37. The Gift

I slept more peacefully this time. When I opened my eyes again it was daylight. I looked at the clock, which read 9am. I had slept all night long. I sat up looking around, grateful that the lead ball that had inhabited my chest cavity the night before seemed to have vanished along with most of my aches. I looked over to find Edward sitting up in the rocker on the far side of the room, apparently on Lina duty.

"Hi." I said, my voice still weaker than usual, but not as scratchy or as painful as it had been the night before.

"Hi there," he responded from his spot across the room. His face looked calmer than it had last night. "You seem to be feeling better." He continued more out of good manners than the need for an answer…he had heard my mental self-evaluation when I had first sat up.

"I feel much, much better." I said with the first genuine smile I had been able to produce since coming home.

"Well, you're still needing to keep resting today just to be sure. We already called you in sick to school." He stated and then added with a twinkle in his eyes, "Oh and Seth is anxiously awaiting your call."

"But it's so early, I don't want to wake him.."

"Yeah, like he actually got a wink of sleep last night! He was so worried about you and called pretty much every hour on the hour all night long for updates."

I looked down studying my sheets for a moment. I felt bad that I had worried him so much. I wanted to call him right away and help relieve his fears. Hearing my desire and my wish to speak to him alone, Edward nodded and got up leaving my phone next to me on the bed.

I picked up the phone and dialed. My poor Seth's voice sounded so tense when he answered. I could tell he was afraid that there was more bad news.

"Hi there worrywart." I joked with my still somewhat gravely voice.

I heard a sigh of relief from the other end of the line. "Oh, it's so good to hear your voice. I was so worried about you! How are you feeling?"

I closed my eyes, listening to that sweet warm voice. I sighed in contentment before responding. "I actually just woke up a couple of minutes ago. I'm feeling so much better."

"Good!" he replied sounding suddenly very exhausted.

"I was worried about calling so early, but Edward said that you didn't get to sleep all night long. I really wish you hadn't been so concerned. You really need to go lay down and get some rest honey. I'm fine, I promise. I feel a little bit weak still, but other than that I feel fine."

"I'd rather talk to you."

"I'd rather talk to you too…I'm so glad to hear your voice, but I'd feel a lot better if you got some rest first. I don't want you getting sick too."

"Ugh…I wish I were there. I want to hug you so bad. I'd feel so much better if I could see for myself that you're better."

"I know, I wish that too, but you can't. You have things that you have to do over there. You're coming to see me in just a little less than two weeks. We've waited this long, we can survive just that much longer."

He sighed again, "I guess. I don't like it, but I guess I'll survive."

"Alright, now I order you to go to your bed right now."

"Ooookay…I'm here."

"Okay, now lay down and grab a pillow and cuddle up to it imagining it's me and I'll do the same here."

He sighed into the phone, "I wish it really was you."

"I know, I do too. Now, promise me that you will get some sleep. You can call me as soon as you wake up."

"I think I can manage that."

"Okay, talk to you later."

He yawned loudly into the phone and then I thought I heard him whisper "I love you" as the line disconnected, but I wasn't sure. I laid there, my heart pounding as I tried to remember exactly what I heard. He's never said it to me before, even though he had implied it on more than one occasion, he'd never actually come out and SAID it! Was I imagining it or did he really say it? My chest tightened with excitement. I was pretty sure I heard him say it. I was almost positive. Oh man…this was going to be a long day waiting for him to wake up and call me back…there was no way I was going to get any more sleep now!!!! I hugged the pillow in my arms closer to my chest with a deep sigh.

When I had hung up the phone, I was certain I wouldn't be able to get back to sleep, but as I lay there snuggled up to my Seth substitute, the weakness of my body finally took over drawing me back into my dream world. Here I really was in Seth's arms and in my dream I kept hearing him whisper "I love you" over and over again. When I began to re emerge from my dream world, I found I was once again not alone. This time Jake was sitting sentinel at my bedside.

"Jake…what are you doing here? You guys weren't supposed to be back from New York for a couple more days!"

"We heard you were sick and came back home to make sure you were okay."

"Ugh…so my stupid flu ruined your trip? I'm human guys…humans get sick. It's not worth ruining your trip over."

"A. You didn't ruin our trip. We were already bored and ready to come home anyway. B. We go on vacation all of the time, so to miss a couple of days of yet another trip is no big deal. C. You are more important than any vacation anyway. And finally D. You didn't just have a little cold. You were in really bad shape. There was no way in hell we were going to stay in New York knowing what was going on."

I rolled my eyes. "You guys are all insane, you know that?!"

"Oh just realize you're important and get over it!"

I laughed as I tossed my hands up in defeat. I was surprised when they landed on a box sitting next to me on the bed.

"What's this?"

"Overnight express and post marked from La Push…I'm guessing it's from Seth." A thrill ran up my spine.

"Will you open it for me please?"

Jacob effortlessly peeled open the box handing me a folded note that was on top of the assortment of items in the box.

My Sweet Angelina,

I wanted to send you a few things to help you feel better and think of me. I have included my favorite blanket that my mom made for me when I was younger. I'm hoping you will wrap yourself in it and pretend that my arms around you keeping you warm. I've also sent you some Clearwater family recipe soup mix guaranteed to fix whatever ails you as well as some homeopathic herbal bath salts, so when you finally get a warm bath, they can help you relax and feel better hopefully. The can of your favorite soda is to help settle your poor stomach. And finally the teddy bear's name is Seth and he's yet another substitute for my hugs.

I know it's not much, but I wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you and I would give anything to be there with you. If I didn't have a mandatory and unmovable meeting Wednesday morning I would be on a plane making my way across the country to your side as we speak instead of making this silly care package. I know I should save this until I we are face to face, but today I was so scared that I was going to lose you before I could ever have a chance to tell you that I knew I had to tell you now…I know we haven't seen each other in person, haven't touched or kissed, but it doesn't matter because my heart already belongs to you. Please take care of it for me and get well soon. I can't wait to see you in the flesh and show you the full depths of my feelings for you, but for now please just believe me when I say that I love you with all of my heart.

Yours Always, Seth

Tears streamed down my face as I read the beautiful letter from Seth over and over again. I did hear him correctly…he really did say it and even more than that, he actually WROTE it down on paper. Tangible proof lay in my hands that he really did feel the same way for me as I did him! My heart sang for joy in my chest as I read the last line again and again.

Jacob was staring helplessly at me with a concerned expression on his face watching my tears fall. He seemed confused that I as smiling as the tears rolled down my face in torrents. I couldn't find the words to explain so I handed him the note gingerly and began to pull out the treasures hidden inside the box.

On top was the red velour blanket with a red satin trim. I pulled it out gingerly and brought it to my face taking in a deep breath. It smelled so amazing…my Seth smelled so amazing. I wrapped it around my shoulders and then continued through the contents of the box. I sat the soup mix, bath salts, and can of soda on my bedside dresser and then pulled out my teddy bear Seth and hugged him to my chest with a sigh. To the outsider it would seem like a box full of random gifts from a guy, but for me it was the single most romantic gesture in the world. I grabbed the end of the blanket draping it back across my face and breathed in Seth's warming scent smiling and melting back onto the bed.

I opened my eyes, suddenly remembering that Jacob was in the room with me. I looked over to see him looking at me with a huge goofy grin. He handed the note back to me, which I took and clutched to my chest sighing.

He laughed again handing me my phone from off the bedside table. "I assume you're going to be wanting to use this now."

"Yes please." I said with a contented smile. Recognizing his cue, Jake got up and walked out of the room to provide me my perceived privacy once more.

I started to dial and then froze remembering Seth's sleepless night and promise to call when he woke up. I desperately needed to hear his voice and tell him how much I loved his package and most of all him, but I also didn't want to interrupt his desperately needed sleep. I compromised and sent him a text message instead:

I got your care package. I love it! Please call me as soon as you wake up. – Lina

I resisted the urge to add "I love you too" but I didn't want to tell him that in a text. I would tell him exactly how I felt when he woke up and called back. Less than a minute later my phone rang.

"Hi sweetest man in the world."

"So, you really liked it?" He sounded nervous.

"It was without a doubt the single most romantic thing I have ever heard of in my life. I love it. You smell amazing by the way!"

He sounded better, but still nervous. "I'm glad you liked it." He paused for a moment like the was afraid to ask then he finally added… "Did you find the note?"

My heart started to flutter. "Yes, I did. Did you really mean it?"

"Absolutely." It sounded like he drew a breath as he said it like he was afraid to hear what my response was going to be.

"You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that. You see, the thing is…I love you too." I heard the breath escape in a sigh of relief.

"One week and five and a half more days...feels like an eternity." Seth whispered from his bed on the west coast

"Definitely." I whispered back. "Most definitely."