Sea Glass: Marie and Lauryn

Chapter 3

"So, all of Lauryn's medications are on the counter in the kitchen. I'll give her the ones she takes for pain just before I go so you don't have to worry about it for awhile. She sleeps a lot of the time. Sometimes she wakes up for an hour or so, but her medication makes her pretty sleepy and she still doesn't have much energy. If she has an issue, call me. I can be here in 10 minutes."

"Marie, I won't call you unless it's absolutely necessary. Lauryn is going to be fine. Go and enjoy time with Pippa, okay?" Matthias said, laying a hand on her arm. 

"Thank you for doing this, I really appreciate it. I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone yet. And I didn't want to pull my father or sister away from Pippa's party. I didn't know who else to ask."

"It's no bother. Lauryn and I always have gotten along quite well. And I took care of my sick daughters many times. Plus, If I'm here, my wife can't ask me to run errands. And besides, I'm just happy to see you happy. You forget that I've known you since you were a teenager."

"Did it surprise you?"

"To hear that you prefer to be with women or that you are dating Lauryn?"

"Um, I suppose both."

"I wasn't surprised you preferred women. I remember your father confiding in me about it, but he was sure it was a phase and so I more or less brushed it off as the same. You were young and headstrong, so I just assumed it as such. So when this happened, I wasn't entirely shocked. But dating Lauryn? Yes, that was a surprise. You two definitely put on quite the show at the office. You even made her cry a couple times, if I remember. Though that was in the beginning. You can even intimidate me sometimes, Lady Avon."

She smiled. 

"Though, I must say, that girl has melted you a little."

"Just a little. I just will say that I hope no one tests that theory when I return to the office."

"Don't worry, your father has everyone in strict working order."

Just then, Lauryn appeared at the door of the bedroom and walked toward them in the kitchen, the duck Matthias had given her two weeks prior held in one hand.

"H-h-hi, M-m-matthias," she said softly, seeing him there.

"Hello, Lauryn," he said in his gentle German accented English, "How are you feeling today?"

"B-b-better. Th-thank y-y-you f-f-for h-h-him," she said, holding the duck stuffed animal in her arms up slightly, "H-h-h-he's s-s-so s-s-s-soft."

Matthias smiled and said with a wink, "Even I like something to cuddle with when I don't feel well."

Lauryn turned a little pink.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing out of bed?" Marie asked.

"I...um...w-w-w-woke up b-b-because m-my head hurt and I w-w-worried that I m-m-missed y-y-you b-b-before you left."

"I told you I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Matthias just got here to stay with you while I go to Pippa's birthday party."

"I d-d-don't n-n-need anyone to stay with m-me, M-marie," she said.

"You almost fell just yesterday evening from being dizzy. I'm not leaving you alone."

Lauryn frowned a little, but said nothing and crossed to the counter where her medications were sitting. Putting the duck on the counter, she pulled out one of the white tablets of the strong painkiller she had been prescribed before getting a bottle of water from the refrigerator and taking it.