His Proposal

His Proposal - 26

I wake up shivering in the middle of the night, and my nose runs. I climb out of bed and walk into the living room to grab a tissue and blow my nose.

Nate enters the room and looks at me. "You look like hell, sis. Can I get you anything?"

Shaking my head, I say, "It's 3 a.m., and I can't have you go anywhere to get me anything. Go back to bed. Check on me before you go to school in the morning."

Nate fills a glass with water and turns towards me. "You won't be able to see Aleysa with your cold," he says.

I start coughing and cover my mouth with my hand. "Damn it."

Nate walks back to his room and shuts the door.

I can't believe I just got sick. It's been a long time since I've been ill.

I searched the cupboard for cold and flu tablets. I found some at the back of the cupboard. I took two tablets and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge. I walked back to my room and climbed into bed.

I feel someone shaking me. "Chloe?" Nate says.

I look at my brother. "What do you want?"

He sighs. "I'm taking the day off to look after you. If I don't, you will dehydrate, and I'd have to take you to the hospital to get fluids. I don't want to do that." A knock at the door stops Nate from talking. He looks at me. "I will get it. You stay in bed." Nate walks out of the room.

I hear voices whispering. Then Nate says. "Come in. She's in her room."

My bedroom door opens, and Jai enters the room.

Jai moves over to me. "You look like hell."

"I feel like it." I sniffle. "Can you get me a tissue?" I rasp out and start to cough.

Jai looks at me. "I'm going to the pharmacy to buy some tablets for you." He turns to Nate. "You need to go to school. I will take care of your sister until you get home. Do you have a football practice after school?"

Nate nods. "Yeah, I will be home right after. Unless you want me to go to the hospital and see Aleysa?"

"I won't stop you if you want to see your sister. I'm going to call her soon and let her know that I won't be able to visit her for a few days as I have a cold." I look at Jai and Nate. You should leave. I want to sleep some more. Jai, the house keys are on the hook next to the door. Please, lock the door as you leave."

Jai and Nate walk out of my bedroom door.

Before Jai closes the door, he whispers. "I will be back soon. Get some rest. Don't forget to drink some water."

"Yes, Daddy," I mutter.

Reaching over to my nightstand, I grab the glass of water. I take a drink and place it back. I lie my head back on the pillow. I pull the blankets around me some more and close my eyes.

My iPhone vibrates on the nightstand, and I open my eyes. I move my hand across the table until I find it. I swipe my finger across the screen and answer it.

Me: Hello?

Aleysa: I thought you were coming to the hospital this morning.

Sitting up, I look at the clock. It says 10:30. I start coughing.

Me: I'm not feeling well, Aleysa. With your immune system low, I won't be able to see you. I'm sorry.

Aleysa: That's alright. I thought something like that might have happened. You were cold after you climbed into the car after getting wet yesterday.

Me: Do you want Nate to visit you?

Aleysa: No, I'm going to enjoy the peace. I have things I want to read, and now I won't be distracted from the reading my class is doing.

Me: Nerd.

Aleysa laughs.

Me: I'll see you in a couple of days.

Hanging up the phone, I climb out of bed and walk into the living room. I see Jai asleep on the lounge. I walk over to the fridge and get a bottle of water.

There's a bag on the table next to Jai. I open it up and pull out the cold and flu tablets. I take two.

Jai opens his eyes and looks at me. "I'm sorry I forgot to wake you."

Sitting on the armrest, I put my hand in his hair and drag my hand through his dark locks. "That's alright. It was about time I woke up. Aleysa called to ask if I would visit, and I told her I wasn't feeling well. So, she said that it's okay that I don't go there. She wants to catch up on some reading for class. She's dedicated to school even though she's sick." I look away from him. "I just wish that she didn't have to get sick again. It was bad enough losing Mom and Dad, but this is worse. I can't promise her that she will be here when it's time for Nate and me to start a family. She was robbed of having kids at a young age." I begin to cry.

Jai wraps his arms around me. He holds onto me while I cry. He rubs my back. "She can still have a family one day. It won't be the same as Nate and you, but she will have one."

Pulling away from him, I begin to cough. I look closer at his face and see bags under his eyes. "Haven't you been sleeping well?"

He shakes his head. "I haven't been sleeping properly for the last week."

I placed my hands on his face. "What's going on?"

He sighs. "Most nights, my brain won't shut off. I toss and turn for hours until I give up on sleep."

"That's not healthy for you, Jai. You need to get at least eight hours ' worth of sleep. Did you sleep alright on the lounge?"

He nods. "It was the best sleep I've had."

I'm glad he had a good sleep.

"Let's have brunch. I'm hungry."

He looks at me. "What do you want me to cook?"

"Whatever you can find in the cupboard and the fridge will be fine. I have to go shopping this afternoon."

Jai rises. "Write a list of things you need and I'll get them."

Shaking my head, I say. "No, I need some feminine products, and I don't want you to get them for me. You will probably choose the wrong kind. You can take me shopping, and if I feel faint, I'll let you carry me out of the store with the products I need."

Jai smiles. "Deal." He walks into the kitchen and goes through the cupboard, pulling out plain flour and a few other things.

He looks great in my kitchen.