"Jenna & Luke" - Chapter 5

When they arrived at Luke’s house Kevin and his girlfriend Susie were waiting in the living room. Luke introduced Jenna to them and he and then he showed Jenna the guest room with an en suite bathroom.

“You can change and use the bathroom in there while we take care of my evening routine, okay?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“See you soon. Kevin will let you know when I’m ready, it usually takes about half an hour.” Luke hoped his bowels cooperated. He normally did his bowel routine every other day and he’d gone through it the previous evening, but the spicy food they’d had for dinner increased the chance for accidents and he didn’t want to risk that. Especially not with Jenna in bed with him. Better to be safe than sorry.

"Jenna & Luke" - Chapter 4

Two weeks after their trip to Venice Beach Luke kept his promise and brought Jenna to his favorite Indian restaurant. He’d booked a table for Friday evening at seven and he offered to pick her up. Jenna was excited. They’d met at Starbuck’s for lunch a few times over the past couple of weeks, but there hadn’t been any dinner dates. Although she’d missed spending more time with Luke Jenna was also very excited.  Sarah’s contacts in the entertainment industry had gotten them a couple of big projects with short deadlines, which had resulted in long days at the office. Luke had been tied up at work as well; his company was doing some sort of audit of the books or something and he’d been working longer hours as well.  Weeknight dates had not been an option and the previous weekend Jenna had flown to Chicago to celebrate her father’s 60^th birthday.

Jenna checked her appearance in the full-length mirror in her hallway one last time; she’d opted for her little black dress, which was always a safe choice. The glittery stilettoes and colorful shawl added a fun twist to the dress and her long blonde hair was pulled into a loose bun. Jenna was satisfied with how she looked.  She grabbed her clutch bag and headed outside to wait for Luke.  A smile spread across her face when she stepped out of her front door; his van was already there and she quickly locked her door and moments later she slid into the front passenger seat. Luke beamed at her and his expression made the effort she'd made to look good worth it.

"Jenna & Luke" - Chapter 3

“Playing chef this morning?” Luke asked Kevin when he entered his bedroom Sunday morning. The scent of bacon had penetrated the house for a few minutes, making his mouth water.

“Yeah, I figured we deserve a treat. How do you feel today?”

“I’m good, I slept really well.”

“You okay with eating breakfast in your PJ’s and then shower and get dressed? The food is ready.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.”

Kevin got Luke settled into his wheelchair and hung his bed bag on a hook on the side of the chair; he’d switch it to a leg bag after Luke’s shower. He left the PRAFO braces on his feet, but replaced the bulky overnight splints on his wrists with his daytime splints so he’d be able to eat.

“How’s your neck today? Need the collar or a painkiller?”

“Still aches, but not as bad as yesterday. Put the collar on for now, and I’ll see how I feel later. I’d like to lose it before my date with Jenna, but I can’t take a painkiller since I’m driving. It’s not like she can pick me up. My chair definitely won’t fit in her Prius.”

“You’re seeing her again today?” Kevin asked as he fitted the collar around Jake’s neck.

“Yeah, we’re going down to Venice Beach, I’m picking her up at noon.” Luke told Kevin as he followed him into the kitchen. He settled in by the table while Kevin loaded their plates with scrambled eggs and bacon and brought them over.

“That’s awesome. I take it your date went well?” Kevin had been out with friends the previous night, so another assistant had come to help Luke in the evening.

“Very well. She seemed a bit stunned when I told her I need assistance to get in and out of bed, but she recovered fast and claims she’s cool with my disability. We’ll see how it works out…” Luke shrugged and turned his focus to eating.

“She wants to see you again, so that’s a good sign.”

“I suppose so. I’m a bit nervous about how she’ll react to being with me in public. People do stare and I don’t exactly blend well with a crowd. I’ve gotten past caring, but I’m sure it can be uncomfortable for Jenna.”

“I know, but it’s something she’ll have to learn how to deal with,” Kevin said matter-of-factly.

“True. I just don’t wanna fuck this up. This is the first time since the accident I’m dating someone and I have to admit I’m falling for this woman.”

"Jenna & Luke" - Chapter 2

When Luke woke up Saturday morning he didn’t feel great. He’d struggled to sleep; he was more nervous about his dinner date with Jenna than he wanted to admit. Inviting for dinner at his house had been a spur of the moment thing and over the past couple of days he’d second-guessed that decision several times. He realized there was no turning back and he’d just have to make the best of it.

......

“So, what’s your plan for tonight?” Kevin asked over breakfast. Luke had told him he’d invited Jenna over a couple of days earlier and he’d offered to help him prepare dinner.

“Jenna’s coming over at seven and I figured I’d make lasagna and a salad for dinner. I have to admit I’m nervous. And my neck is killing me today.” Since the accident Luke had dealt with almost chronic pain around the site of his injury. Most days it was just a dull pain he was able to ignore, but from time to time it flared up and today was a bad day. He rolled neck and leaned his head against the headrest on his wheelchair, and then he adjusted his chair so he was sitting more reclined.

“Want a painkiller? Or the collar?”

“Get the collar first, please. The painkillers makes me fuzzy and today isn’t a good day for that.” Luke’s doctor had suggested that wearing a soft cervical collar to support his neck might work as a pain reliever and it had proved to be pretty efficient. Luke knew that wearing the collar for extended periods of time wasn’t good for him, it would weaken the muscles in his neck, but he wore it for a few days from time to time when the pain was bad. Kevin returned to the kitchen with the collar in hand and he quickly put it around Luke’s neck and adjusted it.

“Does it feel okay?” Kevin asked once he was done

“Very good. Thanks.” Luke reclined his chair a bit more and closed his eyes, while taking deep breaths. About 15 minutes later he opened his eyes and adjusted his chair so he was sitting upright again. Kevin put down the paper he was reading and looked at Luke questioningly.

“Feel any better?”

“Yeah, it’s getting better now. I think the worst of it is over.”

“Let’s head out and get the grocery shopping done then,” Kevin suggested.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

"Jenna & Luke" - Chapter 1

As usual Jenna headed to the Starbucks down the block from her office during her lunch break.  She was a creature of habit and before she could say anything the barista rang up her regular order of a club sandwich and a tall latte. A few minutes later she was seated at a table not too far from the entrance with her food and iPad in front of her. While she ate she caught up on her Twitter timeline and the news online.

After about half an hour she had to return to the office and as she walked out the door a man in a power wheelchair approached. She waited and held the door open for him; as he came closer it struck her how handsome he was. Judging from his face he was about her age, maybe a couple of years older. His hair was dark brown and short; his eyes were a dark chocolate brown and when he flashed her a smile dimples appeared on his cheeks. As well as straight, white teeth that would make any dentist proud. He was dressed in a pair of navy chinos and a light blue button down shirt; his feet were clad in a pair of brown leather loafers. Very business causal, Jenna thought. She also noticed the two wide Velcro straps across his chest and that he was wearing some sort of braces on his wrists.

“Thanks,” he said as he rolled past her into the coffee shop. His voice was a deep baritone.

Jenna just nodded and smiled as she let go of the door and walked back to her office.  The rest of the day her mind kept wandering back to the guy in the wheelchair; there was something about him that piqued her curiosity, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

To My Readers (includes teaser from my new story)

I'm so sorry for not updating lately.  I really am.  My list of excuses you're probably not interested in is a mile long. I work in retail and the holiday season is the busiest time of the year. Work has been crazy demanding lately and on top of that I've been dealing with a few family issues. Time (and inspiration) to write has been scarce.

The good news is that I've got lots of time off ahead of me, starting Saturday. I'm not going back to work 'til January 6th. I have updates in the works for both current stories on the blog AND I'm working on a new one. This one features a quadriplegic with limited use of his hands and arms.

Here's an excerpt from the the 2nd draft of the first chapter:

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 8

Early Saturday morning Meaghan smiled as she watched Bryan lift their bags into the trunk of his Audi sedan. She was pretty sure he’d practically be bouncing if he’d been able to walk; they were both excited about the trip to Oak Island. She had spent the night at Bryan’s place since they’d planned on an early start. They had both taken the afternoon off the previous day and Meaghan had accompanied Bryan to an appointment with his physical therapist. She had shown Meaghan how to help Bryan with his range of motion exercises. He could mostly do them himself, but some of the stretches required assistance and it was generally easier when he had someone to help him. Bryan had sensed that she’d been nervous and a bit uncomfortable at first, but by the end of the appointment she’d seemed pretty relaxed and he was impressed with how fast she gotten the hang of the exercises. 

“You’re in a good mood today,” Meaghan commented as she handed him the cooler with food they were bringing. 

“Well, the sun is shining and we’ve both to the coming week off and we’re spending it together. It can’t get much better than that, can it?” 

“True,” Meaghan replied with a smile as she surveyed the contents of the trunk. “I think that’s everything. Do you have everything you need?” 

“Yep. I double-checked the bag with medical supplies before I brought it to the car and I’ve got everything else in the big duffle. I have some outdoor gear and other clothes in Oak Island too. What about you?” 

“I’m good. I guess it’s time to hit the road then. I wish I could do my share of the driving, but I’ve got no idea about how to drive with hand controls.” 

“You don’t have to use the hand controls, so you’re not off the hook in the driving department.” 

“Really? That’s great. I just hope I don’t scratch your fancy car.” 

“It’s just a car, Megs. And it’s well insured. Well, if we’ve got everything I’ll activate the alarm and lock the apartment.” 

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 7

Summer was coming to an end and the Labor Day weekend was only two weeks away. Both Bryan and Meaghan were swamped at work.  Meaghan smiled as she packed an overnight bag; Bryan had invited her over to his place for dinner and since they both had the weekend off she was spending it at Bryan’s place. Their time together had been scarce over the past couple of weeks and Meaghan looked forward to spending some time with her boyfriend. She missed it.

An hour later she let herself into Bryan’s apartment with the key he’d given her a few weeks earlier. She was surprised to find it dark and quiet; it was after six in the afternoon and when she’d talked to Bryan around lunchtime the previous day he’d said he was working a night shift and that he’d be home around eight in the morning. She knew he slept a few hours when he got home after a nightshift, but for him to be in bed this late in the afternoon was definitely not normal.  She spotted Bryan’s keys and wallet on the table by the door and the bag he usually had on the back of his wheelchair when he was out was on the floor next to the table. They were all signs he was in the apartment, so Meaghan was a bit worried. She grabbed her tote and headed to the bedroom. 

The Store Manager - Chapter 4

Silje was a little nervous when she approached Morten’s table, she hoped she wasn’t overstepping her boundaries. He seemed like a pretty easygoing guy and he’d told her his buddies weren’t joining him ‘till closer to 9, so she hoped he’d like some company while he waited for them. She wasn’t planning on staying out late since she was working the early shift the coming day.

“Mind if I join you?” she asked, hoping she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. 

Morten looked up at her, clearly surprised, but it only took him a moment to pull himself together and a smile spread across his face. “Not at all, have a seat."

“Thanks,” Silje said as she set her glass on the table before she pulled out a chair and sat down. “I’m just having a beer or two before I head home and since you told me you’re not expecting your buddies to arrive in another hour or so I figured we might as well keep each other company.”

“I like the way you think,” Morten grinned. “I hadn’t planned on heading down here so early, but I didn’t have much else to do and I got restless. Some company is definitely a good thing; reading the news on my phone isn’t very interesting.”

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 6

“You want to have kids? With me?” Bryan asked, disbelief lacing his voice.

“I think you’d make an incredible father. We’ve only been going out for a few weeks and I’m not saying we should rush into anything, but it hit me the other day that you’re a guy I can imagine settling down and having a family with.”

“Really? You don’t mind the challenges that obviously comes with my disability?”

“I think you can do pretty much anything you want to. You just have to do some things differently and there’s nothing wrong with that. But...before we talk about having kids and marriage, which I think it’s a bit premature, I have something else to ask you.”

“What?”

“I briefly chatted with Kelly yesterday and she was wondering if we want to join her for dinner next Saturday. I told her I’d have to check with you, since your work schedule is so unpredictable.”

“I’ll have to double check, but if I remember correctly I work an evening shift on Friday and a morning shift on Saturday, which means I get off work around three in the afternoon.  If we meet her at around seven in the evening it gives me time for a quick nap to recharge my batteries a bit. I know it makes me sound like an old geezer, but my back usually hurts a bit, especially around the area of my injury, when I’ve been in my chair for 10 hrs straight or more. A couple of hours of laying down usually take care of it.”

“I’ve been known to lay down for a powernap after long workdays too, especially days that are filled with meetings that makes me sure my brain might explode or something if I have to deal with any more information, so you’re not alone in that department.”

“Really? I thought I was the only person below the age of 70 that needs afternoon naps,” Bryan said with a laugh.

“Nope you’re not alone. So, you’re game for dinner with Kelly on Saturday?”

“Yeah. Um…have you told her I’m disabled? Or did she notice it in the bar the evening we met?”

“I haven’t told her and she didn’t notice. If she’d noticed she would’ve said something, I know her that well. Do you want me to tell her?”

“Yeah, I’d prefer that. Definitely. Things are usually less awkward if people know beforehand.”

“I’m meeting her for lunch on Tuesday. I’ll tell her then.”

Bryan nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 5

Meaghan woke up in Bryan’s bed the following morning. He was sleeping on his back with his left arm draped across his stomach and the right wrapped around her; she was curled up against his side with her head resting on his shoulder. Her thoughts wandered back to the previous evening. Their date had been wonderful and she was glad that Bryan had finally let her in and told her more about how his disability affected his life, wheelchair aside. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been slightly intimidated when Bryan wheeled out of the bathroom with a grey plastic bag with a clear tube attached to it in his lap. The other end of the tube disappeared into the fly of the plaid pajama pants he was wearing.

She had tried not to stare as Bryan had transferred to the bed and attached the bag to a hook or something on his side of the bed. Then he’d pulled out two white plastic braces padded with sheepskin from under the bed. He’d quickly positioned his right foot, which she’d noticed were completely motionless, in one of the braces and then he’d secured a wide piece of sheepskin over his foot. It was held in place by three narrow Velcro straps. There was also a wide Velcro strap padded with sheepskin that went across his ankle and one around his calf. He’d repeated the process with the brace on his left foot and then he arranged his feet and pulled up the down comforter so it covered the lower part of the body before he looked over at Meaghan with an uneasy look on his face. “Still not ready to bolt for the door?” he’d asked her quietly; his insecurity was evident.

Meaghan had responded by scooting closer to him and kissing him passionately. She felt the corners of his mouth curl up in a smile he wrapped his strong arms around her pulled her flush against him and returned the kiss eagerly.

The Store Manager - Chapter 3

Within two weeks of his return to work Morten was working a full time schedule. He’d soon realized that it did him good to get out of his apartment and do something useful; he felt more energized than he had in months and much more like himself again. The holiday season was just about to start and he was excited about it. It was without a doubt Morten’s favorite season and he loved the hectic pace of the busiest time of the year. 

“Morten, can I get your opinion on a display?” Elise asked; she was leaning the doorjamb of the office they shared. They’d settled back into a comfortable routine since his return; Elise was in charge of the shop floor and he took care of the administrative side of the business.  It was pretty much the same routine they’d had before Morten’s accident and it worked well for both of them.

“Sure, give me five minutes to finish this up and I’ll be right out, okay?”

“Thanks. It’s up by the cash register.”

“Got it,” Morten replied with a smile before he turned his attention back to the document he was working on; a training document for the seasonal employees. Over the past week Elise and he had interviewed about 20 people. They’d hired six of them and they were starting the following week. Morten knew from experience that it could be useful to send them an overview of the basic routines in the store before they started so they had an idea of what was expected of them.  He’d made the document a couple of years ago, but head office had introduced a few new routines since then and Elise had mentioned a few things she thought should be added to the list as well. After a few minutes he saved his progress and printed a copy. He grabbed the document from the printer, slid it into a plastic folder and placed it in his lap before he released the brakes on his wheelchair and pushed away from his desk. 

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 4

Over the next month Meaghan and Bryan spent increasingly more time together. They both had busy schedules and Bryan’s work hours sometimes made it a challenge for them to find the time to spend together, but they managed to squeeze in several dinner dates, another movie, a gallery opening and even a couple of lunches. Meaghan appreciated Bryan’s easygoing demeanor and his warm personality and as she got to know him even better his wheelchair faded into the background and she didn’t think much about it anymore. One thing that was bothering her was that Bryan seemed very reluctant about moving their intimacy beyond kissing. They had not spent the night together yet; the Friday weekend they’d had dinner at a restaurant just about a block from Meaghan’s apartment and she’d suggested that Bryan spend the night at her place. He’d politely declined, claiming he didn’t have everything he needed with him.  Meaghan wished he would open up to her about his disability; he still hadn’t told her exactly why he was in a wheelchair, but she was pretty sure he was paralyzed. His legs appeared to be thinner than normal and the few times she’d seen him transfer from his wheelchair to a different seat it was clear that he couldn’t move them at all. He always used his hands to move and adjust them. 

Bryan’s attraction to Meaghan had grown steadily as they’d spent more time together.  There was one thing he was uncertain about how to deal with; she didn’t seem to be bothered by his disability, but he had a strong feeling she was curious and wanted to know more. She had gently pushed for them to move their relationship into the bedroom, but Bryan was reluctant. He was worried that the AFO braces and the condom catheter and bed bag he wore at night would be overwhelming and scare her away. At the same time he was aware that if he wanted their relationship to progress he needed to be open and honest with her. A Friday evening about five weeks after they first met found them eating dinner at a Thai place not far from Bryan’s apartment and as they were finishing their desserts he decided to take a leap of faith.

The Store Manager - Chapter 2

At 6:30 in the evening Morten decided it was time to shower and get ready for his night out. He wheeled into his bedroom and transferred to the bed to take off his pants. He had learned how to do it in his wheelchair in rehab, but it was easier to do it on the bed and Morten wasn’t in the mood to struggle. He was naked when he transferred back to the wheelchair and headed for the bathroom. He looked down on his thin, pale legs. Before the accident he’d been in pretty decent shape and he was amazed at how fast the muscles had atrophied over the past few months. When he reached the bathroom he transferred to the shower bench and grabbed a towel from the towel bar and placed it on the seat of the wheelchair. He turned on the water and quickly washed his hair and body. When he was done with that he just sat there for a few minutes; he’d always liked to take long showers, especially when he was nervous; they calmed him somehow. 

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 3

Meaghan checked the time; 6:23 PM. Bryan had said he’d pick her up at 6:30 so she touched up her makeup and looked herself over in the full-length mirror in the hallway. After quickly adjusting her belt she grabbed her purse and cardigan and made her way down to the sidewalk. The moment she stepped out of the front door Bryan pulled into the pickup spot in front of her building. Meaghan made her way over to the car and slid into the passenger seat.

“Hey there,” he greeted her. “You look great.”

“Thanks, so do you,” Meghan looked at him appreciatively. He was dressed in dark dress slacks and a tailored navy blue shirt that showed off his toned torso. He was also clean-shaven and his hair appeared tamer than it had the previous evening. It looked like he’d definitely made an effort to look good, not that he needed to; he was a very good-looking man and definitely handsome in Meaghan’s book.

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 2

Bryan was nervous as they walked around the corner and down the block toward Mr. Yiu’s. He had seen the color drain from Meaghan’s face when she realized he was in a wheelchair, but she’d recovered from the shock pretty fast and insisted she wanted to get to know him. He was curious about what she did for a living. She was dressed in a pair of dark skinny jeans and a black top with a gray, tailored blazer; her dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail. She looked very professional and Bryan wondered if she was a lawyer or maybe worked in finance. Before he could ponder more about it they reached the restaurant; he held the door open and allowed Meaghan to enter and then he followed her inside.

“Welcome to Mr. Yiu’s, table for two?” the host greeted them, as he grabbed two menus.

“Yes please,” Bryan said with a smile. They followed him to a table by the windows.

“Would you like me to remove a chair for you, sir?”

“That would be great, thanks.”

After he’d helped Meaghan with her chair he removed a chair so Bryan could access the table and left two menus on the table for them.  They both grabbed a menu and studied them in silence. 

Finding Unexpected Love - Chapter 1

Meaghan Barnes had just turned 29 and she was mostly happy with the direction her life had taken. Career-wise she was doing great; she had graduated from Colombia University with a Master’s degree in architecture five years earlier and she had been hired by Weston & Co. Property Development in Washington DC almost immediately after she’d finished her education. She had worked hard and delivered great results on the projects she’d been involved in so far. Her boss was happy and Meaghan was fairly confident that she’d be promoted within the next year, hopefully before Christmas. She knew she just needed to stay focused and keep delivering great results.  

Meaghan’s best friend from high school, Kelly McIntyre, had studied history at Georgetown and despite graduating with honors she’d opted to get a teaching license and was currently working as a history teacher at a DC high school. Her main goal in life was to find a man, settle down and start a family of her own.  When Meaghan had moved to DC the two of them had rekindled their friendship and they were close friends. The only thing that caused occasional conflicts between the two of them was that Kelly kept pushing Meaghan to find a man and settle down too.  She had tried to set Meaghan up with several men, a few of the set ups had led to shorter relationships, but none of them had lasted for more than a few dates. 

The Store Manager - Chapter 1

Morten wheeled through his apartment. He was restless and part of him wanted to get out of there and do something, but that meant venturing out in ‘the real world’ in his wheelchair. While he was in rehab his therapists had forced him to go on a few ‘field trips’ and he hated every second. He felt like everyone stared at him and it made him immensely uncomfortable.  Morten hated himself for being so self-conscious; before the car accident that had left him a paraplegic five months earlier he’d been a very confident person.  Now he didn’t feel anything like the guy he’d been before the accident and he didn’t have much hope of getting back to any semblance of that.