Mouse

chapter twentyone

 

As soon as I left Ricardo's room, my bravado deserted me, and I was filled with anxiety and doubts about what I had just done and the repercussions it might cause.

After all, Ricardo had enough to cope with worrying about the results of the tests coming back, and I had just threw him in the deep end with Carla. Somehow I had the feeling he would not appreciate my actions, even if they were justified

I found myself wandering outside the hospital grounds, needing the fresh air, and pacing up and down trying to calm my nerves

I don't know how long I was there before I caught sight Carla coming out of the hospital, making me stop dead as I realised she had spotted me also, and had stopped in her tracks.

Was she going to come over and start on me, or maybe even to apologise?

For a moment I thought that was her intention, but then she just shot me a venomous look. and turned and walked towards the gate to leave.

I felt myself sag in relief, but I knew it was not all over yet, I still had to face Ricardo again, something which was unavoidable under the circumstances.

So I decided the best thing was just to get it over and done with as quick as possible, as I reluctantly returned to his room.

I entered warily, my heart thudding loudly in my chest, to find him lying back in the bed with his eyes closed, but they opened as soon as he heard the slight creak of the door as it closed behind me

Seeing me, he immediately frowned, "Where the hell did you go?" he demanded

"I just needed some fresh air," I replied my voice a lot steadier than I thought it would be

He just snorted in disbelief, "Yeah, sure you did, how convenient"

His eyes continued to survey me as I stood uncertainly, not sure what I should do or say now I was there with him

"Pleased with yourself are you?" he then demanded bitterly, "That was quite a little stunt you just pulled when Carla was here, and right now I don't know who to be more pissed with"

"Well I wouldn't have said anything it if my reputation hadn't been at stake," I replied a little defensively "She shouldn't have been spreading stories about me, saying that Paul was the father of my baby... or where you happy to have people start to believe that?"

"Of course not!" Ricardo snapped, "And for your information, I put her straight on that; so your precious reputation is safe.. happy now?"

"Well I am just glad it is sorted out," I said meekly, "I am sorry about the way I went about it.. But its just when I seen her sitting here with you, knowing what she was thinking and saying behind my back, then being nice to my face.. I just couldn't help myself," I admitted a little contritely

"Why didn't you tell me before today what was going on with Carla?" Ricardo demanded in irritation, before swearing, "I am stuck in these bloody hospital bed and no one tells me anything about what is going on!"

"Because you have enough to deal with," I hurriedly replied, "and quite frankly I wasn't sure how I was going to approach you about it.. then your mother told me to just ignore it, because no one would believe her anyway.. I was really trying to do that, and I thought I was handling it pretty well, up until today," I then frowned feeling annoyed with myself now

Then much to my surprise I heard Ricardo chuckle, " Y'know I should be mad as hell at you, but for some reason I can't be." he then said, "Lying in this hospital bed is so damned monotonous day after day, with nurses and doctors poking and prodding at me. So I suppose it livened up my afternoon; even if it was at my own expense..Actually it was worth it. just to hear you giving off to Carla like that. The look on her face, and yours too.. it was priceless," he was laughing now, but not the usual sneering laugh he reserved for me, but one that sounded as if he was genuinely amused