It took a few minutes until I felt like talking again. I looked at Louisa and she smiled at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked and I barely sighed.
"You said I'd be in a loveless marriage if I had married Tanya. You're right. I would have. Mostly likely, I would have had tons of mistresses and she would have had tons of lovers. Maybe she would have tried to pass off any child she had as mine," I explained and I saw the anger in her eyes. I waited for her to say something, but she just went back to carding my hair.
"She reminds me of this one girl at school when I was little. She thought she was all that and she bullied anyone she deemed unworthy of her time or attention," she said and I blinked my eyes a few times.
"Did she bully you?" I asked and she looked straight ahead.
"Everyday. I told Mum. She went to school to speak with the headmaster, but he just told Mum some girls are just bullies and I should ignore her."
"Bet your mother loved hearing that."
"She was livid. Anyway, I was in Year Six when this new girl arrived at school. My bully got her on her radar and she went after her. Started bullying her. Treated her like garbage."
"What happened?"
"She didn't know the new girl's dad was one of those martial art champions. He had taught his daughter how to defend herself against anything that got in her way. She didn't beat the bully up. Just put her in a chokehold. She wouldn't let the bully go until the bully promised to leave her and the rest of us alone."
"Did she?"
"Yeah. But the new girl got suspended for fighting."
"Seriously?!" I asked and she nodded. My eyes widened as I puffed out a breath of air then I smiled. "Damn."
"That's why I don't want you to feel like it's all your fault."
"Fine," I said a few times and barely nodded my head. I half-closed my eyes while Louisa kept moving her fingers through my hair and I started relaxing. "Do you know how much I'm liking this?"
"Yes. You always say it helps when you're stressed out."
"Tell me something good."
"Stevie tried something for lunch."
"Let me guess. Baby food?"
"Yes. He seems to like it."
"Glad one of us does."
I knew I shouldn't have sounded so harsh, but I was getting tired of baby food.
"You should have seen him after he was done. There was more food on his face, on his shirt and in his hair then I think went into his mouth," she told me and I arched my eyebrows up as my eyes widened slightly.
"Did you take photos?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Does he have any favorite foods?"
"He likes the chicken, the beef and the mash."
"But not the vegetables."
"Right. He gets that from his papa bear."
"Hey! I eat vegetables!"
"Only if I threaten to tell Mum if you don't."
I made a small laugh while I barely nodded my head.
"You did find that recipe for cheesy broccoli and rice online and that recipe for honey carrots. I don't mind those," I said.
"There was also that mixed vegetable medley with mushroom we had in Paris."
"Yes. That was good," I said with a small sigh while remembering us having dinner at a small café in Paris.
"Hey," made me look at her again and she smiled. "I'll see if I can find that café and they can send me the recipe."
I saw the hope in her eyes and I sighed. She started carding my hair again and we became quiet. I was enjoying just being there with her, but I knew she had to leave at some point. I heard footsteps when Father appeared in the doorway and he placed his hands in front of him.
"Sorry. But I would like to speak with my son," Father said and Louisa got off the bed and she left the room. He watched her leave and I noticed the cold look in his eyes. I tried to figure out what was wrong while Father walking to the bed as I sighed and he looked at me.
"Did Lily talk with you?" I asked.
"Yes. I asked her what the presents were and she told me."
"Louisa and I think Tanya did the same thing with Lily's Christmas presents."
"Do you remember what they were?"
"Not off the top of my head. I do have a binder with everything I had bought Lily since she was a baby in my den though. It's on the third shelf of the bookcase next to my desk. I even have the receipts."
"I'll stop off at your flat on the way back to the hotel."
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I have been speaking with your doctors and they are impressed with your recovery."
"I'm not recovering. I'm healing."
He noticed the curt tone in my voice as he cleared his throat and he lowered his head.
"They are thinking of trying you with soft food," he said after a few seconds as he lifted his head to look at me.
"I'm graduating from baby food to pureed food?"
"I believe that's what they are talking about."
"Well… It's better than nothing."
"Your mother has also been looking into wheelchairs. It appears there are some which are quite interesting."
"It's a wheelchair."
"There are some which have keypads. All you have to do is tap your finger on the screen to move the chair, to raise the seat so you are eye level with tables and to…"
"Talk? I can talk just fine. Or are you planning for the time when I am unable to speak?"
He cleared his throat again.
"She is also looking into treatments," he said.
"I'm pretty sure there are no miracle cures for this," I said.
"But there are some physio treatments which can help keep your muscles from deteriorating and help strengthen your hands and fingers."
"Is she looking for someone who will train me in how to use my new adult pram?" I asked with an eyeroll.
"William…"
"That's what it is."
"Will you at least give it a chance?"
"I will think about it."
"Thank you."
"What else do you want to talk about?"
"Tanya and her husband have been arrested."
"Was there any trouble?"
"She was rather…vocal."
"I bet. What about Lily's siblings?"
"They are in Child Services custody. Also, their home has been seized and their accounts have been frozen. There will also be an investigation into their activities. I believe they will be…enlightening."
"Will you be honest with me? You said what's going on with her is your fault. Do you blame me as well?"
He stayed silent for a long time then he just sighed and lowered his head.
"Excuse me," the nurse said from the doorway and Father turned to look at her. "I am afraid visiting hours are over."
"Thank you," he said with a nod then he looked at me. He didn't speak. I watched him leave the room. The nurse came in to the room as she pushed the button to lower the head of the bed, examined me then she wrote the information in the medical file.
"I heard I graduated from baby food to pureed food," I said and she placed the medical chart in the holder at the foot of the bed.
"Yes," she said with a small nod.
"Do I get to pick what I want?"
"After we find out if you can handle pureed food, yes."
"Yay," I said, softy. I watched her leave the room then I tapped my finger on the control to turn on the television. The screen clicked on and someone being operated appeared on the screen. I tapped the button as I flipped through the channels then I settled on a movie I had seen before.
"Will," made me look at the doorway and Louisa and Lily walked in the room. I tapped the button to turn off the television and they headed for the bed. "We're here to say goodnight."
"Wish we could stay longer," Lily said.
"Why? Do you want to watch me eat?" I asked with a grumpy tone.
"Your father told me you were upgraded to pureed food," Louisa said while she pushed the button to raise the head of the bed to a comfortable position.
"It's just lumpy baby food."
"For now."
"Do you know they use a bib when they feed me?"
"Makes sense."
"I don't need a bib."
"Maybe they're just feeding you wrong," Lily said as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed. "I made a mess the first time I fed Stevie."
"So did I," Louisa said with a small grin.
"Hmph," I grumbled and the nurse walked in the room. She had a plastic tray in her hands and I could see the bowls and what looked like a plastic cup with a bended straw sticking out of lid. She placed the plastic tray on the small table near the bed and she looked at Louisa and Lily.
"I am sorry, but you have to leave," the nurse said.
"We would like to stay, if you don't mind," Louisa said.
"We need to learn how to feed him," Lily said.
"Alright. Why is he sitting up?" the nurse asked after she noticed Louisa had moved the head of the bed up.
"I wanted to sit up," I told her and she frowned. She placed the plastic bib down on my chest then she moved the small table closer to the bed and I glanced down at the plastic tray. In the bowls were three lumpy looking masses of what looked like food. There was a spoon sitting on a napkin and I looked at the thick, white liquid inside the plastic cup. She picked up the spoon then she placed the spoon in the lumpy mass in the first bowl, scooped some of the lumpy mass onto the spoon then lifted the spoon toward my mouth.
"Open up," she said with a voice that made me feel like a baby. I kept my lips shut and she waited for me to open my mouth.
"Let me try," Louisa said and the nurse handed her the spoon. Louisa looked at me, arched an eyebrow and I glanced at the spoon. "You going to open up or do I tell my mum?"
"You first," I said with a blank look on my face. I would have teased her, but not with the nurse being there. Louisa poked the spoon against my lips a few times and I finally opened my mouth. She slid the spoon into my mouth, placed the lumpy mass against my tongue then moved the spoon out of my mouth. I closed my mouth as I let the lumpy mass spread over my tongue and I do admit whatever it was didn't taste half bad. I chewed a few times then swallowed and they watched for a reaction.
"Is it staying down?" the nurse asked.
"Yes," I said and I moved my head to look at Louisa. "More, please."
She fed me the rest of the lumpy mass in the first bowl then we looked at the lumpy mass in the second bowl.
"That looks like mashed potatoes," Lily said and Louisa handed her the spoon. Lily scooped some of the lumpy mass onto the spoon then she moved the spoon toward my mouth. I opened my mouth as she slid the spoon into my mouth, placed the lumpy mass against my tongue then moved the spoon out of my mouth. I chewed then swallowed and licked my lips.
"You're right, Kiddo. It was mash," I told her and I glanced over at the plastic cup.
"Do you need a drink?" the nurse asked as she picked up the plastic cup.
"What is the white liquid?" I asked.
"This is a protein shake."
She held the plastic cup in her right hand as she helped me put the straw in my mouth and I took a few sips before she moved the straw away. I swirled the liquid with my tongue and I could just taste the vanilla extract. I swallowed then opened my mouth and she placed the straw back in my mouth. I took another drink then turned my head to look at Lily after the nurse removed the straw from my mouth. Lily helped me finish the rest of the lumpy mass then I looked at the orange lumpy mass in the last bowl.
"Why do I have a feeling that's carrots?" I grumbled and Lily handed the spoon to the nurse.
"It is," the nurse said.
"He doesn't like eating vegetable," Louisa said with a grin and I glared at her.
"Carrots are good for you," the nurse teased and I moved my eyes to look at her.
"Fine," I said with a sigh and I opened my mouth. She placed the spoon in my mouth after she scooped the orange lumpy mass onto the spoon and she placed the spoon in my mouth. She placed the orange lumpy mass against my tongue then moved the spoon out of my mouth. I felt the taste of the carrots on my tongue and the urge to spit it out moved through me. I slowly chewed then I swallowed and the after taste lingered on my tongue. "Yuck."
"Stop being such a baby," Louisa teased and she lightly ruffled my hair.
"Goo-goo," I teased back then I opened my mouth. The nurse helped me finish the orange lumpy mass and she wiped my lips. "Um… Mind if I tell you something?"
"What is it?" the nurse asked as she picked up the plastic glass with the protein shake inside.
"The way to get me to eat carrots is to mix a little honey in it."
"I will see if your doctors will allow you to have honey," she said with a nod and she helped me finish the protein shake. She wrote the information in the medical chart, placed the medical chart in the holder on the foot of the bed then she picked up the plastic tray. She left the room as I glanced at Lily and Louisa and they were smiling at me.
"See. That wasn't so bad," Louisa said and I barely nodded.
"I was in the mood for pizza," I grumbled.
"Can he eat pizza?" Lily asked.
"I think he can, but no spicey toppings," Louisa said.
"Nice," I sighed and rolled my eyes.
"Stop moping," Louisa teased and she slid her arms under my arms to move me closer. She held me against her as our heads touched and I felt better. She gently moved me back against the pillows then she lightly kissed my lips and our foreheads touched. "Night."
"Night," I said and she moved back. Lily moved close enough for her to hug me and our heads touched. "Night, Kiddo."
"Night, Daddy," Lily said and Louisa pushed the button to lower the top of the bed. I watched them leave the room when I tapped the button to turn the television back on then I tapped the button again after the surgery channel appeared on the screen.
I woke up the next day to the sight of a white ceiling and the sense that I was alone. I listened to the sounds in the hallway. I heard the soft squeaking sound of sneakers on the floor. The moans from the other rooms. The hushed voices. I wondered when someone would come to change my tubes. I felt angry, scared and in pain.
"Good morning," came from the doorway and I moved my eyes to see the nurse walk in the room. She headed for the bed then she started examining me. "Are you in a good mood or a bad mood?"
"Somewhere in the middle," I grumbled.
"Maybe some breakfast will cheer you up."
"Only if I can have scrambled eggs, some sausages, toast and a large cup of coffee."
She gave me a look of pity after she wrote the information in the medical chart then she went about giving me my morning medications, changing my tubes and cleaning me off. I watched her leave the room after she placed the medical chart in the holder at the foot of the bed and I tapped the button on the remote to turn on the television. I flipped through the channels when I found some cartoons and I sighed.
"Well. You're in a mood," caused me to look at the doorway and Maeve walked in the room.
"Hmph," I grumbled.
"It seems you can handle soft food."
"Lumpy baby food."
"For now."
"Would taste better with a little seasoning."
"Then you did like it."
"It was alright."
"Did you like the protein shakes?"
"Yes. Do they come in other flavors?"
"Yes."
"Do you have coffee flavored ones?"
"No. Sorry."
"Hmph."
"Mind if I ask how things are going with your daughter?"
"No. I don't mind."
"Am I right in thinking her mother's causing you grief."
"Very observant, Inspector," I teased and she smiled.
"And you want to deal with it, but you're stuck in that bed."
"Again. Very observant. I hate the idea of everyone taking care of something which is my responsibility."
"What would you do?"
"I would make sure she never harms Lily ever again. Get full custody. Have her go back to the school her mother took her out of. Make sure she's happy and feels like she matters."
"She doesn't feel that way?"
"She's just a cash cow to her mother. A pawn."
"And you don't feel the same?"
"What?! No! She's my little girl! I just… I just…"
"You feel helpless."
"Yes."
"Which is fine, but you need to understand there comes a time when you have to let people help you."
"I know that. I'm just…"
"You're one of those men who like to be in charge," she said with a nod.
"Is that so wrong?"
"No. But, right now, you have to sit back and do nothing. You never know. Things might turn out in your favor."
"Now you're a psychic?"
"Just optimistic."
She left the room while I thought about what she was saying and I looked at the ceiling. I heard someone walking closer and I glanced at the doorway.
"Morning," Georgina said while walking in the room and she headed for the bed. She looked down at me as I looked at the ceiling and she slid my left hand into her hands. "Will? Say something."
"Something," I said and she frowned.
"Father told me and Mommy what happened."
"That's nice."
"Come on, Will. I'm on your side, remember?"
"Hmph."
I knew she was trying to help, but I was sinking more and more into a dark mood. The nurse entered the room with the plastic tray with what was supposed to be my breakfast and she placed the plastic tray on the small table by the bed.
"What is that?" Georgina asked as she looked at the lump masses in the bowls on the plastic tray.
"Breakfast," I grumbled and the nurse placed the plastic bib on my chest after she pushed the button to raise the head of the bed into a comfortable position. She picked up the spoon then she placed the spoon in the lumpy mass in the first bowl. She moved the spoon toward my mouth and I opened my mouth. Georgina watched her feeding me and helping me drink the protein drink, but I really didn't notice what flavor it was.
"Mind if I try?" Georgina asked as the nurse scooped whatever the lumpy mass in the second bowl onto the spoon. The nurse handed her the spoon and I looked at Georgina. "Open up."
"No thanks," I grumbled.
"If he's not hungry…," the nurse said then paused after Georgina gave her a look that I have seen Mother use in court.
"Open up or I'll tell Louisa's mum," Georgina said with a glare and I smiled.
"Did Louisa tell you to say that?" I asked.
"Yes."
I opened my mouth and Georgina started feeding me. She helped me drink the protein shake then she wiped my lips with the napkin. I looked at the wall when I felt a little sharp pain and I frowned.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I… I think I just peed," I said and she softly laughed. The nurse moved the small table back and Georgina moved to the doorway. The nurse moved the privacy curtain around the bed and I looked at the ceiling while she changed my tubes and cleaned me off. She moved behind the privacy curtain as I watched her head for the bathroom, heard water running then watched her walking back to the bed. She moved the privacy curtain back and Georgina walked to the bed. "Sorry."
Georgina smiled then she helped me finish my breakfast. The nurse wrote the information in the medical chart then she placed the medical chart in the holder on the foot of the bed then the nurse left the room. Georgina sat on the chair next to the bed and I noticed the look in her eyes.
"Right. What's going on?" I asked and Georgina leaned back in the chair.
"I got a call last night. They need me to come back to work," Georgina said.
"Did you tell them no?"
"I did, but it appears things are falling apart."
"You mean Ronnie is falling apart."
"Yes," she said with a small nod.
"Do you want to leave?"
"No. You need me."
"So does he."
"But…"
"Go home."
"Will…."
"I don't want you to lose your job because of me."
"Isn't that for me to decide?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm staying. Ronnie will understand."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"And here I thought you didn't like me."
"We might not be close, but you are still my big brother. You mean more than some stupid job."
"Georgie? Be honest with me. How are things at work?"
Georgina stayed silent for a while as I watched her eyes moving while she had a silent conversation with herself then she sighed.
"You… Mother… Father… You're all right. Robbie only wants me for one thing. Sex. I'm working my ass off to prove I am more than a pretty face and he just… He just laughs when I suggest ways to improve the company. I took classes in computer engineering and business! I have a Master Degree! But that doesn't matter to him!" she said with venom in her voice then she made a staggered sigh. "Your accident isn't the reason I came home. I… I caught Ronnie having sex with his secretary in the boardroom."
"Did you confront him?"
"Yes. He just acted like it was no big deal."
"And now he needs you to come back."
We became quiet while I thought and Georgina slid my left hand into her hands. She wrapped our fingers together and I blinked my eyes a few times.
"Here's what you're going to do," I said and I moved my eyes to look at her. "You are going to hand in your notice then you're going to go see Grace Wellington."
"I'm not a fashion designer," she said.
"True. But she is a friend and she needs a new computer expert. The old one got a better offer. It wouldn't hurt to ask."
"Alright," she said with a nod when Louisa, Lily and Stevie walked in the room.
"Oh! Sorry! Louisa said and Georgina stood.
"No. It's fine. I was leaving," Georgina said then she walked out of the room. I glanced at Louisa and Louisa frowned.
"What's going on?" Louisa asked as she placed Stevie on my stomach. I explained and she frowned. "Do you think Grace will give her a job?"
"I hope so," I said and a nurse walked in the room. She had a plastic tray in her hands and she placed the plastic tray on the small table.
"Sorry. Doctor O'Shea told me to give you a shave," the nurse said.
"Mind if I shave him?" Louisa asked and the nurse gave her a shocked look.
"Do you know how?"
"Yes. She does," I said with a pleased look and Louisa lifted Stevie off of my stomach then handed him to Lily. I watched the nurse place the cloth om my chest then she started cutting my beard until it was short enough for Louisa to place the shaving cream on my face. I kept my head perfectly still while Louisa shaved me and I enjoyed her fingers on my skin. She finished shaving my face as the nurse used a soft cloth to wipe my face and I wiggled my jaw back and forth.
"Now there's a face I haven't see in a while," Louisa said, kissing my lips.
"Looking good, Daddy," Lily said, but Stevie looked at me with a puzzled look.
"It's me, Buddy," I said and Louisa took hold of him. She moved him closer so we were face-to-face then he giggled, lightly patting my face with his little hands. We all softly laughed and my dark mood vanished.
