Adam’s face softened. “I’m in.”
Thomas maneuvered Adam’s beach wheelchait to a flattened section of sand. The triplets lined up on one side of a line drawn with a stick, while Adam and Irene took position opposite.
The game began, and within minutes was in full swing. Lucas moved like he had springs in his feet, diving for difficult shots. Alex stayed strategically positioned, while Lily darted around with surprising agility.
On the other side, Irene was
e at once. She repeatedly jumped in front of Adam, reaching for balls he could easily have returned. Red marks bloomed on her arms from constant contact, but she kept positioning herself like a human shield.
After watching this for several volleys, Adam’s amusement faded. “I can catch the ball myself. You don’t need to play goalie.
The triplets seized the moment like sharks spotting blood.
“Mom’s babying Uncle Adam! Lucas called out, tucking the ball under his arm.
“Yeah, what’s that about?” Lily added with a giggle that was pure mischief.
“He’s in a wheelchair, Mom, not made of glass,” Alex observed, his eyes missing absolutely nothing.
Trene’s cheeks flamed. She’d been running on pure instinct–the same protective reflex that kicked in whenever her kids faced potential danger. But Adam clearly didn’t appreciate being treated like he might break.
“Fine,” she pushed her hair back, trying to play it cool. “Handle your own balls.”
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized how it sounded. The triplets erupted in giggles while Adam’s eyebrows shot up, amusement dancing across his features.
“I mean–the volleyball–just play your position,” she stammered, face burning hotter.
The game resumed with a new dynamic. Adam began actively participating, returning shots with surprising power. Though limited in movement, his upper body strength more than compensated. They fell into a rhythm–Irene covering the front court while Adam handled what he could reach.
The game–changing moment came when Lucas sent a tricky shot arcing between Adam and Irene. The ball seemed destined to hit sand in the gap between them–until Adam suddenly gripped his wheelchair armrests and pushed himself upright, extending just enough to tap the ball back over.
Everyone froze. The only sound was waves lapping at the shore.
“Uncle Adam, you stood up!” Lily’s mouth hung open.
Adam settled back down, his smile understated but pleased. “Just for a second.”
Irene didn’t share the kids‘ shock. Her eyes met Adam’s in a moment of shared understanding. She’d been tracking his progress for weeks–knew exactly what he was capable of.
The game continued until everyone was happily exhausted. The triplets couldn’t stop talking about Adam’s save.
“That was siek!” Lucas exclaimed. “Just–bam!-up on your feet!”
“Like a real superhero!” Lily agreed.
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Chapter 289
Later, Irene set up the treatment equipment in the toom Adam had ranged for their sessions. While the triplets were occupied with books and games, she began his daily neural stimulation treatment.
“The kids loved seeing your pro ress, Irene said, adjusting an electrode. “Their faces were priebless.”
Adam nodded. “Better than I expected. Especially Lily–lit up like Chistmas morning.”
“You’re getting better faster than I expected,” Irene said, checking the
screen. Time to step it up.”
With her help, Adam stood again, steadier than at the beach, staying up longer while she took notes. Her face showed the focus of a doctor, but there was something more–she cared about his success in a way that went way beyond just being his doctor.
As he settled back, they planned the evening beach walk with the kids.
“You know what I’m thinking about?” Adam said suddenly, his voice lower than usual. “The first thing I want to do when I can really walk again.”
He stopped, looking straight into her eyes with such intensity that Irene could practically feel it on her skin.
“What’s that?” she asked, her hand going still, her heart skipping a beat as she waited.
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