Overjoyed

Chapter 32 - Wrap me around your fingers

Dan and I were in my old bedroom. Thank God my aunt and uncle wrapped their heads around us sharing, because it would have been rather odd, sneaking around at night like teenagers. Although doctors could do nothing more for Kate, she was still being kept at the hospital for them to ease her pain a bit before she could come ‘home’.  I was secretly so thankful because I wasn’t ready for another meeting with her so soon. I was curled up on the bed; beat from the jet lag and lack of sleep of the night before. Dan was taking a shower, being at my family home I didn’t think it appropriate to take one together.

Finally, Dan joined me in bed, sliding in under the covers, his skin warm from his shower. “I’m wrecked” Dan said, and yawned right on key. “So am I” I whispered as I turned around to bury my head in his chest, “and thanks for helping me out at dinner, I just couldn’t face telling them I got fired” I added. “I know. You have a great family, love” he said, slipping an arm around me and kissing my forehead. “I have a great boyfriend” I said, smirking at my cute remark. “Fuck, you are beautiful” he breathed as I looked up at him. “Fancy christening my childhood bedroom?” I asked darkly and he grinned, pulling me on top of him. “I love you, Lize. I do” he whispered. He’d said it, not in a drunken slur or emptily when caught up in the throes of passion as Jason often used to – but coherently and sincerely as the man I’d bared my soul to. “I love you too” I said, meaning it with my entire being, beaming at him, as my fingers made their way down the little trail of hair at the base of his tummy.

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It was Saturday morning and the hospital had contacted us to let us know we could come get Kate and bring her home. It was only a matter of time; we just had to wait it out. The doctors had given her three more days at most. On the way to the hospital, I was absolutely terrified of taking Dan to meet her, and I didn’t even know why.

When we got there I realised I shouldn’t have been though, because as with everything else, my Daniel handled it so gallantly. She seemed very taken with her daughter’s handsome British boyfriend, smiling and talking as best she could in her feeble state. He was the one helping her into her wheelchair and wheeling her out to Uncle Damon’s car. “You look just like her, baby” he whispered to me when we got her home and into bed. ‘I know.” I said sadly, looking at my mother wasting away before my eyes. “Would you like to sit with her awhile?” Dan offered politely, “Vanno’s offered to show me some of the series he has.” I nodded and he kissed my cheek and left, leaving me alone with a sleeping Kate.