Tuesday Tales: From the Word PIPE

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Hard to believe we’ve had our first long weekend of summer, but the weather has been good, so here’s hoping for many more. This week, our word prompt is PIPE. I’m continuing with Trouble with Eden, my contemporary romance.

Betty frowned. “Have you been doing breathing therapy?”

“Yes, ma’am. Twice a day using a blue plastic pipe that they gave me.”

“Good.”

“I told you that Betty would take care of you.” She chuckled. “Now, I’ll get your stuff inside. Do you want a quick tour now, or are you ready to lie down?”

“More than ready for that. I’m not going to be much company tonight I’m afraid.”

Eden shook her head as she grabbed his computer bag, suitcase, and crutches, handing him the bag with the breathing machine and the one from the drugstore.

Nodding his thanks, he let Betty push him up the ramp.

“Was this always here?” he asked as they navigated the ramp.

“No. E J had the boys whip it up a couple of days ago when she thought of borrowing the wheelchair.”

He looked up at her as she stood by the door. “Thank them for me.” He sighed. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Somehow, this wasn’t the way I’d planned to make myself known to you.” But maybe this was better. This way she would at least have a little sympathy for him.

She chuckled. “You can thank the guys from the garage yourself. As much as you might’ve enjoyed a lot of peace and quiet at the hospital, you’re going to be the main attraction around here for the next couple of weeks. You might as well get used to it—especially if you plan to stick around. Dwayne was well-liked and well-respected. People are going to want to meet his son.”

He wrinkled his brow in concern. Playing goldfish in the bowl wasn’t one of his favorite games. “Does everyone know our history?”

“No. That’s your story to tell, but I’m sure they have a lot of different theories.” She held the door open for him and Betty and then, bypassing the front of the house, led him down the hall. “My bedroom is over here on the left.” She indicated the door as they passed it. “The two on the other side are guest rooms that share a bathroom. I have my own, and there’s a powder room off the kitchen. Betty has an apartment attached to the back of the house. It used to be Dad’s smoking room before he gave up his pipe.” She opened the door at the end of the hall and stepped inside. “This was Dad’s room.”

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales