The Long Road Home by Cheyenne Meadows Page A

hit the road and escape the tension-filled apartment. They meant well, but he didn't want them to see him like this. If his injury wasn't bad enough, what would they think if they knew he dreamed about that horrid day and spent some nights pacing the floor?
    As quietly as possible, he put on his prosthesis from feel alone, then walked to the closet. Finding his suitcases, he tugged them out, then went to work.
    Thirty minutes later, he pulled several pairs of sweats out of his drawer, Logan stacked them in one of the large suitcases lying open on his bed.
    He couldn't blame his mother. No. She just needed time to accept the facts, same as he did a couple months earlier. He knew of no way to hurry her along, she had to work through the big change at her own pace. Until then, the home felt tense, edgy. As if he were waiting for the other shoe to drop. Logan grimaced at his unintended pun and shoved some socks into his bag.
    A knock caught his attention. Glancing up, he found his parents in the doorway. "I was trying not to wake you."
    They walked slowly into the room, seriousness covered their faces.
    "You don't have to leave so early." His father's baritone voice sounded loud in the silent room.
    Logan shrugged. "It's a four hour drive. I want to get there, have time to get settled in, and hit the sack early for a busy day tomorrow."
    "I'm sorry. I know you're running off because of me. I just…" Tilly's eyes filled with tears.
    Logan dropped the last sock and hurried over to embrace his mother. "Shh. It's okay. Really."
    She sniffed and hugged him tightly back. "I know. You're strong and determined. You'll zip through with flying colors." Leaning back, she searched his face. "Your leg…"
    "Stump," he supplied.
    "Stump doesn't disgust me. Not at all." She sucked in a breath. "I just think of the pain you must have suffered, what all you've been through, have yet to go through. It breaks my heart."
    A sense of relief and rightness settled on his shoulders. Her words banished the worst of his fears in her gaining ground to acceptance. He kissed her cheek. "It rarely hurts anymore. We can't go back and change things, we can only move forward." He smiled softly and lifted his gaze to find his father with a tiny grin on his face. "Don't worry. I'll do you both proud in rehab."
    His father nodded as his eyes misted. "You already make us proud, son."
    With a quick nod of appreciation, Logan headed to the closet and pulled out his winter coat to take with him, tossing it on the bed. "Wait until you meet Gwen. You'll love her."
    "She must be something special for you to invite her here and be willing to stay with her in Bethesda." His mother wiped at a stray tear and grinned happily. "Bring her with you when you come home next. I can't wait to get her bread recipe."
    "Considering her job, you should have plenty of condoms on hand. Just in case." His father chuckled until his mother elbowed him in the gut. "Ooph."
    Logan laughed for the first time since they had returned home, the awkwardness forgotten for the moment. "There is that." He placed his paper orders on top of the pile of clothes, then zipped the lid closed. Taking a nearby pile of shirts, he settled them in the remaining suitcase. Not stopping until the luggage bulged with the effort to contain everything he needed, he finally closed the last suitcase.
    "All done." He turned to look at his parents.
    "Good. Then you have time for breakfast before you leave." His mother scurried out the door, presumably heading to the kitchen.
    "When will you be coming back home?"
    "I don't know. A lot depends upon my therapy schedule, how things are progressing."
    "When and if you get tired of your new roommate?" His father's eyebrow arched.
    Logan grinned wide enough to show teeth. "Could be."
    "If she makes the world a brighter place, then she must be pretty special. Hang onto her."
    "I plan to."
    His father slapped him on the back. "Good. Then let's go eat." Together they strode out the