Chapter 12 Bathing together
The night was quiet. After tending to the kids, Nora went downstairs to take care of Aaron.
"Alright, Thomas, it's your turn now," she said.
"Should I take a shower first?" Aaron asked, navigating into his wheelchair with Nora's help.
Having been confined to the bed, he had only been given sponge baths, and he felt grimy.
"Can't you smell yourself?" Nora teased as she wheeled him into the downstairs bathroom.
Aaron's lips thinned. "As a disabled man, if I smell, it's surely the caregiver's responsibility."
Nora knelt to help him undress, chuckling at the sight of his well-built chest.
"So saving you is now my fault?" she quipped.
Aaron remained silent.
Nora rolled her eyes, deftly stripped off his pants, and helped him into a tub full of warm water.
The comforting water enveloped him, and Aaron let out a relieved sigh.
"Just call me when you're done," Nora told him before stepping out to prepare his next treatment.
Aaron surveyed the cramped bathroom, barely a hundred square feet in size, and thought it exceptionally simple.
At least it was spotlessly clean, and the air was fragranced with a pleasant scent.
He closed his eyes, kneading the muscles in his legs under the water.
When would he ever feel his legs again?
Outside, Nora had prepared the herbal medicine and glanced at the clock before knocking on the bathroom door.
"Thomas, are you done yet?"
Aaron, in the midst of trying to lift himself out of the tub, relaxed his grip at her voice and suddenly sank back down, creating a splash.
Hearing the commotion, Nora rushed in to find water splattered all over the floor. Her eyebrows knit together in a frown. "Why didn't you call me if you were finished?"
Aaron's chest rose and fell slightly; his complexion was not good.
He just wanted to see if he could stand on his own.
"Aaron, you have to pace yourself, don’t try to overdo it."
Nora drained the tub and began to dry him off with a towel.
"If you don't trust me or won't follow my guidance, then perhaps I should take you to the police station tomorrow, and you can find someone else to help you."
Her expression was cool and authoritative, with a firm decisiveness that commanded respect.
Surprisingly, Aaron saw a reflection of his own presence in her—a presence not to be underestimated.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," he said, grasping her shoulders in an attempt at reassurance.
Nora silently exerted herself to help him into his wheelchair.
Just then, the overhead light flickered and the room plunged into darkness.
The sudden blackness made Nora gasp and her legs gave way, causing her to fall into Aaron's embrace.
Feeling the warmth of his skin in the darkness, she noticed the intensity of his gaze.
"The power's out," she said instinctively.
"Don't worry, I'm here," Aaron's voice was a husky whisper as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
Nora's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up, adjusting the hair by her ear.
"I'll check what happened."
As Aaron's gaze followed her, the remaining scent of her perfume lingered in his nostrils.
He swallowed, questioning if it had been too long since he'd been close to a woman. Was that why this little contact was so stirring?
Nora left the bathroom, patted her flushed face, took a deep breath, and used her phone's light to find the circuit breaker.
It was tripped.
She flipped the switch, and the first floor was instantly illuminated.
Steadying her emotions, she entered the bedroom.
Aaron had managed to put on his pajamas, but the pants hung loosely on his legs.
Nora tried to stay focused, pulling up his pants for him, and then helped him into bed.
"What happened?" Aaron inquired.
"It's nothing, just a tripped breaker," came the nonchalant reply.
The wiring in the old house was aging, prone to the occasional cut-off as breakers tripped.
Nora didn't respond, instead focusing on treating Aaron's wounds.
Aaron remained silent too, gazing at Nora's delicate features while memories of a night four years ago incessantly danced through his mind.
Had he not known the identity of the woman he'd been with then, he might have mistaken Nora for her.
The next day.
"Kiddos, stay put at home, I've got to step out for a bit," Nora said as she got ready to head to the Smith estate.
"Mommy, where are you going? To see Great-Grandma?" Samantha piped up.
"Yes, sweetheart," Nora softly replied.
"Why don't you take us to meet Great-Grandma?"
"I've got some other things to handle today. How about next time I'll take you to see her?"
Nora stroked her daughter's soft hair and then reminded her sons to take good care of their sister.
Aaron watched her from his wheelchair. "Heading to your folks'?"
Nora nodded.
"Stay safe."
His voice was deep and neutral. Even seated, he exuded a calm poise.
Nora glanced at him, a gentleness flickering in her eyes.
For reasons unknown, this mysterious man, of uncertain provenance, instilled an inexplicable sense of tranquility within her.
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