Michael's Discovery by Sherryl Woods Page B

When the room was empty, Kelly imagined the aisles were wide enough, but now with chairs jutting erratically out, they were all but impassable. Michael’s expression was filled with tension as he tried to make his way between tables without knocking into the backs of other customers, most of whom were completely oblivious to his difficulties. The hostess had long since placed their menus on the table and gone back to her post by the time Michael finally crossed the room.
    “You did great,” Kelly said, taking her seat.
    “I don’t need a pat on the head for getting across a damned restaurant,” he snapped.
    She bit back a sharp retort of her own and turned her attention to the menu. She was still fighting the sting of tears when she felt his hand cover hers.
    “Kelly?”
    “What?” she responded, still holding her menu up to mask the fact that she was about to cry over something so ridiculous, especially when she could totally understand his level of exasperation. For a man whose work had required a peak level of physical fitness and agility, to adjust to being anything less had to be difficult.
    “I seem to spend my life apologizing to you, but Iam sorry. It’s just so damned frustrating to be tied to this chair,” Michael said, his tone full of contrition.
    She lifted her gaze then and met his. “It won’t be forever. And even if it were, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”
    “It’s already the end of my world,” he said quietly. “No matter what, I won’t be going back to work as a SEAL. For months, in the back of my mind, I was convinced I could if I just worked hard enough.” He sighed. “But for weeks now I’ve been struggling to face the fact that that’s not going to happen.”
    “I know I can’t begin to understand what it’s like to lose something that’s been so important to you, but you will find something else just as challenging,” she told him earnestly. “There are plenty of things a man with your intelligence can do. And a career’s not everything. You can marry, have a family. Your life isn’t over.”
    “The only one I ever wanted is over,” he said flatly.
    “If that’s going to be your attitude, then I feel sorry for you,” she told him, refusing to back down when a dull, red flush climbed into his cheeks. “There are plenty of people who will never walk again. You will get out of that wheelchair. So it’s taking a little longer than you’d like. And you won’t be able to do some of the rigorous things you once did, so what? You’re alive, dammit! Stop feeling so sorry for yourself and concentrate on what you still have, instead of what you’ve lost.”
    For what seemed like an eternity she wasn’t sure if he was going to explode with anger or simply turn around and wheel himself right back out of the restaurant. She was still wondering when their waiter appeared and, completely oblivious to the tension, announced that he was Henry and he’d be taking care of them today.
    “Just what I need,” Michael muttered. “Somebody else who thinks it’s his mission in life to take care of me.”
    Henry stared at him in confusion. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
    Michael’s smile wasn’t exactly wholehearted, but it was a smile. “No, I’m just having a bad day. How’s your day going, Henry?”
    Henry still looked uncertain, but he said gamely, “Fine, sir. Have you two decided on what you’d like to drink?”
    Michael glanced questioningly toward Kelly.
    “I’ll have a cup of tea,” she said.
    Michael nodded. “The lady will have tea, and I’ll have your strongest poison.”
    Henry blinked furiously. “Sir?”
    Kelly bit back a chuckle. “Don’t mind him, Henry. He thinks he’s being amusing. Bring him a cup of very strong coffee. I want him wide-awake while I finish telling him what I think of him.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” the waiter said, backing away from the table with undisguised relief.
    “Think he’ll ever come back?” Michael