Offering His Arm by Shanae Johnson

Author:Shanae Johnson [Johnson, Shanae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Those Johnson Girls

Chapter Thirteen

One thing that was hard for a one-armed man to do was to tie a knot. On this big day, for Reed, a clip-on simply would not do. Xavier wound the fabric around Reed’s neck and made a noose.

“You sure about this?" asked Xavier as he tightened the tie.

"I've never been more certain.” Reed held still as his friend perfected the knot. He tilted up his chin so he could glance in the mirror at his reflection.

“You just met this girl. Are you sure you know everything you need to know about her?”

"I've known Sarai for almost a month. That’s longer than Dylan knew Maggie, or Fran knew Eva and looked how that worked out for all of them. Then there's the math.”

“Right, the math.” Xavier gave a tug of the knot. “The basis of every good relationship.”

“Math doesn't lie."

"Math is quantitative,” said Xavier, “not qualitative. What do you really know about this girl?"

"We have a lot in common."

"The fact that she knows obscure facts in the Whoverse does not necessarily make you compatible."

"She gets me," said Reed. "I get her. Neither of us is perfect. But what faults may come about either of us, I’m still ninety-eight percent sure she's the one for me.”

“Not one-hundred?”

“It’s statistically impossible to get a perfect score.”

From the corner of the room, Soldier barked as though he agreed. Reed bent down to the dog and offered his hand. The dog hopped up on his hind legs and tapped Reed’s open palm with his sole front paw in their version of a high five.

“I am not going to be upstaged by a dog.” Xavier held out his palm and Reed clasped it in his own. “All right. I'll have your back."

With his free hand, Xavier gave Reed a firm pat on his back. Reed didn't return the favor. That's where Xavier’s scars were. They weren’t painful any longer. But like all of the soldiers that came to this ranch, Xavier was cognizant of his own wounds.

“I know you’ve got my back, bro,” said Reed. “I just wish you'd consider staying here."

Xavier shook his head. “You know marriage isn't for me. But don't worry. You'll still get shared custody of me. You guys will have me on the weekends."

There was a knock at the door. Reed thought for a second that it might be one of the other soldiers, but he dismissed that idea. None of them would bother to knock. They’d just barge in.

Dr. Patel poked his gray head in the door with his fatherly smile. “Good morning, Specialist Ramos. Might I have a private word with the man of the hour?”

With one final adjustment of Reed’s tie, Xavier headed out the door. Dr. Patel came in, closing the door behind him. He didn’t take a seat but stood smiling proudly at Reed.

Dr. Patel had made such a positive impact in everyone on the ranch’s lives. He’d worked tirelessly and patiently to ensure the men were healed from the inside out. He’d officiated Dylan’s and Fran’s weddings.

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