He looked up from the book he wasn't really reading, surprise on his features. She'd already agreed to go back with him for Christmas. His family was looking forward to properly meeting her--his mother had only met her the once when she'd interviewed her, his brothers had helped 'pick' her out via google and the beauty of the internet. A part of him jumped to take back his refusal to go before his gut twisted at the idea of going out into public, into a crowd. He'd look ridiculous, hobbling with a cane. He could fall. Someone could bump into his left side. He could fall and knock someone else down with him. There were a hundred reasons why he didn't want to go out. The biggest reason being that he didn't want someone to ask why he had to walk with a cane or why he was hurt.

After a moment of stunned silence, he growled and turned his attention back to his book. The idea of Vi not going to Christmas with him hurt and that made him wall everything up inside of himself and go cold. "Fine. I'll call a car service and get a wheelchair."