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“Yeah, that’s it,” Jules says with a wink. “The medicine.”* * *“I can’t stay awake.”
Kane motions for Murphy to join me on the bed. He’s been more flexible on Murphy being on the bed since I’ve been around. I think it’s sweet.
“You need to sleep,” Kane whispers in my ear. He kisses my cheek and fusses with the bedding. The drive to his house was bumpier than either of us was comfortable with, but now that I’m tucked into bed with Murphy on one side and Kane on the other, I’m starting to feel better already.
I’m just so damn tired.
“I guess I could use a nap.”
“You can’t keep your eyes open, and that’s the truth of it,” he says. “Would you like for me to turn on a movie for you?”
“Sure.”
Murphy can watch it. Because I’m pretty sure I’m about to be comatose.
“What would you like to watch?”
“While You Were Sleeping.”
It seems appropriate. I love that film. Kane silently pushes buttons on the remote, and before I know it, I can hear the opening music for the movie.
“I’ll be right downstairs, darling.” Kane kisses my forehead. “If you need me, just call out or text, okay?”
“Mm.”
He leaves the room, and I open one eye so I can look over at Murphy, who’s laid his chin on my good arm, watching me closely.
“I always wanted a dog to watch over me.” My words are slurred from exhaustion and medication. “I’m glad it’s you. You’re the best dog ever.”
Murphy yawns, and just as the man in the movie falls from the platform to the tracks below, I feel myself slip into sleep.
“I don’t want to.”
“Why? Don’t be silly. Just get in the boat.”
I shake my head, looking at the choppy water around us. I don’t even know who the person is that I’m with, but I do know that if I get in that boat, I’ll be super seasick. I don’t want to be miserable.
I don’t want to throw up.
“I’m not going.”
“Get in the fucking boat.”
“No.”
“I’ll put you there myself.”
I’m lifted into the air, and it’s all in slow-motion. There’s so much water under us, slapping against the side of the tiny boat. It scares me. I want to go home.
“Let me out.”
“Shh.”
I open my eyes and find both Kane and Murphy staring down at me.
“You were dreaming,” Kane says.
“Yeah, it was a shitty dream.”
I scowl as I try to sit up, and my shoulder sings in pain.
“Easy, darling,” Kane says, helping me up and fluffing pillows behind my back. Once he gets me situated, I notice a tray sitting on the end of the bed, and realize my stomach is trying to eat itself.
“Is that for me?” I ask.
“I thought we’d eat in bed tonight,” he says with a smile and motions for Murphy to get off the bed, which he does. But he doesn’t go far, likely hoping for a handout or two.
“What did you bring me?”
“My mum made some stew, which is full of vegetables but should be easy on your stomach. She made homemade bread, as well.”
“Did she do this for me?”
“No. She made it for the pub. But Maggie dropped it by just a bit ago, so it’s still hot.”
“That was nice of her.” I take a deep breath and watch as Kane expertly sets up a little picnic on his bed. My bowl of stew has a towel wrapped around it, and I discover it’s so I can hold it, but then we remember that I can’t feed myself, at least not without a table. “I’m an invalid.”
“Not for long,” he assures me and holds a spoonful of stew up to my lips. “Here you go.”
He watches me with those bright green eyes shining in the low light of the bedroom. It’s dark now, and I can’t help but wonder how long I slept.
“What time is it?”
“About eight,” he says.
“I slept for a long time.”
“And it’s good that you did,” he murmurs as he ladles another bite into my mouth. I grab the buttered bread with my free hand and take bites of that myself.
“This bread is amazing. Your mom’s a good cook.”
“She’s the best,” he says with a wink.
“I’ve always heard that Irish food is bland. But this stew is delicious.”
“It’s true enough that it can be bland,” Kane says. “But Mum learned a lot once she and Da moved us here to the States. She wanted to serve delicious food in her pub.”
“And I’d say she accomplished that.”
“Aye, she did.”
“How long will they stay?” I pass a bite of bread down to a grateful Murphy.
“They were supposed to leave tomorrow, but with you hurting yourself, they decided to extend their stay by a few more days.”
I stop chewing and stare at him, sure I’ve misheard him.
“Why on Earth would they stay for me?”
“Because they’re worried about you, of course.”
