Despite the fact that I knew everything was ok, I still worried the entire trip over to the hospital. What if something did happen to Rochelle? What would I do then? What would be the point of anything?
I think Kristina sensed my agitation, because after a few moments she gently leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Don't worry Erik. I'm sure she's fine. If there was any reason to worry, Tony would have said so over the phone."
"I know," I replied, "I know, and I keep telling myself that. But that does not stop me from imagining what horrible things could befall her. It is a bad habit, I admit."
Kris just smiled and leaned against my shoulder. I realized that I hadn't yet let go of her hand, but she didn't seem to mind, and I was in no hurry to give up the comfort it gave me.
I quickly called for a cab, and Kris and I arrived at the hospital before I knew it. Once inside, I immediately started cursing Tony in every language I knew. The imbecile had forgotten to tell me the room number.
"It's ok, Erik, we can just go ask for the room number."
Inwardly I snarled at having to do such a thing, and vowed to let Tony know exactly what I thought as soon as I saw him. Unless Rochelle was within hearing distance, of course. I would hate to let her hear such things from my lips.
After finding out the room number, Kris and I hurried to Rochelle's room. When we got there, Tony and my mother were both standing close to her bed. We hurried over, but Tony quieted us. Rochelle appeared to be asleep. I decided to make the most of this opportunity and motioned for Tony to follow me outside.
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Once we realized that Rochelle was asleep, Erik released my hand and had Tony follow him. I knew it was to scold him for not telling him the room number. I felt bad for Tony, but then I realized that this essentially left Erik's mother and I alone in the room.
All thoughts were pushed out of my mind other than those regarding just how terrible a situation this was.
"So, Miss Kristina, have you enjoyed your stay in France thus far?"
"Um, yes ma'am. I mean, mademoiselle," I replied. She had startled me by being so nice. After the way Erik and Tony had acted, I had expected otherwise.
"Good," she said with a smirk, "I'm sure my Erik has shown you a good time."
I couldn't help but blush at this. Was it my imagination, or was she implying that I had slept with her son? Which was, of course, true. But a distressing thought nonetheless.
I immediately thought, "I'm dead."
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"I am disappointed in you, Tony," I said after closing the door while keeping my voice down. "How could you forget to tell me her room number?"
"But Erik, I did tell you. Or rather, I tried to tell you before you hung up, and then I left a message on your phone. Did you not get it?"
I checked my phone, and, to my annoyance, it said I had one new voicemail. "How did that happen?" I asked Tony angrily. "I had my phone on the entire time! It makes no sense."
"Perhaps you hit a dead zone."
"Yes, I suppose that is likely," I admitted.
"So what all did you tell her?" Tony asked.
"Not much. I did not even manage to tell her about when Erik finally forgave Christine."
"So, you didn't tell her about your mother?"
"Of course not, I am not sure if I even plan on telling her about- wait," I said, coming to my senses, "Did we just leave Kris alone with my mom?"
A look of dread passed over Tony's face, and the two of us rushed back inside.
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I immediately started muttering some incoherent nonsense after Erik's mother asked me this. "Um, well, yes. He has, um, escorted me around the Louvre. And, he, er, he…"
She laughed out loud at this "We both know that that wasn't what I meant."
I was dead. Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. She knew I was having sex with her son! How could I look her in the face again? I was contemplating how to respond to this when Tony and Erik burst back into the room. I was thrilled that they were back, but more than a little upset that they had left me alone in the first place.
"Hello, mother. We thought we heard Rochelle stir," Erik said.
Again, his mother just laughed, "You must have been imagining things, she has not moved, and how you would have been able to hear her through the door even if she had is beyond me."
"Yes, I suppose we did imagine it then," Erik said, smiling at his mother. I must admit I took a bit of pleasure in noticing that the smile did not extend to his eyes.
"Well, Kris, would you like to come get a drink with me. We can bring some back for Erik and Gabrielle."
"I've told you to call me mother many times, Antonio. Please do so."
"Of course, mother. And you know," Tony said to me while escorting me out of the room, "We might as well get one for Rochelle too. She'll probably be thirsty when she wakes up."
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"What did you do?" I immediately asked when Tony and Kristina had left.
"Whatever do you mean? What makes you assume I did anything?"
"The way Kris looked when we returned. What did you say to her, mother?"
"I simply asked her if you had shown her a good time while she has been in France."
I felt my anger rising, "Do not involve yourself with Kristina. If you do anything to scare her away, I will be forced to take drastic measures."
"I can do as I please," my mother replied, her words dripping venom, "You wouldn't dare do anything to me that would risk you losing Rochelle."
I was about to reply, when we heard a quite voice asking, "What about me?"
"Rochelle!" I exclaimed, happy to see her awake, "It was nothing, ma chere. Do not concern yourself with it."
"But you were talking about me, I think I have a right to know why."
"It is nothing, Rochelle," my mother replied, "Tony and the American have gone to get you a drink. Perhaps you should rest until they return."
"Mother," Rochelle said quietly, "Kris is not 'the American.' At least call her Kristina." I silently applauded Rochelle for this. I had had this exact thought.
My mother rolled her eyes, and said, "Now is not the time, go to sleep."
Rochelle acquiesced. She really was quite tired.
Once she appeared to be asleep again, I whispered to my mother, "You and I shall have to have a serious conversation about our contract when we return home."
"Of course, whatever you say, Erik," she replied with a smirk.
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AN: For some reason, the bar thing was refusing to work for me. So I had to make due with dashes. Hope you don't mind too much. I have some exciting news. I have a beta! I would love to introduce you to Touching Trusting! Yaygolf claps I have not had a beta before, and I can already tell she will drastically improve my writing.Hopefully you'll notice, and love, the improvement. Plus, I should update more often, because she'll kick me if I don't. And you all can join in too, if you so choose.