But she didn’t, and already the conversation was making him uncomfortable. He hated the fact that his daughter wouldn’t have the same opportunities other kids would have, but he’d dealt with it a long time ago. He made the best of things. “Yes, online schools can do amazing things these days. Did she talk to you about her tests?”

“Not exactly.” She took a deep breath before proceeding. “She threw away a letter from her counselor. I found an envelope half in and half out of my trash can. I didn’t remember putting it there. I opened it to make sure it wasn’t something I needed to keep. The counselor is encouraging her to apply to several well-known and respected colleges. Not online schools. UT Austin sent her information on how to apply.”

His daughter in Austin? No way. Still, he was surprised Noelle hadn’t mentioned the counselor’s letter. Or maybe he wasn’t. How must it feel to know she would be accepted and not be able to go? “Noelle knows what she’s doing.”

“See, I don’t think she does. She’s sixteen. And I’ll be honest, I don’t think the PT the doctor prescribed for her is enough. He’s basically got her going in so her muscles don’t atrophy. I think he should have done everything he could to see how mobile she can be. He didn’t do a lot of testing.”

“He knew how mobile she could be.” Which was not much at all. He’d been sick when he’d realized there was nothing he could do to help his daughter.

“I don’t think so.”

He sat up because it looked like their sweet time together was over. “Why don’t you think so?”

“Because of where her injury is,” Lila explained. “It’s very low on her spine and it’s incomplete. She has some feeling. I’ve even seen her move her hips a bit. I think with time and patience, she could potentially walk with braces.”

“That’s not what the doctor said.”

“It is what the specialist said.”

He’d been over this a thousand times. “The specialist we saw said it was very unlikely.”

“He said without proper PT she wouldn’t be able to do it,” she argued.

He shook his head. “He told us it would be difficult and painful and likely wouldn’t help.”

“And what did your second opinion doctor say? Armie, I know this makes you uncomfortable, but it’s important. I looked into the specialist Dr. Hamet sent you to. He was an old friend. Old being the operative word, and he worked in a small hospital.”

“Are you saying we don’t have good doctors?” He should have known she would come up with that argument.