The Strength to Fall (McKinnon Brothers Book 1) by D.M. Chisolm Page B

apply pressure, you should heal completely anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks. Most of that depends on you. The swelling already has gone down from the initial trauma. I’m assuming that means you stayed at Ozias’ last night and not on the floor of your co-op?” He looked at me questionably.
                  “Yes, I stayed in his guest room and elevated my foot with the sleep number mattress. I am thankful for his generous offer to let me stay, but I think I will be fine in my unit now. My furniture will be delivered on Tuesday.”
                  “That is your choice, of course, but it’s my opinion that you should not sleep on the floor. If you want to heal faster, you need to stay off of it as much as possible, RICE, and that includes elevation. A floor is just not conducive to healing. Look, I know my son is not exactly the kind of guy you want to spend your free time with, but he’s harmless. I can make sure he has some groceries in the house, because God knows he never does, and he’s gone a lot so you won’t have to put up with him much.”
                  I was speechless for a few minutes while I processed all the things he said about his own son. My heart broke for Ozias in that moment and I was now feeling guilty for my reaction last night in the bathroom and for leaving this morning without even letting him know I was going to the hospital without him.
                  “Doc, I know we just met but honestly your son is one of the most generous men I’ve ever met. He’s more of a gentleman than most of the men I grew up with, and that’s saying a lot. It’s none of my business but I don’t understand why you are so hard on him. Just in the short time I’ve known him it’s obvious he desires your approval.” I held my breath waiting for a nasty comeback. When I didn’t get one, I breathed a sigh of relief but when I looked in his eyes I recoiled.
                  “How I treat my son and our issues are none of your business, Ms. McLeod. I’m doing all this for you because he caused your injury, although, I wonder why you would take up for him so fiercely? What is your motivation?” He paused in thought. “You know, I wondered who Claire willed her co-op to. Our building is one of the hardest to get into in the area. Since meeting you, I now wonder what she was thinking.” He sighed. “She was the most alive person I’ve ever met. So much spark….” He stopped himself when he saw me staring at him with wide eyes.
                  “Not that it’s any of your business, but as you most likely know, Aunt Claire had no children. I’m the only daughter of her siblings. Even though she kept her life distant from us in the past few years, we all knew she loved us. The times she’d grace us with her presence I was just enraptured by her. You’re right, she was, well, like you said…alive. It was a shock to hear she had died from a brain aneurism in the middle of the night. I always assumed she would pass doing something fun and even a little crazy, but if life has taught me anything it’s that it’s not fair.” Doc jerked back like I slapped him, a look of pain sweep across his face. He stared at me like he was trying to decide if he wanted to comeback from that statement. He just nodded sensing that I was ready to go. “Don’t you have a class to teach?”
                  “Yes, it’s a small Saturday class, more like tutoring.  It starts in about an hour. You were here earlier than I thought you’d be so I was getting caught up on some paperwork in my office. Why didn’t Ozias come with you?”
                  “I didn’t wake him. He’s already been put out enough. I’m better today, just sore and still in some pain. I’ll decide where I’ll stay later, but right now I need to go.” I grabbed the crutches and headed for the door.
                  Doc spoke stopping me before I