“Don’t be.” I swallowed, trying to loosen the narrowness, and rubbed my nose into her cheek, my back hating the movement. “I don’t have the talent to heal people or save lives, the way you do.” I patted the back of Alfred’s seat. “And this man right here can fix anything. I’ve yet to find something that he’s unable to reengineer.”

“Caleb, you’re being too kind,” Alfred responded.

The car turned silent as we entered Post Office Square, where many of the city’s financial buildings were located. Ours was only a block away, and Alfred pointed it out to Whitney as we got close.

“Hunt Financial,” she read from the sign on the dark, mirrored building. “My God, Caleb. Look at it; it’s incredible.”

“Isn’t it?” Alfred agreed. “Can’t help but feel proud every time I drive up to it.”

Her hand squeezed mine. You okay? she mouthed.

I nodded and looked through the windshield as he pulled into the underground garage, parking in front of the elevator. Alfred immediately got out, grabbed my walker, and opened my door. Whitney unhooked my seat belt before I had time to even search for it.

“I’ll hold you from the back,” she said, her arm around me.

I held Alfred’s hand and the safety bar and carefully got out. When my fingers were clasped around the walker, I took several moments to breathe through the pain.

“I’ll be here, waiting, when you want to go home,” he said.

“I don’t expect to be long,” I replied. “A few hours at most.”

With Whitney at my side, we slowly made our way to the elevator.

“You’ve been a little quiet.” As I focused on the numbers lighting up above the door, she added, “You want to talk about how overwhelmed you’re feeling?”

I sighed, unable to hide anything from her. “You have no idea.”

“I think I’m beginning to.” She moved my chin until I was looking at her. “You have twenty-six stories of employees along with your parents and Alfred, all anxious for your return. That’s a tremendous amount of pressure.” Her thumb brushed my lips, like she was kissing them. “Don’t let anyone force you into something you’re not ready for. Whether it takes you another month or three or even six, none of this is going anywhere.” She paused, poking my chest. “Don’t you dare nod your head at me. Give me words, so I know you’re listening.”

“I hear you. I promise.”

She leaned up on her toes, kissing me with her lips this time. “Remember, you’re the boss, so when you want to go, we’re out of here. No one is expecting anything from you today; they’ll just be happy you came in.”

That was where she was wrong.

Everyone was expecting everything from me. I could feel that, even in my bones.