AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He presses a hand to my forehead and says into the phone, “No, I don’t think so.”
“I’m all right,” I say. “I don’t think my ribs are broken.”
He ignores me. “You sure? I can bring her in if I have to. No, right. Okay. Five’s fine. What can I do in the meantime? Yes, I have plenty of those. Right. The bruise is coming out. Yeah. Will do. All right, see you after five. Thanks, Josh. Bye.” He hangs up. Then he walks over to me.
“A doctor will be calling in later to check up on you. He’s a friend of mine. He said you might have just bruised your ribs rather than broken them, but you need to tell me if the pain gets worse or you have trouble breathing, and I’ll take you straight to the hospital.”
“I’m okay—”
“I mean it, Aroha,” he barks. “I want you to tell me if you start to feel worse.”
“Okay,” I say meekly.
“For now, I think a lukewarm bath is in order to make sure the wound is clean, and then we have to put ice packs on it. I’ll go run the bath and get you some painkillers. You’re not allergic to anything?”
I shake my head.
“Stay there,” he says. “You need to rest.” He stalks off in the direction of the bathroom.
I sit back, puzzled as to why he seems angry with me. I feel a bit shaky and tearful. I curl up in the armchair, wincing at the stab in my ribs, and hug a cushion to my chest. Suddenly, I miss Leia, and I feel a surge of panic at the memory of Blue tugging the handle of her carry seat, and my fear that he’d win the tug of war and run off with her.
I get up and go through to the bedroom, only feeling better once I see her in her bassinet, sound asleep. Leaning on the side, I swallow hard. I don’t know why I’m so upset. I’m not her mummy. One day in the not-so-distant future I’m going to have to tell my own mother that I’m getting a divorce and she won’t be having grandchildren after all. She’ll be so upset—she’s already knitting Leia a blanket for the winter, and talking about how wonderful it will be when she’s old enough to be taken to the playground. And what about my father? Will James continue to employ him after we’ve split up? Tears well in my eyes.
“What are you doing?” James has appeared at the door, and he looks cross. He comes over and takes my arm, turns me, and propels me back into the corridor.
“I missed her,” I say, knowing I sound pathetic.
“She’s asleep. She’ll be fine.” He marches me through the living room and then into the east wing, toward the big bathroom. Walking so fast hurts my ribs, but I’m not about to tell him because I think he’ll bundle me in the car and spirit me off to the hospital.
When we get to the bathroom, he makes me sit on the toilet seat, then proceeds to get a big fluffy towel and a robe. He tests the water. “Best to have no bubbles,” he says, “it might sting.” He adds some cold, waits until it’s a third full, then tests it again. “Right.” He goes to the cabinet, retrieves a bottle of Nurofen, takes out two, and gives them to me with a cup of water. “Take these now. When you get out, we’ll put an ice pack on. Now, in you get.”
I swallow the pills with a mouthful of water, then get to my feet, my shoulders hunched and my arms wrapped around me. I glare at him, irritated by his bossiness. “I’m not stripping off while you’re standing there.”
“And I’m not leaving—you might fall over.”
I don’t move. He crosses his arms and glares back.
Why is he so angry with me? I feel cold and anxious, and I know I’m trembling. I can’t just strip off in front of him. He reaches out a hand, I’m not sure why, but instinctively I take a step back. He lowers his hand, looking puzzled. Does he really have no idea why I’m nervous of men right now?
“Just go,” I say tiredly. “I’ll be careful.”
He hesitates, and I think he’s about to speak, but then he backs away and leaves the room, although he leaves the door open a crack.
Feeling sorry for myself, I peel off my clothes and look in the mirror. Ooh, it’s a good job I waited until he’d gone. My whole side is going to be black and blue.
Gingerly, I lower myself into the bath. It’s not too hot, and although my side stings a bit, I welcome the warmth on my skin. I take a sponge and clean it carefully, then take off the dressing on my knee and clean that too. I make sure my elbow stays out of the water, not wanting to get it wet.
When I’m done, I lean forward with my elbows around my knees and rest my cheek on them. My eyes sting. I hope Blue is enjoying his stay in a prison cell, I think spitefully. I hope he’s damaged his chances of ever getting Leia. How long will it be before James knows if the court has granted him a Parenting Order?
I lift my head as I hear a knock at the front door. The doctor? I didn’t think he was coming until five. The police, then? Why would they come here?
“Beware Greeks bearing gifts,” I hear James say.
“I haven’t been near the Mediterranean.” It’s Alex. “I thought you might need some whisky. And your phone. You left it on the boardroom table. How are you doing?”
I hear a dog bark, and a boy’s voice telling it to be quiet. Presumably Missie, her son, Finn, and Zelda are there too.
I’m too tired and upset to make polite conversation. Hopefully they won’t stay long. I rest my cheek on my knees and close my eyes, shutting out their voices, but tears filter through the lashes and run down my face.
