Clouds and Rain

again, Flynn would leave and he‟d be alone inside that big house. The notion hurt something fierce in his chest, but that was the way the cookie crumbled. He‟d been alone most of his life, so he knew he‟d be able to cope.
    Flynn stopped the car with the passenger side as close to the porch of the house as he could and got out while Gable was still trying to gather his courage. Bridget leapt up to the door and, in all her excitement, licked the window, but Flynn coaxed her inside, assuring her that she‟d get time with Gable later.
    “Okay, let‟s try this,” Flynn announced, opening Gable‟s door and presenting him with the crutches Craig had taught him to use.
    Gable‟s arms hadn‟t regained their full strength yet, appearing too frail for the bulky-looking but lightweight metal supports that fit under his armpits.
    Gable swung his legs out of the car and accepted the crutches, slowly putting weight on his leg and trying to find his balance, while Flynn fidgeted around him. Gable saw how Flynn had tried to clear the driveway and the porch steps of snow so he wouldn‟t slip and had to admit he was grateful.
    “I‟ll be fine,” he told Flynn in no uncertain terms. “Just leave me be for a moment.”

    96

    Clouds and Rain

    “But—” Flynn protested.
    Gable shook his head. “Take my suitcase inside, open the door, take the groceries in. Do anything, just don‟t get in my way,” he interrupted, irritation in his voice. He knew Flynn didn‟t deserve this, but he was crowding him, and it was going to be hard enough without Flynn watching him fail, so Gable sank back down to the car seat and waited for Flynn to leave.
    Frustration grew as it again dawned on Gable how much effort every single action took him. All he could think of right now was that he could do with a lie down, but his bed was upstairs and he was afraid he would barely be able to make it up the four steps to the porch, let alone actually make it to the bedroom. The couch was going to have to do, and he remembered Craig‟s words: take it one step at a time. He had no other choice. As he slowly made his way up the porch steps, Gable saw Flynn hovering around the front door, pretending to be busy inside, but keeping a close eye on him. It was both reassuring and annoying, but at least Flynn was doing what Gable had asked and was giving him some space.
    The steps were tough, but Gable managed to make it to the top without falling. He had to stop to catch his breath, though, and as he looked at the door, he caught Flynn staring. Gable looked away and tried to distract himself by straightening his back and taking another step. When he looked at the door again, Flynn was gone, but as soon as Gable crossed the threshold, Flynn was right by his side, closing the door behind him.
    “You must be exhausted. We got a….” Flynn stopped midsentence as Gable wavered, seeing the bed in the living room. It was a Spartan-looking single bed, neatly made up with unfamiliar-looking sheets, and it was standing next to the wall, underneath the window that overlooked the paddocks and the barn. Bridget was sitting next to it as if she‟d been instructed to look like a Norman Rockwell painting, but her tail betrayed her excitement.
    “I was afraid you might be too tired to go upstairs the first few days, and if not, you can still use it for a nap during the day or just to rest,” Flynn rambled. “It‟s Calley‟s and she let us borrow it for as long as we need it. You need it,” Flynn corrected.

    97

    Zahra Owens

    Gable nodded. He was annoyed at having his incapacitation thrown in his face, but on the other hand, the bed looked very inviting right now, so he hobbled his way over there and sank down on it with a heavy sigh. He looked up as Flynn took his crutches from him and put them against the wall, then took some extra pillows and started arranging them around Gable.
    “Flynn, please,” he pleaded, grabbing Flynn‟s hand to stop the kid from fussing over him. “I‟m fine. The bed‟s fine. Just give me a little time to rest. Don‟t you have work to do out there?” Gable pointed toward the barn.
    “I did all that this morning,” Flynn answered, hovering uncomfortably around and finally deciding to take Gable‟s shoe off.
    “You must have gotten up at the crack of dawn!” Flynn smiled. “It was still dark, actually.” Gable, still holding Flynn‟s wrist, pulled Flynn closer so he had no choice but to sit down on the bed next to