Taylor remains stationary by the door.
"Will there be anything else, Mr. Grey? Gail had food sent over. It's in the refrigerator ready to warm up."
"Thank Gail for us. I want to make sure Ana takes something, and then I'll worry about eating myself. But, no. There is nothing else. Thank you."
I dismiss him and head back into the bedroom. Only the small lamp on my chest of drawers is on, casting a small orb of light onto the carpet. It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the gloom and I can see Ana's form in the bed. God, she looks so small, and, so unbelievably strong. Once again her inner toughness leaves me shaking my head in wonder.
I look to the corner where Mai Lu has settled for the night. She has a small lamp shining on a book she is reading. She looks up and me and gives me a reassuring smile. I walk over to her and lean down to whisper.
"Did she take anything?" I ask.
"Some Boost, maybe half a can. She also took 2 Vicodin. I offered her the morphine, but she said she doesn't like how it makes her feel. I did, however, talk her into taking 2 tabs instead of the one she asked for. Otherwise, everything looks good. She got up and urinated again."
I stand, glaring at her.
"You let her walk! Why didn't you call me, for God's sake! Why did I bring you here to keep an eye on her if you're not going to call me when she needs to go to the fucking bathroom! She could have fallen, for God's sake!"
Mai Lu quakes in her chair.
"Christian! Stop it now!" I turn and find Ana sitting up in the bed glaring at me.
"She started to go get you and I told her it wasn't necessary. I can walk, I wasn't as woozy as I was earlier, and you need time with your Mom. If you're going to yell, yell at me, not her!"
He blue eye are flashing and I find myself smiling at my enraged wife. I cross the room to her side and look down at her as she turns the side light on. She frowns at me.
"What?" She snaps.
I sit on the edge of the bed and kiss her forehead.
"I'm sorry for waking you baby. You know you should let her get me, that's what she's here for."
"No. She's here to take care of me, which she was. Christian, stop it! You're going to drop dead from a coronary. And, why are you still smiling?" She glares at me.
"Because I love seeing the old Ana emerge. I'm sorry, baby. And, I'm sorry Mai Lu." I look over at the girl.
"Please accept my apology. I know how stubborn my wife can be." She nods and goes back to her book. I look back down at Ana.
"Gail sent some food over. I bet she made her special macaroni and cheese. Would you eat some with me if I warm it up?" I see her eyes wander about the room before returning to look at me. She smiles.
"Yes. I'll have some with you. Will you sit on the bed with me while I eat?"
I gently kiss her lips, and get up.
"Yes. I'd be delighted to join you on the bed to eat! Let me go warm it up. Would you like some tea as well?"
She smiles back at me, and for an instant I see the beautiful, healthy girl I met 3 years ago instead of the innocent victim of an awful disease that no 24 year old should have to fight.
"Yes. That would be great." She lies back on her pillow.
I head to the kitchen and busy myself boiling water and sticking the casserole in the microwave, carefully following the written instructions Gail taped to the plastic cover. I pull the tray out and set the tea pot, Ana's cup and tea bag, along with bowls, silverware, and napkins. The microwave beeps, and I carefully stir the food before re-setting the timer. It smells good, and I hope it will entice Ana to eat. I pour the hot water into the pot just as the microwave beeps again. I take a towel, as Gail instructed, and lift the dish out and onto the tray, then carry it back to the bedroom.
Ana has her eyes closed and I panic that she's fallen back asleep without having eaten anything. I always never know whether waking her up to eat is a good idea. She usually refuses; mad at me for waking her. But, at the sound of my approach she opens her eyes, seeing me standing at the foot of the bed with the tray, she sits up pulling her legs up.
"It smells good!" She says.
I set the tray on the bed in front of her. She takes the tea bag and dunks it into the pot of steaming water a few times before pulling it out and laying it aside. She looks at the tag.
"Decaf! Christian! You know I don't like this stuff!" She crinkles her nose in displeasure.
"Doctor's orders, remember?" Grace pointed out caffeine can raise her already elevated heart rate.
"Your mother is not my doctor." She huffs as she returns the bag to the pot for a few more dunks. "It takes forever for any taste to come through."
I dish up a small amount of macaroni, knowing too large a portion panics her.
"Mai Lu, Christian brought an extra bowl and fork for you. Will you join us?" Ana asks.
I am not happy having to feed the medical staff, but it's easier to just do it rather than listen to Ana whispering that it's rude not to offer. As I expected, Mai Lu declines the offer, but I know Ana is happier because I remembered the extra things. She mouths a, "Thank you." And I melt at her smile.
She takes the food and a spoon. I watch her until she takes a small bite before turning my attention to my food.
We sit in companionable silence eating. I try not to fixate on her every bite, but I'm reassured by the steady clink of her spoon on her bowl. It stops, but I look up to see her pick up the pot and pour some tea into her cup. I almost speak up to tell her I could have done that for her, but our eyes meet and her look tells me that she knows what I was about to say, as well as a silent rebuke. I shake my head, amused. Ana smiles at me, taking a sip of the tea.
"This is good. Thank you, Mr. Grey."
I look up and smile, actually feeling myself relax a little.
"You're more than welcome, Mrs. Grey. Could I interest you in some ice cream for dessert? It's vanilla."
She shakes her head, setting the bowl back on the tray.
"Thank you, but no. Maybe tomorrow."
I get up and set her cup of tea on the side table, then pick the tray up.
"I'm going to take this back to the kitchen, then will get you up so you can brush your teeth."
I look at her hard, conveying my expectation that she stay put until my return. She pouts, but it's for my benefit because she breaks into a grin, enjoying the joke. I scowl at her, knowing it won't have any affect. It doesn't. Her smile gets bigger.
In the bathroom, she urinates again, then washes her hands and brushes her teeth, followed by the medicated mouthwash. I help her into a fresh gown, then pick her up and carry her back into the bed. She settles back on the pillow, but doesn't let go of my neck.
"I love you, Mr. Grey." Ana whispers. "Will you join me?" She asks.
"Not quite yet, baby. I just need to check my e-mails. I'm going to sit over on the couch, so you can sleep. When you need to go pee again, just let me know."
I kiss her forehead before I pull the duvet over her boney shoulders. I look over to Mai Lu, who is watching. I know she's paying attention, so I head to my office to grab my lap top.