Chapter 8: Marcus

The young man sleeping peacefully on the spacious bed could not have been more than 18.Handsome,with dark spiky hair, he looked like any teenager taking a nap.His bedroom walls were adorned with posters of his favorite musicians and the comic books tossed casually on the nightstand along with his cd’s was typical of a carefree young man.

The only thing that belied this image was the wheelchair standing next to his bed.Beth peered through the open bathroom door.Like the wheelchair, the shower too had been adapted to his special needs.

“This is Marcus,”Ethan said,as Beth put her hand in his, her heart breaking for the young man before her.”My stepson.”

“What happened to him?”she asked.”He’s so young.”

Ethan’s eyes misted over.It was obvious he loved the boy very much, as if he were his own son.

“There was an accident,”he said in a broken voice.”Marcus is now tetraplegic.”

Beth was shocked beyond words.Tetraplegia was paralysis of all four limbs, usually caused by severe injury to the spine, known as a lesion.Victims lost all mobility to the four outer extremities, although partial movement in the arms sometimes occurred.She had dealt with many such patients at the hospital, but none as young as this.

“Ethan, I’m so sorry, I cannot even begin to imagine what you must have went through. How long has he been like this?”

“7 years,”he answered.”He went horse riding one afternoon after school.Something frightened the horse and he was thrown.For days he lay unconscious as,Leticia and I prayed for his recovery.The doctors did all they could, but the injury was too severe. For most of his life I raised him as my own.It broke my heart.”

Beth reached up to touch his face, the only small comfort she could offer him.He had been through so much.First Marcus, then his wife.She now understood his hesitance to allow anyone into his life.

“Shortly after the accident, Leticia was diagnosed with cancer and on her deathbed I promised her I would always look after Marcus.So you see Beth, it’s a package deal and most women can’t handle it.”

Beth smiled up at him, her heart swelling with pride and dare she think it?...love…for the man before her. How could she not love him when he was the most caring and compassionate man she had ever met?

“Ethan, the more you get to know me,”she said cheekily with a grin,”the more you will find I am not like most women.”

Gently closing the bedroom door behind them so as not to disturb Marcus, Ethan felt a relief such as he had never felt before.His every instinct about Beth had been spot on.

Far from running for the hills, she had shown her strength and resilience once more, she had accepted his situation with Marcus without a moment's hesitation.

What more could he ask of her, except her heart and love, the two things he coveted above all else.

“Beth,”he said as they began their descent on the wide and imposing staircase,”thank you for everything and for just being you.”

“You don't have to thank me Ethan.I looked forward to being a part of your life and now I can look forward to being a part of Marcus’ too.Have you told him about me?”

“Yes I have.He finds it pretty damn funny the way I speak about you.He teases me all the time!”

Beth laughed and it sounded so good to him to hear that.

“Perhaps sometime you could come back and speak to him.You will adore him.He's a very level headed kid.”

“Just say when and I’ll be here.”

Only then did Beth notice all the portraits adorning the wall on the way down.Stern faces from the past stared at her and she could almost feel their commanding presence around her.These must be Ethan's ancestors, the people who shaped the Hollingsworth dynasty.

One portrait in particular caught her attention.

A beautiful woman, with dark hair and striking green eyes posing in front of a window, her look serene and  regal.

Her beauty was unmissable.

“Who’s she?”Beth asked,fascinated by the beautiful woman.

“Oh her?”Ethan said.”That’s my great grandmother, a few times over.Lady Katherine Swann.”