THE AMERICAN PATIENT
Chapter Eight – Waking, Part Two
Elizabeth awoke early the next morning. She groaned after glancing at the clock and registering the time, 5.46am. Rolling over onto her back she realised there was no way she was going to get back to sleep. She stared at the ceiling replaying yesterday's events in her head, hoping that everything would suddenly become crystal clear. But, of course it didn't. So instead she dragged herself out of bed, and headed for the bathroom.
After a lengthy shower, she got dressed into jeans and a light t-shirt. 'Might as well catch up on some housework', she thought to herself.
As she closed the bedroom door behind her and headed for the stairs, she stopped suddenly in her tracks. She could hear the unmistakeable sound of a guitar being softly played. The melody was enchanting, and took on an almost ethereal quality as it carried quietly through the air. Then a gentle voice joined in. It was so quiet that she could not make out the words, but the pitch was perfect. She found herself moving down the stairs as quietly as she could, following the music.
As she reached the lounge, she stood observing the scene before her. Robert was sat on the couch, cross-legged, his back to her leaning against the armrest. He carried on playing, seemingly unaware of her presence until the song finished. Then he quietly placed the guitar down by his side and without turning around said softly, "Morning Lizzie."
"Morning," she replied walking into the lounge towards him. "That was beautiful, Robert."
"Glad you think so." He turned watching her approach, his face unreadable. "Funny old thing happened, Lizzie. I came downstairs hunting for my sweatshirt and found my guitar, now how'd you suppose that happened?"
Elizabeth sat down opposite him looking sufficiently guilty.
Oh shit he sounds pissed.
"I erm, saw it yesterday and I don't know why, but er, something made me pick it up," she tried to explain.
"What, so you were snooping about?"
He sat watching her, stone-faced and Elizabeth began to squirm under his intense gaze. "No...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ..."
"Relax Lizzie, I'm just messing with you," he said cutting her off and broke into a broad smile as he laughed. "You should see your face!"
"You pig, Robert!" She flew across the short distance, and catching him surprised began tickling him mercilessly.
Robert playfully tried to fend her off. "Hey stop it, get off!"
"No way, you're going to pay!" Elizabeth doubled her efforts, laughing hard.
Robert started tickling her back and they began wrestling each other for the upper hand, until mischievously he pushed her down onto the couch. Holding her hands above her head he straddled himself over her.
"You were saying?" he grinned triumphantly.
She tried to kick him off and wriggled about furiously under him, but it was no use, she was pinned.
"I surrender?" she offered, smiling sweetly.
They remained still, grinning at each other breathing heavily from their frolics.
"Now when you say 'you surrender', what exactly are you surrendering to? My superior tickling skills, my superiority in general or just - to me?" he asked in a low voice.
Elizabeth gulped and felt her face flush. He was inches from her face and she could feel the heat from his body where he straddled her, his weight pinning her down. She prided herself on being physically strong, and yet despite his bout of flu he held her with little effort. Robert gazed at her scrutinising her face, the most beautiful smile revealing those perfect white teeth. The unruly curls of hair. When he got to the eyes, he almost did a double take for it was like looking in a mirror. Everything he was feeling, his hopes and fears seemed to be there reflecting up at him. His smile faded slightly as did hers, the air around them crackling with charged energy. He slowly lowered his mouth to hers and Elizabeth closed her eyes in anticipation, only to open them suddenly as Ella's cries pierced the silence. Robert leapt off her like a coiled spring.
He smiled roguishly and pulled her up. "Well that's you off the hook. Seems the woman in this house stick together eh, Lizzie?"
She dropped his hand and stood, her face still flaming red. "I'll go get her," she said and headed for the stairs.
Robert sat back down on the couch and closed his eyes. He had been about to kiss her and he had felt certain she was going to kiss him back. A wide smile peeled across his face as he leaned back and folded his hands up behind his head. He felt euphoric.
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Elizabeth sprang up the stairs to see to Ella. She stopped momentarily outside of her daughter's bedroom and gathered herself together. She felt sure he'd been about to kiss her and that she'd been about to let him. Is that what she wanted then, after all?
"Moommyy!"
She opened the door.
"It's okay sweetie, mommy's here."
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When they got downstairs, Robert had relocated to the kitchen and was making coffee. She smiled at his back as she entered the kitchen and placed Ella in her high chair. Ella saw Robert and immediately began to shout "Wobut, Wobut!"
He turned around and waved, smiling at the pair of them.
Elizabeth walked over to him and placed a hand to his forehead. "I'd say your fevers all but gone, but let me take your temperature anyway. Can you watch Ella for me?" Robert nodded savouring her touch until she turned and left to get the thermometer.
"Hey munchkin...what do you want to do today?"
"Ducks!" Ella shouted.
"You wanna feed the ducks?"
Ella nodded her head furiously.
"Okay then."
"Okay then what?" Elizabeth asked walking back into the kitchen holding the thermometer.
"Ella here." He flashed the toddler a smile, before turning back to her mother. "Has requested we go feed the ducks."
"Well let's see if you're up to it then shall we?" Elizabeth said walking over to where he stood. She reached out a hand and turned his face so she could hold the thermometer to his ear.
Robert smirked. "You know I can do that myself."
"I know,"she replied, still touching his cheek, letting his insinuation lie in the air.
"100.22 –still technically fevered, but I'd say you're over the worst Dr Romano."
"All thanks to the beautiful Dr Corday," he replied removing her hand from his face, and kissing the back of it elaborately. He looked up slightly to gauge her reaction, and when he saw her smiling at him, he thought his heart would rip through his chest. They shared a goofy moment before Ella snapped the pair of them back to reality.
"Cheerios!"
They both turned to smile at Ella before Robert glanced back to her. "So does that mean I get to leave the house?" he asked, watching her face intently.
"If you feel up to it... I don't suppose a trip to the park will kill you." Elizabeth smiled back, before slipping in to mother hen mode and making herself busy. "Right then, breakfast..."
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Robert climbed out of the shower feeling healthier than he had in days. He was feeling much better physically, and apart from the usual fluey cough and congestion, the fever and associated aches and pains had almost gone. Something was definitely happening between Elizabeth and him. He felt sure it was just a matter of time, and knew that he just needed to be careful not to do anything stupid, or to move too quickly and scare her off.
Be patient Rocket, you've waited six years you can wait a little longer, he told himself.
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Elizabeth was having difficulty getting Ella dressed ready for their trip to the park. The little girl was excited and was proving difficult.
"Is Wobut coming?"
"Yes sweetheart, Robert is coming, but only if you get dressed nicely. Okay?"
Ella immediately became an angel much to Elizabeth's bemusement and they were ready five minutes later.
Robert was ready and waiting for them downstairs. He looked up as Elizabeth came down with Ella in her arms.
"May I?" he asked quietly, holding out his arms.
Elizabeth smiled before offloading an eager Ella into his arms. She wandered off to the kitchen to grab some bread, placing it into a bag before grabbing coats and scarves.
"Right then. Shall we?" She opened the door and they stepped out into the day, to any casual passer-by the perfect family.
TBC