Avery downshifted and slowed, presumably for a light. “You’ll have to do exactly what the doctor says.”

And she would. After the burger and shake.

Avery shifted into first and then up to second and third gears before quickly downshifting and turning. “We’re at the Burger Barn.”

“Burger, fries, and a vanilla shake.”

Avery ordered doubles of both. Jordan rooted for her purse to pay. “Where’s my purse, wallet, and cell?” In the confusion she had forgotten about them all, which was not like her.

“The nurse put all your stuff in a big plastic bag. It’s in the back seat.”

“Get my wallet.”

“I can cover this. You get the next round.”

“I can still pay my own way,” Jordan said.

“I know.” Avery placed the order, paid, and set the warm bags of food on Jordan’s lap. Jordan fished for fries and grabbed a handful. The salty fried potato hit a happy spot in her brain.

“I could use a fry, too,” Avery said.

Jordan handed her the half-empty fry bag. “You can also have the rest. Seeing as I won’t be going on long runs for a while, it’s better I don’t get too well acquainted with the fries.” She fumbled for the shake in the cup holder, dug out the straw, and tore the paper off with her teeth. It took a couple of jabs to hit the hole in the lid, but when she did, a sense of victory blossomed. She took a long pull.

“You’re supposed to lie down when we get home. I’ll hang out and keep an eye on things.”

“What about your job?” Jordan asked.

“I took a couple of weeks off. The boss understands.”

“I don’t want you doing that for me. I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Actually, Jordan, you do need a sitter right now. Someone has to manage your pain meds, and someone has to make sure you don’t fall down and hit your head or something.”

“I’ve lived in the house for years. I know it pretty well.” And she had stopped taking her pain meds days ago.

“I get it. And you’ll get your independence back after some training.”

“You sound like the occupational therapist,” Jordan said.

“She has some good ideas and suggestions.”

“She said something about coming around the house.”

“It was a condition of your release.”

Another condition. She sipped on the shake and turned to the window. She loved to drive. It was her escape when life got too tense. If she could not drive, she could not de-stress, work, or live.