Page 16
The squeaking of my wet raincoat filled the hallway
as I went back and forth, making sure the girls were settled.
Poor Reticia was almost swallowed up in my t-shirt, but I had
nothing else for her to wear. Margaret fared somewhat better in
nightclothes borrowed from her sister. I made sure they were
showered and fed, then pulled out the sofa and tucked them both
in. I stopped at the living room entrance and looked back.
"Is
it okay to turn off the light or do you need it on?" I
asked.
"You can turn it off." Margaret yawned. Reticia was
curled into a small ball and didn't even open her
eyes.
"Goodnight then." I switched off the light and went
slowly back down the hallway, feeling the pain seeping throughout
my body. My ankle, my lips, my face, all of me- I was in need of
those painkillers. I went into the bathroom and quickly took two
of them. Hearing the door, I went back out into the
hallway.
"There you are." I said softly as Madlax
appeared. She gave me a tired smile. I opened my arms and pulled
her to me, holding her as tightly as I could. She was soaked, and
I felt the water dripping downward over my skin. We held onto
each other, rocking together in a silent embrace of comfort.
"I
missed you. I missed you so much." My confession was
whispered.
"Then come wash away this night with me." she
whispered back, and pulled me into the bathroom.
"Are you cold?" She asked gently, pulling the
covers up over us. She wedged one leg comfortably in between
mine, then put her other leg over me, entwining us together. Her
naked body was smooth and muscular, and I ran my hands over her,
enjoying the sensation.
"No. The trembling will stop soon.
It was just…intense." I had honestly never felt like that
before in my life, and now my legs couldn't seem to stop
shaking. "You- you don't think they heard me, do you?"
Her
body shook against mine as she laughed. "They don't have to
hear you to know."
"Oh… that." I
sighed.
Madlax had tried to explain this weird thing about
Margaret not really being her sister, but I was unable to fully
comprehend what she said. "Madlax, nothing's going to happen
while we're in the middle of…you know." My hand slipped
down her hip. "I mean, I only want you- it would be
embarrassing if suddenly you turned into-" I was interrupted by
her finger on my lips.
"Shhh. Don't worry about that. I
told you before, it only happens when you say those two little
words." She kissed me into a silent submission.
"Madlax…I
think I have... three little words I want to say to you." I
ventured out, suddenly feeling shy. Three little words, words I
had not said since one night long ago when I had promised myself
to marriage.
"I would very much like to hear them." She
put her hands to my face, staring intently into my eyes. "Say
those three words to me, Vanessa Renee."