Forever Changed

Chapter 28: Pleas and Plans

Angelique POV

(1 Year Married)

T/W Suicidal thoughts, mention of eating disorder

"I need you to try and eat something for me Angel. The doctor said if you don't gain some weight soon you'll be put on a feeding tube."

Poor Antony was stuck looking after me again. I'm not sure what he'd done to draw the short straw so often but he seemed to always be around. 

"I'm just not hungry. Leave the shake and I'll try and drink some later."

His face set in a hard line and I knew today was going to be different to the gentle way he usually handled me. 

"No Angel. I will not leave it here. You will drink this shake or I'm taking you to the hospital myself."

The set of his face, the way his arms were folded I could tell he meant what he said. 

"If I drink half the shake will you leave me to rest. I'm so tired Antony, I just need a small nap and then I'd like to visit your mama's grave if you have time to take me."

The hard set of his face immediately fell at the mention of his mother. Everyone was still deep in their grief for the person who held the Dicembre family together. The shining light that was now gone. 

"If you drink the whole shake I'll go and run some errands and when I return we can go and visit mama together. Mia might like to join us. I know she's due home around three today."

He took my hand in his and I observed the physical differences between us. My arm was so thin and pale you could see my veins, whereas his arm was strong with obvious muscles, dark hairs scattered on his forearm, visible tattoos running down his wrist to a large hand that fully encompassed mine. His mother's birth flower now holding pride of place on the top of that hand. All the brothers had a lily of the valley tattoo and their mother's birth date in roman numerals on their right hand. 

I felt my eyes burn when I thought of him losing his mother at such a young age. If I'd never told her about the pregnancy she'd still be with us. It had taught me to keep my thoughts to myself. Nobody could get hurt if I didn't share. And I couldn't get hurt if I didn't let anyone in. 

"That would be nice. Thank you Antony."

"You don't need to thank me Angel, you're family and I take care of my family. We should stop and buy mama some orchids on the way."

I felt my lip tremble, the need to cry right there below the surface, but knew it wasn't fair that I was the one shedding tears when he was the one who lost his parent so I gave myself a mental slap and replied. 

"That sounds perfect. She did love her orchids. Hand me the shake you big bully and I'll do my best. I can't promise I'll drink it all. It's enormous!"

He chuckled at my reaction to the new tumbler he'd brought into my room. Mia had obviously had a hand in it because it was fluro pink with the word Guzzle on the side in gold. I couldn't see Antony buying such a cup. 

"Mia found the cup online. She got herself one too. She has her protein shake in it. All part of her fitness kick she's been on. Do you think I should get one too?"

I knew he was teasing me to try and get me to smile so I gave him one. The relief on his face was obvious. 

"Drink up. It's strawberry and banana. I know that's your favourite combination. 

Taking a small sip I let the flavour settle in my mouth. He was right, it did taste good.

"It's delicious Antony. Why don't you head off on your errands and I'll..."