Chapter 5 – Burdened Brains and Heavy Hearts
The room was soft, and the two voices continuing to carry through it were loud. Her existence in the room went unnoticed, as she was content in just standing against the doorframe. Her little brother and Alex had seemed to be getting along and having a good time together.
She was glad that Alex had got to spend some time with his Uncle Mark, but now it was time that they go, at least to leave them for the evening. It was almost one, and she was certain that her parents were ready for bed. If they weren't she definitely was, she hadn't gotten any more than a short 45 minutes of sleep to the most.
"Hey, kiddo. We need to go. Luka's waiting at the hotel," she finally announced her presence from the doorway. Alex glanced behind him as Mark did the same, and Mark smiled. His grasp on the controller to the game they were playing loosened.
"Mom! I'm still playing. There's nothing to do at the hotel," Alex whined, Mark immediately shook his head. He laughed, propping his knee up beside him.
"Well, here's one. You could sleep there," she said, releasing a small breath of air out with her slight laugh. Alex paused, looking at her with begging eyes. "I'm sorry, Alex. We'll come back by tomorrow to tell them bye," she said, shaking her head.
"Fine. Whatever," Alex said defiantly. He got up and started to walk passed her, but before he could she gently grabbed him by the arm.
"Don't talk to me like that, Alex. Don't think that just because we're going back to Chicago that means that you can talk to me like that," she said. She sighed, dropping his arm and crossing her arms in front of her chest. She looked away, the tears glazing over her eyes.
"Umm, he can stay here tonight, Sam," Mark said with a shrug as he approached her.
"Are you sure that would be okay with mom and dad?" she asked, squeezing her eyes shut. She really didn't want for her little brother to see her crying. She had always wanted him to see her as the emotionally intact one – the strong one of the family.
"They'll be fine with it," he smiled, flipping his hand towards her. "Besides, how often do they see Alex?" he smiled. He was implying that if they would put up a fight, he'd use the guilt trip on them.
"You're smart little brother. I'm just sorry I missed it," she smiled, reaching forward and putting his shoulder. He laughed, shaking his head.
"You've had someone else to watch grow up – the important thing is that you did watch him grow up," he said softly. She nodded, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. She hugged her little brother back, knowing that somehow he knew of all of the decisions she had come close to making.
Once grabbing her coat and wrapping it around herself, she climbed into her car. The car was empty – she was all alone in the quiet car. It was peaceful, but a little too tempting to go to sleep. She pulled into the parking lot, finding an empty spot quite close to the front doors.
She climbed out of the car, finding the moonlight in Trenton to be more attractive than it had ever seemed to be. Tearing her eyes away from the bright moon, she walked into the hotel through the lobby doors. The sliding doors closed behind her as her pace quickened to her room.
"Miss Taggart," the guy at the front desk who had been working when she checked in called out to her, and she stopped. She lifted her hand up to her lips, the keys clutched in her hand. "A guy came by here not too long ago and paid your bill," he said, and she nodded in thanks. "He paid for the next week," the guy shrugged, smiling.
"The next week? I thought that I was leaving tomorrow," she said, furrowing her eyebrows. The guy at the desk tapped into his computer, checking the recently paid records. He squinted, as he seemed to be embedding the information into his brain.
"It was paid through until next Sunday," he said, looking up at her. She pulled her keys from her lips and shoved her hands together. She looked away from him and slowly licked her lips in thought.
"Thank you very much," she said, looking back at him. She smiled before patting the counter and continuing to the hotel room. She got to the front door, and made a fist to lightly tap against the door.
Before she could press her knuckles against the heavy door, it opened with his strength behind the pull. He smiled, and she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She pursed her lips, and peered inside before stepping in.
"How'd you know I was at the door?" she asked, taking her coat off as he shut the door behind her entrance.
"Ever since I got out of the shower, I've pretty much opened the door every time that I've heard a noise out there," he smiled sheepishly. He stepped forward and hugged her, her body fitting perfectly against his. He pulled away from her, and he looked around scratching the back of his head. "Where's Alex?"
"He stayed with my parents for the night," she said, dropping onto the couch. Her body was tired, which was expected when she hadn't slept in as long as she hadn't slept. He nodded with pursed lips.
"Well, that would explain that absent child," he smiled, sitting down beside her. His arm was around the back of the couch, and she leaned into him, her eyes closing for a moment. The television was off, which created a comfortable silence between them. His arm dropped around her as the back of her head seemed to rest against his chest.
"You're wearing dirty clothes," she said, her voice filled with content. Her eyes were still closed, and just by her breathing relaxing against his chest he could tell just how tired she was.
"I didn't bring anything with me. I just got in the car and came," he said as he looked over at her, his eyes imprinting her into his mind just the way that she was. He wanted to remember her in that moment, when she was comfortable in his arms.
"Alex isn't here. You could just sleep naked." Her voice hadn't changed from the content tone that she had finally discovered in his arms. He laughed quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I don't think that'd work. I hate being naked in hotel rooms," he teased. She smiled. He kissed her temple, and placed his cheek against her head.
"How long are you staying?" she asked, finally opening her eyes. He sighed, facing upward. He really wasn't sure how long he'd be there. He looked back down at her, his eyes locking on hers.
"I don't know. Until Weaver calls, I guess," he shrugged. She shot up from lying against him, and turned her body towards him.
"Well, that could be any minute now," she sighed, furrowing her eyebrows.
"It could be, but I don't think that it would," he said softly, reaching forward and grabbing her hand from her lap.
"Why? What do you mean?" she asked.
"Once I got back to the hospital, she told me that if I leave again to not comeback," he laughed, trying to fight off the wild eyes she was looking at him with. "If I left for any other reason than you I'd agree with you and say that was stupid, but it didn't work out that way," he said, shaking his head.
"Luka, this is crazy. You can't just do stuff like that. You should have called me," she said with wide eyes. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She frantically searched his eyes, but he laughed while looking down at her hand.
"I did, Sam. I did call you," he shook his head, quietly laughing.
"Right," she sighed. She bit her bottom lip as she shut her eyes tight. "What are you going to do? Can you afford to not work?" she asked. He looked up at her, and nervously stuck his tongue against his top lip. Looking towards the blank television screen he sighed, before his eyes drew back to hers.
"I can't afford to not work. Not right now," he said, reaching his free hand forward and gently touching her stomach. "If anything, I need to make more money," he smiled, retracting his hand back to himself. What was a boy to do? He loved her and he'd do anything for her.
"I don't know if it's a for sure thing. I said that I might be pregnant," she sighed.
"And that's okay too, but until then, I'd like to be prepared," he said with a shrug. "I'm sorry," he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't say things," he said, looking away. She angrily rolled her eyes, and placed her hand on his cheek, guiding his eyes back to hers.
"No, you should. I like that you did. It helps me to know that you're okay with things," she said with her eyes enticing his glazed over eyes back to her. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. His response took moments to trigger, but when he did his arms wrapped around her. She pulled her lips from his and when he laid back she pressed her head against his chest.