Standing Still - Chapter Seventeen

It's been two days since Ana finally confessed to the constant pain she has been enduring. She's undergone various tests and scans to determine the cause but so far nothing has come to light.

At least now she is receiving regular medication to ease her pain but as a side effect she seems to be sleeping a lot more. I'm here at the hospital everyday and split my time between Ana and the children.

I haven't been to work since the accident and have no plans to return anytime soon. Ros it taking care of everything and has managed to delegate most of what I do to several key members of staff. She talks to me on the phone and sends emails so I'm aware of what's going on but for the most part I've become a silent partner within my company.

I'm lucky I have Ros as without her I don't know what I would have done. I'm certainly not ready to go back to work and I don't want to either. I want to be with Ana all the time and when I'm not it's almost painful.

She started physiotherapy this week but so far it's just from the confines of her bed. Her physiotherapist 'Holly' has mostly been concentrating of stretching and moving her limbs. She's a long way off from standing with her pelvis fracture but Holly has been encouraging Ana to move her legs in the bed.

So far Ana's legs remain immobile and even with effort she can't move them but her arm movements have improved a little. She was able to lift her right arm to her face and her left a little higher but it takes her a lot of effort. I hate seeing her struggle to do things we all take for granted but Ana's determined and in time she can only get stronger, I hope.

I bring the children to see her most days and their slowly getting used to the hospital environment. Teddy will chat with anyone and has made a friend of each of Ana's nurses. He's especially fond of Ana's day nurse 'Frankie' and will search for her if she's not where he thinks she should be on his arrival.

The only staff member my son seems to dislikes is Holly, although I'm not sure why because she's great with him. He sulks when she's around and won't talk to her when she asks him a question. Poor Holly must think we have the worst behaved child she known's especially when he starts scowling at her.

He's been particularly naughty today and hasn't let her get close to Ana. Every time she tries he shouts and points at the door.

"Go now," he shouts imperiously.

"Teddy stop that, your being very naughty to Holly," I tell him.

"Time to go, time to go," he says still pointing at the door.

"It will be time to go but not for Holly. You will be going home if you keep this up," I explain.

Teddy pouts at my words, looking so much like his mother that I have to hide my smile. Holly finally makes it to Ana and begins her exercises but Teddy keeps throwing her some very unhappy stares.

When Holly leaves after about twenty minutes Ana falls asleep with Phoebe and I decide to get to the bottom of Teddy's dislike.

"That was very rude to shout at poor Holly," I say as I sit down beside him.

"Don't like Holly," he tells me softly.

"Why, she's so kind to you and she's helping Mommy," I explain.

"Don't like," he repeats sullenly.

"Teddy tell me why," I ask again.

"Holly mean to Mommy, make Mommy cry."

I puzzle what he means by that then remember back to when Holly first came to help Ana. The movements were especially painful that first day and Ana got upset. I thought my son had missed what happened but he saw it all and it seems he didn't forget.

All this time I couldn't work out what Holly had done but now I understand that in Teddy's eyes she hurt his mother. He's held a grudge for days against this woman and all because he was protecting Ana.

"Your a good boy, but Holly wasn't hurting Mommy. She is helping Mommy but Mommy is still sore from the accident."

"Mommy cry," he whispers.

"Mommy cried because of her boo boos, not because of Holly."

"I don't like when Mommy's sad."

"Neither do I buddy, but she's so happy when she sees you and Phoebe."

Teddy smiles and pats the bed gently then looks back towards me.

"Holly nice," he asks thoughtfully.

"Yes, Holly's very nice. Holly is helping Mommy to feel better so that someday soon she can come back home."

"Good, I miss Mommy at home."

"I know buddy but until we can take her home you have to be nice to Holly and let her help Mommy."

"I will, be good boy," he says smiling.

"Good boy," I tell him fondly as I sweep my hang thorough his soft curly hair.

I get out some of his toys and together we play together while the girls enjoy their nap. I'm glad I finally got to the bottom of this and uncovered Teddy's grudge against Holly. If I think about it I'm almost impressed that my son loves his Mom so much. He was looking after her and at only three years that is pretty impressive.

Sorry for the delay and the short chapter but I've been too busy to write the last few days. Longer chapters to come I promise but daily updates are not possible at the moment.

Thank you for all your reviews and kind support.