Autumn's Healing by HK Carlton

Author:HK Carlton [Carlton, HK]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group Ltd
Published: 2017-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The following morning was only slightly awkward. Although Salem went through his morning rituals and took care of his limb as usual, it was the first time he’d done so in front of someone who wasn’t family. But Kay didn’t bat an eye. In fact, she asked a lot of questions and seemed fascinated by the limb and how the different parts and components worked.

“How do they get it to fit so perfectly?” Gently, she ran her palm just above the amputation.

“A lot of measuring. Usually first, they take a plaster cast of the residual limb. The fit of the socket needs to be as precise as possible and, even then, it’s hell. It chafes, rubs you raw in the beginning and damages what’s usually newly healed tissue.”

She winced but continued to comfort. “So, you almost have to do that, though, to toughen up the skin?” she asked, trying to understand. “Almost like a callous, I guess?”

“Yeah, sort of. It’s kind of an ever-changing process for a while. Once you can wear the damn thing without shredding your flesh, the muscles strengthen then change shape and often size. Then you have to start over with a new socket, but it’s never as bad as it is in the beginning. The last time I had to have a fitting, though, my prosthetist scanned my residual limb with lasers—incredibly cutting-edge and precise techniques. That made a world of difference.”

“Custom fit,” she commented.

“Yeah.”

She nodded while watching him, as if in awe of the whole thing. Her attention shifted from where she so attentively inspected the prosthesis to him. “When we first met, I never would have known about your leg if you hadn’t fallen through that blasted step. Sure, there is a slight limp, but I thought sports injury or fatigue. I mean, at our age, let’s face it, the knees ache in the mornings, regardless.” She shrugged. “A hardworking guy like yourself with the job that you have… It stands to reason it’s taxing on a body.

“I’m sorry this happened to you.” Her eyes filled and his throat closed. “That goes without saying. But, in another way, I’m grateful for the advancements that make this possible for you. It’s really kind of amazing, Jerusalem.”

It was. He could openly admit that. He was lucky technology was as advanced as it was. But, on the bad days, it was hard to see beyond the loss and the handicap. He wasn’t what he had been before. It had changed him in ways that went much deeper than the lost limb. It had taken him a long time to appreciate these things, and he still struggled. But Kaylah’s understanding and being with her intimately was helping him in ways therapists, support groups or rehab never could. His prosthesis didn’t seem to matter to her at all. Perhaps not knowing him before helped with that, but he didn’t have the luxury to be sure that were true.

“The prosthesis you’re using today is different. Kinda like those blade-type ones you see in the Paralympics.

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