The Lakeside Inn, Leeanna Morgan [rosie project TXT] 📗

He looked through the open window and then down. Jack’s grinning face beamed up at him.

“Are we doing more painting today?” he asked.

Wyatt shook his head. “Not today. Everyone’s getting together on Saturday morning to paint the rest of the murals.”

“Dad said we’re doing a great job. He took a photo so I could show the kids in my class.”

He took off his seatbelt and opened the truck door. “I bet they’ll be impressed. Is your dad home?”

“Yep. He worked at the Steamboat Museum while I was at school. His leg isn’t too bad today.”

Wyatt was hoping the letter in his pocket would mean Richard never had to worry about his leg again.

“You should see what Dad did yesterday,” Jack said proudly. “Pastor John wanted some more cupboards in The Welcome Center, so Dad made them.”

“That was a clever thing to do.”

Jack nodded. “I know. My dad’s super-clever. I want to be just like him when I grow up.”

Wyatt locked his truck and walked toward Jack’s home. “I’m sure your dad would like to hear that. Are you enjoying school?”

“It’s okay. I’ve made some friends. They like the things I do. But I don’t like Jesse Mulligan. He scares all the dogs and talks a lot in class.”

“That wouldn’t be very helpful.”

“I can’t hear what the teacher says, so Dad said to sit at the front of the class. But only the naughty kids sit there and I’m not naughty.”

“The front of the class can be for people who really want to learn, too,” Wyatt said earnestly. “It’s much better to hear what the teacher says than be distracted by someone who’s talking.”

“Dad said that, too. You’d make a good dad.”

As he lifted his hand to knock on Richard’s front door, he froze. He’d always wanted children, but that dream died the day of the accident. When he thought about Penny, he imagined a house full of children, a dog as exuberant as Charlie, and a home overlooking the lake. None of that would happen if he went to Berlin.

“You don’t need to knock. We can go straight in.” Jack pushed open the front door. “Dad! Wyatt’s here.”

“I’m putting the washing on the line.”

They walked to the end of the room and stepped through the back door. It was good to see Richard standing.

He gave his son a hug. “How was school?”

“Good.”

“What new things did you learn?”

“Nothing much. I showed my friends the photo of the paintings. They said they’re coming to have a look.”

“That’s good.”

“Yep. Can I go to the after-school program at The Welcome Center? Willow’s teaching us how to play the guitar. It’s free and Mrs. Devlin makes us a snack and all the kids enjoy it.”

“Do you need me to add your name to the list of people going?”

Jack shook his head. “Pastor John said just to turn up. He’s got lots of guitars we can use.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you at the end of the program.”

Jack wrapped his arms around his dad’s legs. “Thanks. Bye, Wyatt.”

“See you later.” He smiled when Jack bolted across the yard, then stopped when he hit the boundary between the village and The Welcome Center.

“He knows not to run across the parking lot. Some of the trucks are too high for the drivers to notice him darting across the asphalt.” Richard took a shirt out of the laundry basket and hung it on the line. “I didn’t think we’d see you until Saturday.”

“I’ve got something for you. Do you remember the person I told you about who makes 3D medical devices?”

“The person you thought could help me?”

“That’s him. Well, I heard back from Peter. Over the last year, he’s developed a product called an Interactive Neurological Prosthetic. It’s made from a special type of gel that molds to a stump to create a perfect fit. The gel also transmits information from the brain to help the prosthetic move like a normal limb. It’s still in the testing stage, but the results are better than anyone expected.”

“It sounds too good to be true.”

Wyatt didn’t understand Richard’s skepticism. At the very least, he thought he’d be overjoyed to know there was something that could help him. “It’s ground-breaking technology.”

“How much will it cost?”

“Nothing.” He handed him the envelope. “You’ll need to stay in New York City for two weeks while Peter’s team fit the prosthetic and implant a neural processor. As well as that, you need to return to the clinic once a month to be retested. Look in the envelope.”

Richard opened the flap and read the letter.

“The company will pay for your airfares and accommodation. Peter’s phone number is at the top of the letter. If you’re interested, call him. He can answer any questions you might have.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Neither did anyone else when Peter developed the first prototype. It’s up to you whether you take him up on his offer.”

Richard folded the letter in half and returned it to the envelope. “Thanks for contacting your friend. It means a lot to me.”

Wyatt thought it was time he left Richard alone to think about what he’d just told him. “It’s a lot to take in at once. Call Peter when you’re ready, but I wouldn’t take too long. He rarely has openings on his trial teams and, when he does, there’s always a list of people wanting to be part of what he’s developing.”

“I won’t take long to decide.”

Wyatt shook Richard’s hand. “Let me know what you decide, too.”

Richard smiled. “You can count on it.”

Chapter 16

Penny was eating her breakfast when she saw her mom’s latest Facebook post. “Oh, no.” Throwing back her chair, she ran out of the kitchen and upstairs to the first floor. “Barbara!”

Her sister’s head poked around the door frame. “I was just about to get in the shower. What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mom. She told everyone about the letter.”

Katie joined them on the landing. She was already wearing her exercise gear, ready for the run she