Chapter 9
During the next few days, Dr. Mike didn't go away from Atlantis' room. Afraid that her son might catch the cough, she agreed with Atlantis to put the little boy in the room next to hers where the whole Sully family, including little Katie, watched over him. The little boy already started to get more comfortable with the new faces around him, but Dr. Mike still kept a watchful eye on Atlantis' son. She already wired her colleague in Boston, who was a psychiatrist, asking for advice. The boy had obviously gone through traumatic experiences and they surely left scars on him. Dr. Mike was determined to work with the boy until he was healed.
But there was somebody, besides Atlantis, who started to play a crucial role in little boy's healing.
Atlantis' fever had vanished, and it wasn't back for already two days now. Colleen was thrilled to see her friend getting better and better. She spent hours by Atlantis' bedside as they had a lot of catching up to do, and Colleen already planned so many things that they would do when Atlantis got well completely.
Heart has been coming for short visits, but never stayed long. There was something that had changed in her attitude, and Atlantis was grateful that they didn't have those talks like they used to have before. As her cough calmed down with each day and her fever broke, Atlantis could think more clearly. She realized now that she had a chance to escape the torture of the last few years, and she was determined to do so. This was a crossroad for her and her son; either they could start a new life or they were lost.
On Friday morning, Atlantis woke up very early. Taking a sip of lemonade, she caught the glimpse of herself in the mirror. Creasing her brow, she took it in and let out a frustrated sigh. Her hair was a mess.
The door slammed opened, revealing little Matthew trotting alongside with Katie. They were carrying trays with food, their faces beaming with pride.
«Look, Mummy! Mrs. Grace allowed Katie and me to bring you breakfast!» exclaimed little Matthew, grinning.
«And we didn't spilled one bit!»Katie joined in her new friend's happiness. Atlantis couldn't help but smile to the two children in front of her.
«Well, it's a good thing that you didn't spill anything because I'm starving.»
As Katie reached her bed and placed the tray on Atlantis' lap, the young woman smiled, «My goodness, breakfast in bed!» Winking at the little girl, she said «Thank you, lady Katie.»
Katie giggled, proudly looking up at Atlantis. She already liked this woman a lot and hoped that, once she got out of the bed, she would teach her how to get a rabbit out of 's hat. Brian had told her that Atlantis was in a circus once, so the little girl couldn't wait to learn a trick or two. Atlantis promised her she'd do it, so all that was left for Katie was to wait patiently. But in Katie's dictionary, «patience» was an unknown word.
«, do you feel better today?» beamed Katie, her eyes wide open.
Chewing on her first bite, Atlantis knew exactly what the little girl was asking.
«Yeah, but first I would have to eat something and fix my hair in order to do some magic,» sighed Atlantis, pretending to be upset.
Katie instantly offered her help, «I can brush your hair! I always brush Mummy's hair!»
Before Atlantis could protest, her son opened a drawer, taking the brush out of it and gave it to Katie. The little girl jumped on Atlantis bed and positioned herself behind her. With her eyes squeezed and the tongue peeking out from her mouth a bit, she gave a critical look at Atlantis hair and decided to start on the right side. Atlantis was surprised how gently was Katie brushing her hair. Smiling, she looked at Katie's foot. «What's that?»
Not even noticing Matthew in the doorway, both kids followed Atlantis' gaze revealing a red flower that showed up out of nowhere. Atlantis gasped, «Oooh, look, it's a flower!» She looked at Katie and put the flower behind the little girl's ear.
Katie squealed with joy. «Hey, how did you do that?!»
«I told you my Mummy can do magic!» little Matthew reminded his friend proudly. «You know that once she found a pearl behind my ear?»
«NO!!» Katie's eyes went wide in surprise.
«You mean one like this one?» asked Atlantis, reaching behind her son's ear. Something sparkled in her fingers and both kids giggled, jumping with their little feet on the bed.
«Ouch, ouch!» yelped Atlantis through laughter. Her muscles were still too sore to handle two little children jumping around on her bed.
«Hey, you two, get down from there!» Matthew's voice was heard. «This isn't a dance floor,» he added, chuckling.
Atlantis silently gasped, hearing his voice. She felt his eyes upon her face and felt a warmth running through her veins, praying that she wouldn't blush.
Her little son obeyed and stepped down from the bed, then rushed toward Matthew.
«MATTHEW!»the child happily exclaimed, throwing himself into the young man's arms. Matthew smiled, welcoming him in his embrace. The little boy's eyes lit up with joy. «We're gonna go fishing today?»
«We have to ask your Mum first,» replied Matthew, winking at him.
«Pleeeeaseeee, Muuuummyyyyy?» the little boy pleaded. Matthew looked at Atlantis, barely containing his smile.
«Only if you promise that you won't go in the water and that you will listen to Matthew,» was all that Atlantis could say, praying that her voice didn't shiver.
«I promise!» nodded her son happily. Atlantis smiled at him, softly shaking her head and than looked at Matthew.
«You sure he won't be any trouble? I mean, if you have other things to do…,»she started to talk, but Matthew interrupted her as he walked toward the bed.
«No trouble at all. We'll go catch us a dinner and I'll show him the animals at the homestead, if that's okay with you.»
Being this close to Matthew with him holding her son in his arms made Atlantis unable to speak. She just nodded, her eyes filling with tears.
«All right then,» smiled Matthew. «You just concentrate on getting better, eat, sleep and don't worry about one thing.» With those words, Matthew leaned down and softly touched her cheek with his lips.
«Katie, wanna come with us?» asked little Matthew, but the girl shook her head no, while still brushing Atlantis' hair.
«Can't you see I'm busy?» she replied, concentrated on her task.
It brought a smile on Atlantis lips and one tear escaped from her eye. As he started to straighten up, Matthew gently wiped that tear with his finger away from her cheek.
Giving her a soft smile, he went outside the room, while little Matthew bombarded him with questions about the animals he wanted to show him.
Atlantis just sat there, her breakfast forgotten. As Katie brushed her hair, the young woman felt like time stood still, and she gently touched the place on her cheek where Matthew's lips were just a few seconds ago.
Katie frowned at seeing Atlantis not eating. If she didn't eat, she wouldn't heal quickly, and if she didn't get well quickly than she wouldn't be able to show her those tricks!
Huffing in frustration, Katie sat on the bed and placed the brush away. She took some corn bread and practically pushed it in front of Atlantis lips. As the young woman looked at her with surprise, Katie put on a serious face.
«Didn't you hear what Matthew said? You have to eat to get better. And that's true. My big brother is always right. I know that,»Katie nodded to each of her words, and Atlantis couldn't help but smile.
«You're right, I'm sorry.» Taking a bite from the bread, Atlantis looked at Katie sitting opposite her and suddenly asked, «Katie? Would you hand me that napkin over? It lies there on the bed.»
«Sure.» As Katie turned around to get the napkin, Atlantis gasped, pretending to be surprised, «Hey, what's that?»
«What's what?», Katie creased her brow.
«In your hair,» winked Atlantis. Katie held her breath and reached behind her head. Her eyes went wide in surprise as she touched something soft. She quickly pulled her hand in front of her only to see a white flower.
«IT'S A WHITE FLOWER!!»grinned Katie. «I DID IT!» She threw herself in Atlantis' arms and the young woman hugged her, laughing happily.