Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) by Ahren Sanders (inspirational books for women .TXT) 📕

ease me into light activity. Annie was the only one who took my side. She agreed I knew how to read my body and my limits.

Evin lost his mind, and we had yet another confrontation about his overprotective nature. My therapist took one look at me, seeing my unwavering determination, and laid out a progressive plan that started in baby steps. This appeased Evin, but not me, so I pushed myself hard. The first time I put pressure on my heel, the pain was like a thousand sharp shards of glass piercing into my bone. I thought I was going down. The last thing I needed was a smug audience. My only choice was to hiss through it and bear the ache. Luckily, the therapist didn’t make a big deal. We spent the rest of my time going over basic activities of daily living techniques so I can function at home with little help.

Last night, Evin and I practiced everything until I fell into bed exhausted. My body is used to constant movement and action. In just a few days of lying around, and with the trauma, it’s obvious I need to retrain my system.

Luckily, I convinced Evin I was competent enough to get around safely for a little while for him to take Edward and Annie to the airport.

The nurse came in and monitored me, but I took my first shower alone, maneuvering around with no assistance, and it felt fantastic. The only time I needed help was sliding on my shorts and readjusting my brace. Otherwise, she left me to do my hair and makeup alone.

It’s a minor accomplishment, but I’ll take it. Now, I only need to prove it’s safe to discharge me.

The door closes, signaling my escort is here for my session.

“Coming right out!” I lock the wheelchair and grab my crutches, finding my balance easily. “Why don’t we ditch the wheelchair ride today and let me go the distance?”

The man in scrubs has his back to me, and there isn’t the usual standard wheelchair waiting. He turns and my grip on the crutches tightens to keep me from crumbling.

I stare into the all too familiar eyes of the man who walked away from me without a care. Only now, his arrogance and ego are nowhere. His hazel eyes are telling a different story.

“What are you doing here?” My voice comes off strong, but my body is shaking. I edge over to the side table, grabbing my phone.

“I had to see you.”

“Evin has a protection order on the Bindel family, including you, Marco.”

He flinches at the use of his formal name. “Caitlyn, I don’t know where to start.”

“Start with calling me by my name. It’s Poppy.”

“Poppy,” he stalls, looking down at my leg. “How are you feeling? How was the surgery?”

“I’m great, the surgery went well.”

“And now?”

“And now what?”

“The next steps. How long before you dance again?”

At this, my spine snaps straight, and I glare at him. “Are you fucking kidding me? You dare ask me that? You sneak in here and ask me when I’ll dance? How about fucking never! Your spiteful, malicious, and power hungry daughter took that away from me! My career on stage is over and I’ll be lucky if I can find work again.”

The last part is a bit of added drama.

He sags. “I did not know what she had planned. Please, give me a chance to explain. None of this was supposed to happen.”

I draw in a deep breath, hoping it cools my simmering anger. The last thing I need is another outburst fueled by emotions.

“It’s amazing you are standing there saying that with a straight face. Is there a secret course offered to politicians when they transition into office? Lying, Scheming, Conniving 101? What did you intend to happen when you walked away from your newly graduated daughter to follow your political aspirations? You threw me into the world with no support system and never looked back.”

“You were always a fighter. You proved that early in life.”

“I was a fighter because my sister turned into a manipulative raging bitch set to destroy anything that made me happy.”

“One of my biggest regrets is overlooking her stages.”

Is he serious?

“You refer to them as stages; I like to think of them as personal experiments to see how far she could push. Stripping me of financial security for college because she said my major was frivolous?”

“Your financial security was never in question. I regretted keeping that from you every day, seeing how hard you worked and the toll it was taking.”

“And yet you stood by and watched, saying nothing.”

“There’s a lot I need to explain. But right now, you have to know how proud I am. What you’ve done for yourself is incredible.”

“Proud? What I did is incredible? My sister fucked my boyfriend, my parents took her side seeing the potential of having the number one draft pick in their circle, and you showed up at my apartment with an ultimatum. A stranger told you I impeded your future. You and Karen set my ass swinging after I didn’t agree. Clue in, Marco. I had no choice but to survive. How’s that for building goddammed character?”

“I see your husband’s colorful language has worn off on you.”

“You know nothing about my husband.”

“Sunday night, I didn’t. Now, I’m pretty up to date on Evin Graham.”

This time, I suck in a deep breath for a different reason. The insinuation hangs in the air. “Don’t you dare do anything to jeopardize Evin’s life.”

He rocks back, pain and anguish crossing his features. “I have no intent to jeopardize anything. You have to realize the shock of meeting him. The man married my daughter, I have a right to know who he is.”

“Any rights you had to me and my life died on the doorstep the day you walked away.”

“I hope you will understand once I explain.”

Dammit, the torment in his voice strikes straight to my heart, and a sliver of compassion breaks into my cloud of anger. “What