chapter 4

A few days later Ryder wheeled me out of the hospital and into the car. He hadn’t been to the hospital much to see me since we spoke he said he was preparing a surprise for me to come home to. He came on his own to pick me up this time which I thought was weird. In the whole time I’d known him I’d only ever seen him drive once.
“Where are we going?” I asked realising this was not the way home.
“We’re going to your surprise” he said grinning like a kid and taking my hand in his.
“I don’t think ill be much good for anything” I said holding up my arm and gesturing to the leg both in casts.
“I think you’ll manage this.” He said smiling still.


Several hours later we were driving up an overgrown dirt track completely sheltered by trees that soared up so high into the sky you couldn’t see the tops of them. Driving a little further and round a corner there was a field with a stable in it. Looking further on the hills rolled on forever. Around another bend we drove through an old wooden gate that had a plaque that read Applegate Barn. We came to a stop in front of a beautiful old barn conversion. Ivy hugging the exterior of the house with a cute little red door.

“Welcome home” Ryder said, looking slightly nervous now.
“Wow” is all I could say.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it! Can we go inside?”
“Yea, definitely! It’s ours”
“This is our home?”
“Yea, well kinda. Its rented with a view to buy. I didnt want to buy something until I was sure that you would like it.”
“Thank you Ryder I love it! Let’s have a look inside.” I said taking a look at the man who stood before me. My husband. He hopped out of the car his 6ft1 muscular form striding round the car lifting me out and into the wheelchair. He wheeled me over into the huge wide hallway of the house. It had a beautiful living room with a massive fireplace, an enormous kitchen diner with an island in the middle, 5 bedrooms all en-suite, a bathroom and a massive garden out the back with a hot tub on the decking. There were a few things that needed doing like painting and new flooring, the house hadn’t been lived in for a while so the garden was a bit wild but it was an opportunity to put our own stamp on things. I loved decorating as did Ryder so he promised to not no anything until I was able to help.