Page 20 of Words Unspoken

“Oh, there was a beautiful baby born yesterday. Had a full head of hair. We should go down to maternity and have a look at all the babies,” Kelly said her voice getting that gooey quality that many women get when they started talking about babies.

Ann wanted babies. He still didn’t understand what she had meant when she had asked if he could give them to her. Michael frowned, shoving the thought out of his head and kept walking. They ended up at the glass overlooking the babies and the two women cooed at the collection of wailing and sleeping children. As he looked in, he saw what he supposed were some nice looking ones and some downright ugly ones. Michael had no experience with babies other than when Noah and Max were children. He had been ten when Noah was born, twelve when Max was born. Mostly the nanny had cared for them. Michael done things with them, like telling them stories, camping on the beach, teaching them to swim, taking them out in the old row boat. He had tried to teach them to sail but Noah got seasick and Max was far too daring. MIchael worried Max was going to kill himself and sink the boat before he finally mastered the skill. Sailing had been abandoned.

Someday, he might try to teach the twins to sail, mused Michael.

Kelly tugged on him, and they trudged down the hall. Michael learned where the gift shop was. He was paraded through all sorts of halls, stopping at all sorts of nurse is stations, getting introduced around as the girls caught up on any rumors. Michael started to get the feeling that this was more about them playing hooky rather than his wellbeing. Finally, he began to recognize that they were headed back to the hall that led to his room. He was starting to get tired, but he still refused to lean on the walker. It was a point of pride.

Then Michael saw Max in the hall ahead. Fortunately, he was headed toward the room, which meant that they were following him. It was unlikely that he would spot Michael which suited Michael just fine. It was bad enough that he had this, how had Elle put it, ‘diaper’ on his head, he really did not need Max to see him with a walker. There was only so much humiliation a man could take in one day. Especially since he had puked in front of Ann. He pushed the memory away.

“Hey, there is Mr. Ramesly’s brother Max,” Kelly exclaimed. She raised a hand to get Max is attention. “Hi Max!”

Since when was Max allowed to be called Max and he was still called Mr. Ramesly rather than Michael? Michael scowled at Kelly.

“He is a hottie,” the physical therapist said to Kelly, looking Max up and down.

“I know, right?” Kelly said right back. She bounced on her feet and smiled. “He is coming over. You are so lucky you have got such a great family, Mr. Ramesly.”

Lucky, right. He sighed and watched Max approach. Max was grinning and gestured to the walker. “Taking the new wheels out for a spin?”

Michael ignored the remark, but the physical therapist tittered like it was the most amusing thing she had ever heard.

“Don’t worry about cranky pants, he is just in a mood,” Kelly said.

Michael stared at her in shocked surprise.

“Cranky pants!” Max howled with laughter. He laughed long and hard, leaning against the wall. “I am so going to use that.”

He was done. He didn’t need the walker. He didn’t need these two nurses following him around. MIchael disentangled the belt from his person and handed it to the physical therapist. He left the walker and trailed one hand on the railing as he went back to his room. He might not be able to read the room numbers however he knew it was the third one on the right from the nurse is station. He had no idea what he was going to do when he got to the room but that was where he was going.

“Mr. Ramesly, you cannot just walk away,” Kelly said as she chased him with the walker.

“I think you hurt his feelings,” Max was still chuckling while he wiped his eyes. “Come back, cranky pants.”

Michael walked straight and with pride. He had been the head of a multi billion dollar company. Cranky pants!

“I am sorry. I apologize. I was entirely unprofessional saying that. It slipped out. I sometimes call my son that when he is having a bad day.”

He ignored her and counted doors in his head.

“Please don’t let my boss know. I need this job. I love my job and normally I am very good at it,” Kelly had to lengthen her stride to keep up. “I have a son which I need to provide for. I know that is low, to bring him into this but I really need this job.”

Michael stopped at his doorway. He sighed. He was sighing a lot these days. He looked down at Kelly.

“I am so sorry,” she repeated the apology. “It will never happen again.”

He nodded. It was not like he could complain to anyone anyways. Perhaps he had been a little moody today. Then again, it had not been the best morning.

“Thank you! I promise, you are released from the belt and walker,” she said excitedly and hurried the offending piece of equipment back to the physical therapist.

“Feeling a little better after that temper tantrum?” Max asked, amused.

Michael gave him a look, his expression telling Max not to start anything. He turned and went into the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“You are looking a lot better than yesterday,” Max remarked, still smiling. He took the chair and put his feet up on the bed beside Michael. He looked entirely relaxed. Michael looked at the feet pointedly, but Max didn’t move them.

“I talked to the nurses at the station. They say you have an appointment with a speech therapist today. Plus, more head scans,” Max folded his hands on his stomach, slouching comfortably. “I heard you refused the pain pills this morning.”

His pain had been at a two out of ten. It was manageable. He did not feel the need to swallow pills for it. As for speech therapy, Michael didn’t even want to think about that waste of time.