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“Drake, your sobriety is much too new to know that yet. In fact, they encourage you not to get involved with anyone during your entire first year.”
Drake was silent as anger flew behind his eyes.
“Oh honey, I think we’re past ‘involved’, don’t you?” he snapped.
I sighed. “That’s not what I mean. Yes, we are having a baby, but that doesn’t mean we are automatically together. And it doesn’t mean you need to take care of me like I’m an invalid. Let me do my part, and you do yours. Stay sober, do your meetings, do your counseling, do your tour if you feel up to it.”
“It sounds like you have more experience with this than just what you learned in school,” Drake said.
I carefully avoided his comment. “The point is, I don’t think you’re ready to do this. And I’m not staying here, so take me home,” I said.
“If you really want to go home, then that’s fine. But I’m packing a bag and coming with you.”
“No, you’re not. You can’t trap me here and you can’t trap me in my own home.”
“I’m not trapping you, Delia. But you’re pregnant and you’re weak. You just got out of the hospital and the only way the doctor let you leave was because she thought she was releasing you to someone. I’m not leaving you alone, even if it pisses you off.”
I closed my eyes as my body grew weak at his words. There was anger in his voice, but genuine concern in the things he was saying. He had points I couldn’t battle, even though I wanted to. I could still feel the aching in my hips and the pain that robbed me of my breath. My eyes were drooping, my body exhausted from the day’s activities.
“We can talk more tomorrow,” Drake said, as he led me to a bedroom with a large four poster bed. I was simply too exhausted in that moment to fight about it anymore.
I slipped in and out of sleep, waking up long enough to catch a few voices murmuring outside my door.
“Her car’s at work. Anything else?”
“Gotta run into town for some more feed. She need anything?”
“Can I watch the videos again? Of her graduating?”
I slept harder than I ever had in my life. As the bright sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the dust floating around in the air, I stretched my arms and sighed. My back popped, aligning itself after a twisted night of sleep. I had contorted myself into positions that had my arms and legs aching.
But when I rolled over, I was met with a pair of wide eyes and a crooked smile.
I jumped back in surprise as I screamed.
Elsie began screaming as well as my eyes raked over her body. She was terrified, her body rocking and her fingers fidgeting. I stopped my screaming and reached out for her, trying to comfort her and apologize for starling her.
But Tammy and Drake busted through my bedroom door before I could.
Tammy quickly went to Elsie who pressed deeply into her caretaker. Drake sat on the bed next to me, smoothing my hair back as I tried to get my bearings. Elsie was crying, and I felt terrible. Tears were streaming down my own face as Tammy tried to get the poor girl to redirect her focus.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scream,” I said.
“Are you all right?” Drake asked. “What happened? Are you having pain?”
“It’s okay. No. I just rolled over and Elsie was there, and it startled me. Tammy, please tell her I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. She knows. You scared her, too, but we’ve talked about this,” Tammy said. “She was very excited to see you again.”
“Elsie?” I asked.
The woman who seemed so small in the protection of her caretaker looked over at me as she sniffled.
“I’m excited to see you, too,” I said, with a smile.
I watched as Tammy calmed her down as Drake rubbed my back.
“You hungry?” he asked. “Ya slept through dinner last night.”
