Page 45 of Already Falling

My mom has always been nervous about me dating again since the incident at the nightclub. She drove down that weekend and didn’t leave my side for two days.

“I know. I think I’d like to find someone to share my life with. I know I have Chloe, but someone I can be intimate with, you know.” I can feel my cheeks blushing at sharing details about my lacking love life with my mom.

“Be patient with both of you. Give her time.” My mom lets out a sigh. “I am always worried about her. Maybe you two can go do something for yourselves. That reminds me, I was looking up what little shops are in your town. I saw a coupon for a couples massage. Take Chloe and go relax.”

“Mom, you don’t have to buy Chloe and me a couples massage.” I laugh and shake my head at the thought of her and me in a room together.

Then I think about how nice it would be to get a massage. My right shoulder still has a pinch from lifting moving boxes.

“Honey, let me spoil you. Okay?”

“Sheesh, all right, no need to yell.”

“I’m not yelling. I’m raising my voice. It’s different.”

I roll my eyes at that, and we finish our conversation with her passing the phone to my dad, who tells me about some new planter boxes he built for my mom. Then Joey shows me the science project he has finished. It looks like a more complicated contraption to water a plant, but he said something about physics that made my brain twirl. Wes told me that he and Joey got accepted to three colleges so far, two being in Oregon, one of which is in Auburn Hills. I had no idea that they applied to the nearby private college. They have been offered a baseball scholarship to each school so far and just need to decide which they are going to attend. He said mom agreed that dad would take them to visit the colleges during their spring break next month and would stop by to visit me.

Not five minutes after hanging up the call, I get an email from my mom forwarding the gift certificate for a couples massage tomorrow at three.

TWENTY-SIX

REID

I park my pickup in the lot behind the center and head in. I don’t always work on Saturdays, but my uncle asked me to fill in for Tyler, who called in sick today. They have a few clients today, and he didn’t want to reschedule them. Since I started working here, Tyler’s never taken a sick day, so he’s either playing hooky or he’s actually sick. I make a mental note to swing by his place later. It’s not the most creative to have your closest friend also be your co-worker, but we met in the first week I moved here and got along instantly. He’s still trying to get me to go to his rock-climbing gym, but overall we have a lot of similar hobbies. We both love music and books and will constantly trade records. Tyler plays some guitar, and when he’s had a few beers will be bold and play in the open mic night at the local pub. He’s been really supportive through my breakup with Carrie and distracting me with obscure movies to watch and hikes during the weekend. He didn’t dare hide his smile when I told him the news.

The center greets me with Zen music playing over the speakers and the smell of lavender eucalyptus in the air. You’d think it was a spa, not a physical therapy office. I appreciate Uncle Marty having this place feel like a retreat rather than so clinical.

The staff today is slim. I guess two people are out sick today. There’s only the receptionist, Claire, one other therapist, and my uncle today. I checked my schedule, and I have two PT appointments in the morning. Then my uncle added a memo asking if I could help fill in for a massage this afternoon. I don’t usually give massages, but my uncle made me get my certification when I joined in case, I had to fill in. I’ve only had to fill in a handful of times. It isn’t too bad, and usually, those clients leave hefty tips.

I read over the appointment. Two women are coming in for a couples massage. Me and the other therapist working today are assigned. Shouldn’t be too bad, it’s only an hour Swedish massage. I set my belongings in my locker and prepare an office for my first PT appointment of the day, a sweet old woman named Sheela. She is in her eighties but has the gusto of a fifty-year-old. She walks everywhere she goes. I saw her trying to carry two lawn chairs down the street and begged her to take my truck to wherever she was trying to haul them. She’s come in weekly since I started, and we are working to increase the mobility in her shoulders. She’s improved greatly, but carrying two lawn chairs herself isn’t doing her any favors.

“How’s the shoulder treating you today?” I motion for her to sit in the chair at the center of the room and get to work gently rotating her shoulder joints, seeing her range of motion.

“I think I slept on it funny, so it’s a little sticky today.”

“Did you look into that pillow I suggested you swap to?”

“Yeah, yeah, no pillow is going to make me live past one hundred.” I chuckle at her bluntness, and we do a few exercises to open up her shoulders and some subtle stretches.

“I’ll have you know that I convinced everyone in my poker club to boycott Carol Breads.”

I shake my head, laughing. “You really don’t have to do that.”

“You know Missy? The librarian at the high school? She’s in my poker club. She said she saw the whole thing at the farmer’s market. She said Carrie was swinging bags at you and screaming. You deserve so much better, kid.”

I let out a sigh and help her to her feet. “Thanks, Sheela.”

“I just moved some new tenants into the Beach Street house. Two young girls, they are pretty, and the dark-haired one is a little sassy. I think you’d get along with her.” She gives me a wink and nudges my arm.

“Appreciate you trying to play matchmaker, but I’m going to take a break from dating for a bit.”

“Suit yourself! See you next week. Tell Tyler I’ll swing by to give him some muffins.” She slings her slouchy tote bag over her shoulder and heads out.

Half of my clients are older folks, and the other half are recovering from an injury. The best feeling is seeing them improve week to week. Sheela’s already improving after a few sessions. The second appointment is for Clark, who runs an auto repair shop in town. He had a nasty slip in his shop last month and has been coming in to fix his back. The day passes pretty easily, and I pivot to prep for the massage. The massage therapists have to wear a different smock uniform and softer shoes, so we don’t make too much noise. I hear some voices come in and make my way to the bathroom to change quickly.

Annika

The massage is at a wellness center downtown. It’s only a couple blocks from the photo studio, so I walk there after work, and Chloe meets me out front on her way back from work. She looks the happiest I’ve seen her. My mom was right. We needed this.