like it was a hidden oasis that housed not one but two gay couples. And if the assessing look in Lucien’s eyes was any kind of an indication, the man fit right in with them. He didn’t have a read on Grey yet. Not that he was trying to get one.
Definitely not.
But it was interesting and strange.
And nice.
Chapter 4
Cort jogged up the stairs to Grey’s apartment, a strange twist of excited anticipation and nerves in his stomach. When he’d left Grey the day before, the man had been exhausted, but Cort felt confident that it was a good tired. He’d finished their session with a feeling of accomplishment. He wanted Grey to believe that he could handle this. That he could get back on his feet and live his life again. Sure, it was going to be different, but he could enjoy many of the things he once had.
Of course, even with the feeling of accomplishment, Cort was all too accustomed to clients suffering setbacks—whether physical or emotional—during the hours they were apart. He expected that from Grey, but he was hoping that maybe the man would hold on to the initiative and hope he had yesterday and power through.