THE AMERICAN PATIENT
Chapter XVIII - Waking (Part Seven)
Robert woke early to the sound of heavy rain pelting against the window. Blinking his eyes, he looked around and tried to fix his bearings. In the darkness, he carefully untangled himself from Elizabeth's warm body, and raised himself up to glance at the clock.
His eyes blearily registered 04:52, and he rolled onto his back. Staring up at the ceiling he wondered what today would hold for them. From the sound of the weather, it looked that they wouldn't be going very far.
Great....a whole day cooped up in the house with Isabelle. Maybe I should go back to work....
Elizabeth rolled in her sleep to face him, her hand unconsciously seeking him out. She found his stomach, and her fingers slid across him to rest above his waist. Turning his head towards her, he gazed at her and smiled, then placed his hand over hers.
How did I get here? After all these years of pining away for you, how is it that we are here together, like this?
He closed his eyes and tried not to think, choosing instead to enjoy the moment. She said she loved him. That would be enough for now.
Outside, the rain increased in ferocity and the wind howled. A clap of thunder snapped his eyes back open. Glancing at Elizabeth he smiled; she hadn't stirred an inch, which didn't surprise him the amount of alcohol she'd put away yesterday. Another clap of thunder, louder and longer this time. In the ensuing quiet he thought he heard Ella whimper, and slid himself out of bed. Pulling on his clothes he opened her door, just as lightening flashed illuminating the room briefly. Ella sat up scared, saw Robert and held out her arms.
He picked up the frightened girl and she clung to him, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
"Hey munchkin, you okay?"
"Scared." She whispered.
"Don't be...I'm here, I won't leave you."
The softly spoken words calmed her, and she buried her head into his shoulder. Holding her tightly to him, they rocked to and fro slightly. More thunder brought more lightening and Ella's grip on Robert tightened. She began to cry quietly.
"Sshhh.... it's okay."
He stroked her hair softly, and quietly began to sing her favourite nursery rhymes. Ella relaxed once again and closed her eyes.
Robert turned as he heard the door open fully, to see Isabelle stood there watching and listening; in the dim light he thought he saw her smile. He continued to sing softly, his voice soothing and hypnotic in contrast to the storm that raged outside. Isabelle remained watching briefly, before she dipped her head and quietly closed the door behind her.
Romano carried on until Ella loosened her grip on him, and he felt her body go limp. He placed her back into the cot bed and pulled the blankets up around her. The storm relented slightly outside, but he didn't want to leave for fear another crack of thunder would waken her again. She rolled over and a podgy little hand fell out from under her blanket. Robert sat down on the floor and leant against the bed, his head resting next to her hand. He'd promised her he wouldn't leave her...and he wouldn't.
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Elizabeth woke with a banging head, and an empty feeling. Something was not right. Her hand shot out searching for the warm mass that should be there, but there was nothing but cold bed sheets and crumpled pillow. She opened her eyes, looking round the room for him. His clothes were gone from where he had laid them last night.
She sat up suddenly, instantly regretting it, as her alcohol-fuelled headache kicked in fully. Climbing out of bed, Elizabeth donned her robe and pulled it around her tightly heading for the door. As she stepped out onto the landing she nearly collided with her mother.
"Ahh, it lives!"
"Mother." Elizabeth greeted grouchily.
"I thought you might appreciate some liquid refreshment of a non alcoholic variety." Isabelle clipped, proffering her a cup of tea.
Elizabeth accepted it gratefully in both hands, and brought the hot liquid to her mouth, sipping at it gingerly.
"Is Robert downstairs?"
"No."
No?
"Well where is he, he's not in bed and his clothes are gone." Elizabeth said, accusingly.
Did she upset him last night? Has he gone?
Isabelle smiled reassuringly, and cocked her head towards Ella's door. She turned on her heel heading for the room and Elizabeth followed.
"There was a fearsome storm early this morning. I was on my way to the bathroom when I heard him..."
She pushed the door open slightly to reveal Robert fast asleep where he'd sat last night. His head was dipped forward chin on chest, and Ella's arm lay dangling over his right shoulder.
"She was frightened and he was singing to her." Isabelle explained smiling at the pair.
Oh Robert
"I didn't hear a thing." Elizabeth shook her head.
"Hardly surprising the amount of vino collapso you had last night dear. Should we wake him, he's going to have an awful crook neck?" Isabelle chortled.
"Better not.... don't know how long he was up with her.... he's probably knackered."
They backed out of the room............
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Elizabeth stood behind Robert, who was seated at the kitchen island, massaging his neck and shoulders.
"Ouch."
"Quit whining."
"Ow.... watch it...Lizzie that hurts... who the hell taught you your technique, the Marques De Sade?"
"Oh ha bloody ha!"
She dug her thumbs into his neck even more, and he wiggled himself free standing up away from her grasp, his hand shooting to the back of his neck, rubbing the sore muscles.
"Owww.... Jesus Christ Lizzie!"
"You are such a baby Robert."
"Lizzie it's a neck, you're not kneading dough."
"Ah the sound of domestic bliss." Said Isabelle as she traipsed into the kitchen, and smiled at Robert. "Don't mind me I'm just getting Ella a drink."
They watched her fill Ella's juice cup and head back towards the lounge.
"Can we please go out, your mothers driving me mad."
"Why what's she said now?"
"She hasn't said anything as such...."
"Well then?"
"Well she's being weird round me and it's creepin me out. I can do her bitchin and insulting me, I can't do these silent, meaningful smiles she keeps shooting at me."
Elizabeth laughed and shook her head.
"Well we could go shopping."
His eyes narrowed and he frowned at her. "Well that depends."
"On what?"
"On if.... we could go shopping......actually means we go shopping...or...it's a euphemism for let's go to my place and have sex."
"It means Robert we go grocery shopping, or we don't eat tonight. Anyway I need you to drive, I'm probably still over the limit.
"Wow Lizzie, you really know to how to set my heart a flutterin."
"Oh shut up and get your coat."
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Two hours later Elizabeth stormed through the door, laden down with grocery bags, wearing a fierce expression.
"That's the last time you come with me shopping." She yelled over her shoulder.
"Why is it the last time he goes shopping with you?" inquired Isabelle curiously, getting up following her daughter into the kitchen.
Robert appeared behind her, also laden with bags.
"Cause I made her get good stuff."
"Good stuff! Robert you added at least $150 onto my bill!"
"Yeah, and I paid so quit hollerin at me."
"That does sound somewhat excessive." Isabelle broke in.
Romano rolled his eyes at both woman, and threw up his hands.
"Why would you eat something out of a can when you can make the real thing?"
Elizabeth adopted a tone of speaking to a child. "Because Robert, I don't have a lot of time to prepare full meals.....my boss makes me work stupid hours." she shot at him.
"Well I don't see why Ella should suffer 'cause you can't manage your time adequately." He chuckled.
Elizabeth slammed down the can of beans she'd just removed onto the counter.
"Don't go there Robert!" she spat warningly.
Isabelle in the meantime had started nosing through the grocery bags and was making loud approving noises.
"Stop giving the man a hard time Elizabeth, I don't see anything wrong here...and 'fresh is best' as they say...oh I love these!" she said, holding up a packet of luxury shortbread. "Who's for tea?"
Elizabeth shook her head in exasperation, now angry with her mother as well for interfering.
"Robert?" Isabelle stared at him pointedly, and smiled. "Tea?"
Romano's head snapped round at her use of his name. Unsure as to why he suddenly seemed to be in her good graces, he thought he'd play safe.
"Yes please Mrs Corday."
She nodded and set about readying the kettle.
Robert looked to Elizabeth, who'd also registered the use of his name and raised an eyebrow. He shrugged his shoulders slightly in a gesture of 'what the hell.'
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For the remainder of the day, Isabelle continued to be polite to Robert.
Dinner passed pleasantly, with not a single insult or aspersion on his character. After they had finished, Elizabeth did the dishes and sent Isabelle away as her idea of 'helping' was entirely detrimental to the task in hand.
Isabelle wandered to the lounge where she stood and watched Robert playing with her granddaughter; she saw the open love with which Ella accepted him and the ease with which he obviously doted on her. With the image of him comforting her last night fixed firmly in her head, she walked silently to a chair and seated herself continuing to watch.
Elizabeth entered from the kitchen and placed his coffee on the table, then absently bent over to kiss him as she walked past to the couch. She saw the look of longing that they exchanged; saw the happiness that emanated off the pair of them as a result of their love. It was a happiness she had never managed to achieve in her life, but here Elizabeth had managed to find it, not once but twice. How could she disapprove of that? She wasn't mother of the year material, never had been and they both knew it. But she did love her daughter and wanted the best for her. If he made her happy, then that would be enough for her.
"What time's your flight tomorrow Mrs Corday?" Robert asked, reaching for his coffee.
"Ten, but I have to be there at eight.... and please call me Isabelle."
Romano nearly spat his coffee out, but recovered well enough to ask. "Do you need a ride to the airport?"
Please say no.
"Thank you Robert, but no I've already arranged transportation."
Elizabeth watched the proceedings with a mixture of surprise, amusement and suspicion. Unable to comprehend the workings of her mother's mind and worried of some hidden agenda, she poured herself another glass of wine.
"Slow down Elizabeth, I'm sure Robert does not want to have to carry you upstairs again."
Romano snickered behind his coffee cup.
What, now she's sticking up for him?
"Thank you mummy, I am quite capable of knowing when I've had enough."
"I'm sure you are dear, but you're idea of 'when' differs from Robert's and mine."
Romano stopped smirking. That sounded suspiciously like he was being dragged into side taking, and was something he wanted no part of.
"Sooo back to work properly tomorrow eh Lizzie." He attempted to change subjects.
"You're both back at work tomorrow?" Isabelle asked.
"Yeah." They replied wistfully, exchanging a rueful look.
"Elizabeth, would you like me to watch Ella tonight? You and Robert could go out to a film or something."
Elizabeth did a double take, and Romano raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you yes, that would be lovely.... Robert?"
"Err yeah.... thanks Isabelle." He flashed her a genuine smile, which she returned.
"Well that's settled then. Go on, have fun and don't hurry back!"
Elizabeth leapt off the couch kissed Ella's head and grabbed Robert's hand, pulling him up before Isabelle could change her mind. They grabbed their shoes and coats and were out the door in less than a minute.
Robert opened the jag's door for her and she climbed in as he walked round to the driver's side. As he sat down and buckled his seatbelt, he glanced over to Elizabeth who sat smirking at him.
"What?"
"I think my mother just gave you her seal off approval."
Robert shrugged his shoulders and snickered.
"Told you before Lizzie, I'm irresistible to Corday woman. May take you all a while, but eventually you can't resist me!"
She punched him lightly in the arm and laughed.
"So what do you wanna do...I'll take you anywhere you want." he asked.
She leaned over and planted a slow wet kiss on his lips, then murmured into his mouth, "Haven't christened your place yet have we?"
He smiled against her mouth.
"I say....I'll take you anywhere you want...and you wanna go to my place and make like we're bunnies?"
Elizabeth moved her mouth to his ear and nibbled a particularly sensitive spot, smiling as he groaned.
"As of tomorrow we lose our babysitter...there'll be no more spontaneous flits to hotels, no quiet undisturbed Ella free moments...I don't know when another opportunity like this will come along...just you, me.....and a bed." She purred.
"Sold." Romano smirked, and drove the jag to its legal limits all the way to his house.........
TBC