“Come in,” she said, and raised the back of the chair into a sitting position.

Duke set the sacks down on the floor, then brought the Rollator inside.

“This is just a rental. You have it for a month.” He rolled it over to her chair and began explaining how it worked. “If you push these handles down, it locks the wheels like brakes, so it won’t roll out from under you. And the seat lifts up so you can put things in the basket and move it from room to room.”

Cathy was in shock. She was touched by his thoughtfulness and the endearing way in which he was instructing her in the use.

“Thank you. I’ve never been so immobile before and wouldn’t have thought of doing this.”

Duke sighed with relief. She wasn’t angry.

He went back for the two sacks. “I brought some icy-hot stuff for sore muscles. A bottle of painkillers just in case you didn’t have any, and a couple of gel packs that need to freeze first. But once they’re cold, you can alternate using one on your swollen ankle and then…well, you get the picture. Is it okay if I put these in the freezer for you?”

“Yes,” Cathy said.

“Mr. Phillips, who owns the pharmacy, sent you a box of chocolates with his sympathies, and said to get well soon.”

Cathy was in shock. “Wow, there are some really nice people here in Blessings.”

“There’s more,” Duke said. “Since you were out jogging so early in the morning, I was worried you might have missed your breakfast, so I went by Granny’s and picked up some sausage gravy and some of Mercy’s heavenly biscuits. That’s what I call them, because they’re so dang good, and when Lovey found out why I was getting them, she sent along a couple of pieces of fried chicken and some mashed potatoes and gravy for you to have on hand, and then wouldn’t let me pay for it.”

Cathy’s eyes welled. It had been so long since anyone had been kind to her that they came without warning.

“No tears,” Duke said, and laid a hand gently on her arm. “Are you hungry?”

“I thought of Granny’s biscuits and gravy while I was running. I would love some.”

“Will you let me make a plate for you?”

“Make a plate?”

Duke grinned. “That’s southern for putting food on a plate and serving you.”

Cathy blushed. “Yes, you can make my plate, but just put it on the kitchen table and I’ll roll myself in there to eat.”

“Deal,” Duke said. “Don’t forget to set the hand brakes to brace yourself getting up.”

“Okay,” Cathy said.

Duke hesitated, then decided he’d done enough interfering.

“I’ll just stand here to make sure you don’t fall until you figure out the best way.”

Cathy put the footrest down, then pulled the Rollator around in front of her, set the brakes, and then gingerly stood. Her hip hurt, her ankle was throbbing, but she was upright, and thanks to Duke Talbot, she would be mobile.