Heart of Steel

Dinner Plans

The conversation with the Senator went surprisingly well. Once I had elaborated a bit, he said that he accepted my apology and we discussed Sam, life before my accident, and even the memories I had recalled of my mom. Before it was over, he asked if I'd like to have dinner with him the next night before he left town again. I said that I would and suggested that we invite Sam as well. He said that would work out perfectly since Sam's shift for that day would end about half an hour before dinner would be ready. I wasn't sure exactly why, but I felt a bit apprehensive about the situation. It seemed odd and almost suspicious that Kendrick would invite me to dinner and I began to wonder if he had an ulterior motive, but maybe that was just because I had one. Sam seemed to think it was a questionable move, too. When I told him about it, he raised his eyebrows and said,

"Really? Why?"

I laughed and shrugged, shaking my head.

"Well, in any case, I'll be there."

"You will?" I asked excitedly.

"Of course. I don't have much of a life outside of you guys. Plus, I'm not gonna leave you to an awkward dinner with him alone."

"Thank you!" I said, immensely relieved.

"Yeah, yeah." He said with a smile and a half hug.

"I've got to go. I'm taking Bash to the dog park today since I didn't get to yesterday."

I gave him a quizzical look.

"Bash?" I asked in search of an explanation.

He laughed and shook his head, rolling his eyes slightly.

"The day I got him, I brought him here and Lilly was here. She asked if she could name him and I couldn't say no. So she named him Bashful after her favorite dwarf."

He said, rolling his eyes again but smiling all the same.

"She also said it was because he's shy."

"That's the cutest thing I've ever heard!" I said gleefully.

"What kind of dog is he?"

"A Golden Beagle."

Before he left I talked him into showing me a few pictures of Bashful on his phone. He even had one of me and Lilly with him! She was sitting in my lap and Bashful was laying in her arms fast asleep. She looked just like my memory of her, except her face wasn't as plump. She was a bit older than the Lilly in my head. It was the strangest feeling to see a picture of myself that I didn't have a memory attached to.

After Sam left, I went into the kitchen to see if I could help Gladys prepare lunch. I didn't feel like being alone or spending time with stony faced Shane. I felt like I couldn't be myself around him, like I was with Sam and James and Kendrick's other staff members. For one thing, he didn't seem to want my company, although he did act annoyed when Sam had told him we were going down to the pond... Maybe he just took his job so seriously that he felt like he had to have an eye on me at all times while on duty. Hadn't he said 'My assignment is to watch the girl'? The other reason I didn't feel completely comfortable around him was that he made me a nervous wreck. I still hadn't worked out the reason behind that, but it was very difficult to ignore.

Gladys was delighted to have my assistance, and told me how I used to help her cook and bake things all the time. She said that I helped her make my mom's favorite cake for her birthday (Red Velvet) and talked about how I always wanted to learn to make new meals. She had some really funny cooking stories that involved my clumsiness and apparent inability to follow simple directions. After we made French Dip sandwiches and Sweet Potato fries, I asked her if she usually fed the on duty Security Guard. She gave me a small smirk and answered,

"Sometimes. Were you thinking of inviting Mr. Steelman to join you?"

Crap! I thought, blushing a little. How did she seem to know I liked him? And WHY the hell did I feel that way? I didn't even know him and he certainly wasn't very nice or friendly to me.

"No! I was just wondering if we should make him a plate. Would Kendrick freak if he ate in the living room?"

She stared at me suspiciously for a few seconds, lips pursed and eyes narrowed, then answered.

"No, I don't think your father would mind. In fact, he gave me instructions to bring his lunch to his office. Said he had a lot to do before he leaves on Sunday. Why don't you go ask Mr. Steelman if he'd like some while I make up the plates? You could eat in the Sun Room if you'd like. It's a beautiful day."

I gave her a half amused half exasperated look before agreeing and exiting the kitchen to go find Shane. I checked the living room and a few other rooms on the main floor before coming across a room I didn't recognize with a single door and a heavy duty handle with a keypad underneath it. It was slightly cracked, so I knocked thinking maybe someone was in there. Sure enough, Shane pulled open the door a few seconds later, his hulking figure blocking my entire view of the room.

"Yes?" He said simply.

"Uh... Gladys wanted me to ask you if you were hungry. We made French Dips and Sweet Potato Fries."

He blinked a few times, seeming taken aback by the gesture.

"Um, I'm okay. Tell her thanks for offering, though." He said awkwardly.

"What is this room?" I blurted out, craning my neck and trying unsuccessfully to see behind him.

"It's the Surveillance Room." He said, clearly not wanting to supply any further details.

"Okay then. See you later." I said before turning around and making my way back to the kitchen. I felt stupid and exposed, like he could see right through me; like he knew it had been my idea to invite him to have lunch with us. I should have specified that I had wanted to bring it to him, I thought, mentally kicking myself. Gladys joined me in the Sun Room for lunch after taking my father his food. I felt like she could sense the fact that I didn't want to be alone, and I was grateful for her company. She was very sweet and funny. Shane popped his head in the kitchen after lunch while Gladys and I were making Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

"Doctor Mooney recommended exercise as part of your at-home physical therapy. I just wanted to remind you about the Gym on the second floor. James will be here in a couple of hours to take over. " he said stiffly.

I let out a frustrated sigh.

"You mean to babysit?" I said sarcastically.

He narrowed his eyes at me intensely, apparently offended.

"To do his job, Miss Wilson."

Gladys busied herself with putting the tray of raw cookies in the oven, avoiding looking at either of us.

"Thanks for letting me know." I said sourly.

He held his stare for a few more seconds, then gave me a single nod and backed out of the room.

"Well, that wasn't uncomfortable at all." Said Gladys with a cheeky grin, hands on her hips.

I burst out laughing.

"Thanks for breaking the tension Glady!" I said with another laugh.

I grabbed my walking stick and made my way up to my room to change. I was happy to discover an entire section in my closet stocked with dry-fit pants and shirts, and even a few sports bras. I chose a matching lime green and navy outfit and then searched the wire rack suspended a couple of inches above the ground that stretched around 3 walls of the closet for some comfortable looking tennis shoes. When I finally found it, I was mesmerized by the size of the Gym. It was about the size of a football field and even had a sauna and a small pool with its own little current. I recalled a commercial I had once seen for a pool similar to that one where a woman was swimming freestyle in place. I used to love swimming, but I was pretty certain it wouldn't be a good idea to try for the first time since waking up without anyone else around. Plus, I wasn't even sure where to find my bathing suit. I chose an elliptical that looked as though it had never been used before and set the timer for 20 minutes. To my amazement, yet not to my surprise, there was an entire playlist of music on the high-tech machine. I picked a title that seemed familiar and began to run along with the music. I was shocked to discover that I actually enjoyed working out. It felt really good to stretch my muscles and blow off some steam. After my time on the elliptical, I ambled over to a counter on the far wall with a sink and single serve coffee maker and opened the mini fridge underneath in search of a cold water. It was stocked with Gatorade, flavored Life Water, and Dasani. I grabbed a Dasani, opened it, and took a long, satisfying drink, enjoying the feeling of the freezing cold water travelling down my throat. Then I jumped in surprise at the sound of the Gym door opening and spilled the water all over my sweaty workout shirt and the floor beneath me. My neck snapped toward the door to find Shane, wide eyed and trying not to laugh at the site of me practically flinging water all over the place.

"Good grief! You scared the crap out of me!" I said, once I had caught my breath, looking around for a napkin to mop up my mess.

"Sorry." he said, not sounding sorry at all.

"There are towels in the drawer right behind you." he said pointing and trying to stifle a grin.

"Thanks." I said shortly, waiting for him to explain why he was there.

When he didn't say anything, I turned my back to him to open the drawer he had indicated and grabbed a bright white towel, then bent down to wipe the water off the floor. When I was done, I straightened up and looked him in the eyes again.

"What's up?" I asked, one hand on my right hip and one eyebrow raised.

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't overwork yourself. Your doctor emphasized that it might take you a while to work your stamina back up. You used to exercise a lot, but you have to remember you've been lying in a bed for six months.” he said, leaning against the door frame and inserting his hands into his pockets nonchalantly.

I stared at him in disbelief. What was his angle here? Less than an hour ago he had denied my offer for lunch, about half an hour ago he had given me attitude about my frustration with constantly being watched like a child (granted I got snarky first, but still), and now he was coming to make sure I wasn't overdoing the exercises? What the actual hell?

"I also wanted to thank you. For including me in your lunch plans. Or trying to, anyway..." he said.

For the first time since I had met him, Shane actually seemed sincere. This confused me even more. I opened my mouth to respond, staring blankly at him, closed it, then opened it again.

"You're... um... welcome?" I sputtered, mentally slapping myself in the forehead.

Get it together, Kase! I thought, exasperated at my own ridiculousness. Shane let out a snort of laughter, his face turning slightly red, then inclined his head slowly in my direction.

"Take it easy, Miss Wilson." he said as he backed out of the room.

I stood there completely dumbfounded for at least 5 more minutes before making my way to my room to take a shower. What in the world was that all about? Shane was acting super strange. And given the day's events, I was actually glad I hadn't found out why, because I wasn't sure I could handle anymore surprises just yet.

The next afternoon, I worked out again, but this time for twice as long. I ran on the elliptical for 20 minutes and then lifted some small hand weights about 30 times each. I started with 3 pounds and then switched to 5, remembering what Shane had said about taking it easy. Then I showered and got ready for dinner with Sam and the Senator. I wasn't as nervous anymore, especially since I knew Sam had my back, but I still had it in the back of my mind that Kendrick might be up to something.

Gladys had made Goulash and Steamed Vegetables for dinner and Apple Pie for dessert. Every bit of it was delicious. Kendrick and Sam made some small talk and I joined in when I saw fit, but for the most part we were all fairly quiet. After Sam and I had finished our pie, seeing as Kendrick had refused a slice, he cleared his throat and looked me in the eyes for what was probably the first time all night.

"So, Kasey, do you have any idea of what you would like to do with your life now that you are home?"

I blinked.

"Umm... What was I doing before?" I asked slowly, completely taken aback by his question and his seemingly genuine interest.

"You were going to college and working part time at a daycare." he said matter-of-factly.

I thought about it for a minute, raking the leftover pie crust around on my plate.

"I really want to learn how to drive again." I said, chancing a glance up into Kendrick's eyes.

He grimaced and shot an irritated look at Sam.

"Did you put her up to this?" he asked him.

"What? No! We haven't even talked about her driving again. I swear." said Sam.

"What am I missing here?" I asked, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"It seems you and your brother have extremely similar minds. He just told me yesterday he would be willing to re-teach you how to drive if you were interested."

I gaped at him, then at Sam.

"Really?" I said excitedly.

"Yeah, I think it'd be fun!" said Sam, beaming at me until he caught sight of our dad's face, then looking down at his plate.

"Will you think about it please, Dad?" I said.

The last word seemed to take a huge effort to get out of my mouth. I couldn't recall ever calling him that in the memories that had come back to me, but it had worked for Sam the other day, so I decided to give it a shot. Kendrick gave me one swift nod.

"I will think about it, if you think about going back to school. I want you to have a proper education."

I clapped my hands excitedly.

"Thank you!"

Kendrick nodded again.

"By the way, what was I going to school for?" I asked curiously.

"Politics." he said, and I swear I saw the ghost of a smile on his face.

Sam nearly choked on the water he had just swallowed, eyes bulging at Kendrick.

"Did... you just... make a joke?" he asked him in between gasps of air.

"Yes, yes I did." said Kendrick.

"You were going to be..." he said, rolling his eyes.

"a teacher."