NYC Angels: Unmasking Dr. Serious

“How about right over there?” he suggested a few minutes later, pointing to a relatively isolated grassy area.

“Perfect,” she murmured. “Do you need help going over the grass?”

“I can do it,” Josh said, his face intent as he exerted extra pressure to wheel himself over the bumpy terrain. Dan followed his son’s example, even though he remained unusually quiet.

She plopped down on a park bench and tossed the ball up in the air, enjoying the sun on her face as she caught it again. “Remember the game we played that first day you came into the office?” she asked, directing her question to Josh.

“Yeah,” Josh said, stopping his wheelchair not far from where she was seated. “Are we going to play catch again?”

“We are. But I want you and your dad to spread out a bit, so we’re like the three points of a triangle.”

Josh obediently moved his wheelchair back a foot. When she glanced over at Dan, he was doing the same thing.

“Excellent. Now, remember how we did it before, okay?” She tossed the ball high in the air toward Josh, who caught it easily.

“Good job, Josh,” Dan said, breaking his silence.

Josh flushed with pleasure and turned his chair so that he was facing his father, before he tossed the ball up in the air. Dan had to lean over the side of the chair a bit to catch the ball, but he managed just fine. He tossed it back up in the air toward Josh.

“Molly!” Josh called, mere seconds before the ball landed on her head and then bounced off erratically. She laughed and jumped up to race after the ball.

“Caught you napping, didn’t he?” Dan drawled, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.

She grinned and nodded. “I can’t tell a lie, he certainly did.”

“Good thing you have a hard head,” he teased.

“Good thing.” Her smile widened. She could hardly believe he’d made a joke. “I bet yours is harder,” she goaded as she quickly tossed the ball at him.

She’d used a little too much force, though, and the ball caught the wind, veering off to the left, out of his reach. But that didn’t stop him from stretching up and over the side of the chair in a valiant attempt to reach it.

And suddenly the wheelchair tipped sideways, dumping him onto the ground.

“Dan!” she said.

At the same time Josh yelled, “Daddy!”

She rushed over to his side. “Oh, my gosh, are you all right?” she asked anxiously.

“Fine,” he muttered, his cheeks stained red with embarrassment.

“Tell me where it hurts,” she murmured, pulling the chair out of the way.

He groaned and rolled onto his back, staring up at her. “Mostly hit my shoulder, but I’m fine.”

“Let me see.” She leaned over him, running her fingers up his muscled arm to his shoulder. Thankfully there was no bump or obvious injury that she could feel. But when she looked down at him, their faces were so close she shivered from the intensity of his gaze.