A Twist Of Fate

Chapter 17

The next morning I wake up early and I'm still in Regina's arms. It's a beautiful feeling. I don't want to wake her but I have to use the bathroom. I slowly turn over because everything I do is slow these days. I sit up and feel ok so I try to get out of bed. I groan quietly as I try to stand up as straight as I can. "Emma what are you doing?" Regina's raspy morning voice asks me. "Sorry I woke you up. I just have to use the bathroom. I'll be right back".  She starts to get out of bed. "I'm ok Gina. Stay in bed. I just have to pee and I'll be right back".  "Are you sure dear?"   "Yes. Thank you".  "Ok but when you come back I want to look at your stitches".  "Yes ma'am".  I get back and slowly get back in bed. "You ok?"  "Ya. Just really tired today".  "Well you can sleep all day if you like". I nod. "Can I look at you stitches Emma?"  I nod again and she lifts my shirt a little. "Well there is no blood. So that's really good. Dr. Whale will be here this afternoon to check on you".  I just nod as my eyes start to close and I fall back to sleep. A little while later Regina gently wakes me. "Emma Dr. Whale is here".  I start to get up. "No it's ok you can stay laying down".  He says to me. I nod and he lifts my shirt a bit to check on my stitches. He touches the area around it and asks me how it feels. "It's a little tender but not as bad as last night".  "I'm glad to hear that. There's no redness around the wound and that's very good. That means there is no infection". He puts my shirt back down and takes off his gloves. "Everything seems to fine now Emma, but you really need to take it easy or we could have another incident like last night".  "I understand. It was just out of habit that I got up to get my daughter. I wasn't even thinking about my injury".  "Well try to keep it fresh in your mind ok, and if you ladies don't need anything else I'll just take my leave now".  I look at Regina and she speaks up.  "I think we are ok here Dr. Whale. Thank you for stopping by. I'll walk you out". I thank him and say goodbye.  Regina came back a few minutes later and sat next to me on the bed. "So how do you really feel Emma?"  "I wasn't lying. It's a little tender but nothing at all like what I felt last night".  She smiles. "Ok good. It's almost lunchtime are you hungry".  "No. Not really. I'm just still tired".  "Ok well it's time for you to take some more medicine". She gets up and goes into the bathroom. When she comes back she hands me a pill and a bottle of water.  I take it and she puts the water down on the nightstand. "I'm going to go back downstairs to be with Angie. Get some rest and call me if you need me ok?"   I nod. She kisses me and leaves the room.  This same routine went on for about a week. After that I couldn't stand being in bed all the time. I was feeling better and moving around a lot easier. On this particular morning when I woke up I look over to the other side of the bed and Regina wasn't there. Last week when I begged her to stay with me she's been staying in my bed every night since. Absolutely nothing happened between us. Not only was I not ready because of my injury but I don't think that we are ready for that. All of this is so new to us. It's been great getting to know each other again after losing all those years. This past week we've laughed together and cried together but at then end of the day when we get in bed it's just a simple goodnight kiss. Heck. We haven't even "made out" yet. So I get out of bed and take a shower. When I'm done I dry off and get dressed into real clothes, not just shorts or sweatpants but a real pair of jeans and even a button down shirt. I also put on and a pair of sneakers and was able to tie them myself. When I went downstairs I found Regina and Angie in the kitchen. Regina was cleaning up. I stayed by the door and watched. The music was playing and Angie was sitting in her highchair playing with a toy enjoying the beat of the song and Regina was, well I really don't know what she was doing but she was looking good while doing it. As soon as she noticed me she immediately stopped and her face turned all red. "Oh don't stop because of me. I was enjoying the show". She laughed and threw a dish rag at me. I laughed as I picked it up off the floor. I walked over and set it on the island and gave her a kiss. We smiled at each other and then I went to give my daughter a kiss. "So Emma why are you dressed. Do you have a doctors appointment that I forgot about?"  "No. I'm just sick of being in this house. I was hoping we could go out for a while".  "Well that's great. If you are interested tonight is the start of the Halloween festival. We could go out to have something to eat then go over for the opening festivities. There are fireworks again". I laugh. "If we get fried dough and a good parking spot again I'm totally in".  "Yes Emma we get all of that".  "Then let's go".  She laughs at me. "Ok dear. Just give me a few minutes to get everything ready and then we can leave". She takes Angie upstairs with her and about 10 minutes later they both come back all changed and ready to go. I carry the diaper bag while she carried the baby. We take Regina's car because she won't let me drive yet. We go over to a new Mexican restaurant on the other side of town. It was actually really good. Regina and I both ate off each other's plates. It was to good not to share. They had apple sauce on the children's menu so I got that for Angelica. After we ate and paid the tab it was time to head over to the fairgrounds to kick off the Halloween festival. Tomorrow night is Saturday and that's when they are having the big costume night so tomorrow afternoon we will be taking Angie shopping for something to wear. We walked around for a while and took Angie on a few rides. I yawned a few times and of course Regina noticed. "Maybe it's time we head home. It's getting late and it's past Angie's bedtime".  I look at the time. "Regina it's only 9 o'clock".  I whine out. "Yes I know. I also know that you are tired as well. No need to over do it Ms. Swan. We'll be back tomorrow night".   "Fiiiinnnne. Can I at least get fried dough before we leave?"  "Yes but eat it quickly because your not getting cinnamon and powdered sugar all over my car. Do you understand?"  "Yes mommy".  I say as she gives me a look. I turn to look for the nearest fried dough stand. I get it and take a big bite. "Mmm. So good". I mumble with a full mouth. "Charming Emma. Very charming". She laughs. I break off a piece and hold it up for her. "No thank you. I'm still full from dinner".  "So what. It's one bite. Come on. I know you want to. You love that buttery, cinnamon sugar taste. Just open up Regina and it's all yours to enjoy".   I say in a teasing tone of voice. She smiles and opens her mouth and I put the piece of fried dough in and my fingers touch her lips and we smile as we gave each other a kiss. Unbeknownst to us we had an audience watching us. When we turn around to start walking to the car we see my parents, along with Ruby and her girlfriend Dorothy staring at us. "Shit. Regina. They saw everything didn't they?"   "Odds are good on that one". They walk over to us and say hello.  "Emma I didn't you all were going to be here tonight".  "Yeah it was a last minute decision mom, but we were on our way home. I'm getting tired and it's past Angie's bedtime. So we'll see you guys later".  They all say bye at the same time as we walk away. When we get to the car Regina takes the baby out of the carriage while I fold it up and put it in the trunk. The ride home was a little quiet and I had a strange feeling that Regina and I would be having a conversation soon.