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Chapter Seven
Cosima
There was a rap of knuckles on her door and Cosima looked up from one of the books Doctor Eric had brought her:The Phoenician Portal.
It turned out there were were ten books in the series now, not just three, which was humiliating and terrifying but also exciting. She loved those books and now she had even more of them to read—Doctor Eric had brought her all the ones she’d missed in a sturdy robin’s egg blue canvas tote bag he said she could keep along with the books. The world had moved on in so many ways without her.
Doctor Eric poked his head in and smiled at her—a big toothy smile.
He’d been by yesterday to talk to her again and she liked him. He was handsome and kind and she was glad Nora had introduced them.
In some ways he made her more nervous than the other people because he seemed to be able to see into her in a way the others couldn’t, but that also made her feel more comfortable with him. Plus, he’d given her books. Which, if you only had a few things in the world, books weren’t a bad choice.
“Guess who’s here to see you?”
If she couldn’t hear the soft beep of the heart monitor, she would’ve sworn her heart stopped. For a second she thought he was going to step aside and Master would be there.
What would she do then? Would she scream and fight tooth and nail to not go back with him? Or would she weep with relief and cling to his familiar frame, knowing he would hurt her again. She hated herself for not being sure.
But instead of Master, Hudson followed Doctor Eric in and she’d never felt such relief in her whole life.
“You came!”
Tears started to well in her eyes at the sight of him, a near stranger. But Hudson had been nothing but kind to her each time she’d seen him. He’d talked to her like she was a human, he’d kept her warm and safe and didn’t get mad that she stained his bed linens with filth and blood, he’d held her in his arms. And now he was here, because he wanted to see her.
His smile looked strained and she hoped it wasn’t because he regretted coming.
“Can I?” he asked Doctor Eric, and the doctor nodded, replying, “Just be careful.”
Hudson was at the side of her bed in two huge strides and then he was sitting next to her on the mattress. He took up a lot of room but he was careful not to jostle her.
“Of course I came to see my Cosy. I would’ve come sooner but—”
He looked over his shoulder at Doctor Eric who raised a brow.
“But the doctors wanted to make sure you were up to having visitors. Is it okay for me to give you a hug if I’m careful?”
“Please.”
Cosima wanted to be hugged more than anything. Not that the staff here hadn’t been kind but it wasn’t their job to be affectionate and she’d been dreaming about being cuddled again. Ached for it.
Hudson scooted closer then gingerly wrapped his arms around her, careful of all the tubes and wires, and then he was holding her, surrounding her like he’d never let go, like he wouldn’t let anyone else in ever. It was so wonderful she burst into tears.
“Oh, Cosy. Sweet girl.”
She wanted him to settle her in his lap. Wanted him to pick her up and carry her away from here. Wanted to live inside his embrace forever.
“I missed you, so much,” she said, meaning it even though it was ridiculous. She barely knew him. But everything about him was comfortable. His massive body, his warm brown eyes, his comforting slightly spicy smell—like cinnamon and sandalwood.
“I missed you too, teapot. I’m so glad I could finally come see you.”
Hudson let her cry on him. Somehow she knew he wouldn’t be mad if she got his shirt yucky with her tears or her snot. He didn’t even seem to be in a hurry to get her to stop crying.
When she managed to get herself under control she sniffed and pulled back and he let her go, tissue box at the ready. Doctor Eric was still standing by the door but she only glanced at him before turning back to Hudson.
“Sorry I cried.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Takes way more than tears to scare me. Do you want your present now?”
