Love Me Enough To Hurt Me

Chapter 19: Finding Her Tribe

... When were you going to tell us you're pregnant? Jamila says. Nailani has no words. She wanted to get things settled before explaining to anyone that, yes, she is getting a divorce and that she is pregnant. This scare has exposed her, making her have conversations she hasn't been ready to have yet. She is thankful that they are all there, though.

The Doctors wanted to keep Nailani overnight for observation. She emailed Dr. Robins to let her know they would have to cancel the Zoom session. Which might be for the best, because it will give her some time to get her thoughts together with everything that has happened lately. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Xavier come in. He held a bag in his hand; when she looked up at him, he extended his hand to give her the bag. Nailani gives him a quizzingly look.

  "Chicken dumplings" These are still your favorite, right?" Xavier asks, still holding out the bag.

He would have brought her the Shrimp yakisoba but didn't know if she should be eating seafood. Nailani couldn't believe her brother actually remembered that. Whenever she felt down, or the competition didn't go the way she wanted, her grandfather would take her to get dumplings from their favorite Asian fusion place.

"You remembered?" she says softly, more to herself than to him, because she is surprised not only by his memory but also by his taking the time to go and pick it up for her.

"Yeah," he says as he watches her open the bag and take the container out. "Thank you, you didn't have to do this," Nailani says.  "Well, I felt like you needed some comfort food after everything you've been through these past couple of weeks," Xavier says

"Thanks," she says again, 'Nai, don't thank me, and eat your food before it gets cold," Xavier says, sitting in the chair on the side of the bed. "Why do you keep coming back here? You spent the night you could have gone home," Nailani says before taking a bite of the dumpling, savoring the taste of a food that brought comfort and treasured memories.

"Because you're my sister, because I'm going to be a better brother than I was growing up if you'll let me," Xavier says

"Xav," Nalani starts. She didn't want to get her own hopes up or his because she wasn't sure she could have that brother-and-sister relationship he wanted. "I get you are trying, but I can't say we'll have a sibling relationship the way you want," Nailani says

"That's fine, Nai. I won't push you, but I am here for you", Xavier replies. Nailani nods her head but doesn't say anything as she continues to eat, savoring the food, as she hasn't eaten anything since the brunch the previous day. A silence falls between the siblings as Xavier checks his watch. "Xav, if you have to go, you should go. I'll be fine", Nailani says. Before Xavier can reply, Janaya walks in. Nailani rolls her eyes as she realizes what's going on. They were taking shifts staying in the hospital with her.

"Guys, I don't need you guys babysitting me. I'm fine." She tells them. "And we want to make sure that you stay that way, so you're getting babysitters," Xavier tells her in a way that leaves little room for an argument. She sighs. "Don't think of it as babysitting; think of it as us making up for lost time." He says, standing and kissing her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow, sis. Call me if you need anything. I don't care what it is or what time." He says before leaving.

After Xavier leaves, Janaya tries to get comfortable in the seat next to the bed, and Nailani finishes her food. "How are you feeling?" Janaya asks

"I'm doing good considering," Nailnini answers honestly

"That's good; I wanted to be here when you woke up last night but had class," Janaya says softly. She liked Nailani; she didn't know a lot about her or the situation with Xavier, but she knew that her brother-in-law and his sister weren't close; she seemed like a really nice woman who had a lot of hurtful things done to her.