Chapter Twenty Seven
Relieved, she made it into the evening without any complications, her and Michael played a game. She ate a small dinner and cat-napped on the couch. When the clock stroke ten, she dragged her tired body into the master bedroom. It took all her effort to get her clothes off and into a pair of pajamas. She left them lying where they fell on the floor and climbed into the comfort of her bed. She stretched her arm to the pillow Michael used when he slept in the same room. It failed to provide any substitution for his arms around her. At four in the morning, Lizzy leaped from the bed and barely made it into the bathroom before the vomiting began.
She lay on the floor, relishing the cool tile against her cheek. Her body felt like a limp noodle as she attempted to raise and rinse out her mouth. A whimper escaped her when her body refused to cooperate. She felt weak all over. Another cramp in her belly signaled another bout of vomiting, and she lurched up in time to hold her head over the bowl.
A cool cloth touched her forehead, and she saw a shirtless Michael squatting beside her. He rubbed her back as she rid herself of the last of her dinner from the night before. He handed her a small cup of water.
“Rinse your mouth out,” he told her as he stabilized the shaking cup with his hand and guided it to her mouth. She spit out the water and sighed as her body involuntarily leaned against the wall. Michael took everything to the sink and stood over her. She wanted to raise her eyes to seek his, but it was too much effort. He leaned down, lifted her into his arms and took her back to bed.
Her teeth began to chatter. Covering her, he tucked the blanket under her chin. She closed her eyes as he washed her face. She wanted to thank him but even talking required too much energy.
“When did you start vomiting?” he asked as he assessed her for dehydration. He swiped her bangs from her drowsy eyes and waited for her reply.
“Maybe an hour,” she croaked out. She shivered as another chill hit her.
Michael left the room and came back with a bucket covered in bags and set it beside her.
“When did you take your meds?” He lowered his face to meet hers. His eyes showed his concern and his mouth sat in a firm line.
“I took them an hour ago, it didn’t work,” she pointed out the obvious.
“Do you still feel sick?” he questioned as he checked her pulse.
She barely shook her head as she closed her eyes. Her body shook as if she never felt the warmth of the covers.
The covers lifted for a moment, and she whimpered in protest. “Shhh, I’ll keep you warm.” He pressed his naked chest against her. His flannel pajama bottoms covered her legs. She sank into his comfort as he held her and drifted back to sleep.
Two hours later, he held the prepared bucket as she heaved again. She vowed to never eat again if the endless cycle of vomiting stopped. Michael wiped her down and helped her to wash out her mouth. He cleaned up everything before coming back to bed and holding her.
An hour later he helped her again. She dry-heaved into the bucket and winced in pain. This time, Michael made a call as she drifted back to sleep. She missed the warmth of his body and the comfort of him holding her. A tear ran down her cheek. Her whole body ached, and she felt miserable.
She must’ve dozed back off. When she woke up, Chase leaned over her and talked to someone on the phone while Kassie set up an IV pole and hung some bags. Noticing Lizzy’s eyes open, Kassie leaned down and spoke softly to her.
“Hang in there Lizzy, we’ll get you settled in a moment. Dr. Safder gave Chase permission to give you meds through the port and fluids. It’s storming outside and we’re under a tornado watch. We didn’t want you to drive into Seattle. Michael went to shower and clean up, he said to tell you he won’t be long.”
Why did he need a shower? It felt as if she’d closed her eyes for mere moments before they arrived.
A few minutes later she felt Kassie unbutton her pajama top, sterilize the area and hook her up. She opened her eyes and searched the room. Michael stood next to Kassie and covered her to keep her warm. Her hand reached out as she searched for his. His large hand engulfed hers as he slid it back under the covers and didn’t let go.
“Sleep, Lizzy. I’m right here,” he whispered. She closed her eyes and gripped him tightly, pleading silently that he wouldn’t let her go.
She dreamed of Edie crocheting a blanket as she asked Lizzy, “Will you allow him to be the lighthouse that leads you to safety or will you bail yourself out of the storm?”
Why did it seem important to her now? Her dream shifted to the last night she held Conner. She fed, rocked, and sang him to sleep. She rose from the cushioned rocking chair and placed him in his crib. She ran her finger along his sweet chubby little cheek, thinking he resembled an angel. The next morning, she cried out as she dialed nine, one, one and performed infant CPR. She was too late. Conner didn’t make it. Friends came and went, giving her their condolences. Even the government reached out to assure her they planned to keep searching for her husband. People acted as if she’d suffered a double tragedy. First, she lost Michael, then Conner. They waited for her to break. She held out hope.
The covers stifled her as she tried kicking them off. The heavy weight lifted, and cool clothes covered her body. She felt wet. She didn’t care as she remembered the day she ran from Michael. Years of foster homes taught her love only lasted until they found something wrong with you. She’d lost his son and now she stared into the mirror at the scar from her lumpectomy. She placed the picture of her rocking their sweet boy on the counter and she ran. She left before Michael realized how broken she felt…
Lizzy opened her eyes to find him sleeping in a chair next to her. Towels laid all over the floor. He now sported a new pair of pajama pants, and a t-shirt covered his thick chest and muscled arms. She frowned in disappointment of her obstructed view of his defined abs. She turned her head, and her eyes widened at the supplies sitting at the end of the bed. Bags of fluids, meds, gloves and vomit and trash bags lined the improvised table.
She must’ve made a noise as Michael leapt from the chair and cupped her cheek. He scanned her face for any discomfort.
“Do you feel better?” he worriedly asked.
“Yes, I’m tired but I don’t feel like I’ll be sick. I hurt everywhere,” She leaned into his hand, soaking in his warmth.
“Oh good, she’s awake.” Kassie smiled from the doorway holding a bundle of laundry in her arms. “I’ll get the shower ready if you can help Lizzy to the bathroom. I washed some clean sheets and I’ll grab the towels before we leave.”
He turned back to her. “Do you feel up to taking a shower? I’m afraid it turned messy last night. I know you didn’t want me to…Kassie changed you into fresh clothes.”
Lizzy thought about it. She felt grimy and a warm shower sounded like heaven. She slightly nodded. He peeled back her cover and lifted her from the bed.
“Do you need to use the bathroom?”
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks at his question. For Pete’s sake she did carnal stuff with this man, and she blushed at something as normal as peeing.
Michael glanced behind him, and Kassie dropped the clean laundry into a chair and followed him into the bathroom. He lowered her to the floor. Once he assured himself she remained stable, he let go of her and left the room. Kassie helped her with her clothing while she warmed the shower chair and grabbed a bunch of towels and Tegaderm to cover her port.
“What happened?” she asked Kassie as she guided her to the shower.
“He panicked when you didn’t stop vomiting. The storm raged around the area, and he called us. Chase stayed at the hospital longer than he anticipated. When he contacted Chase, he brought all the supplies he guessed we might need and contacted Dr. Safder.”
“I hope I didn’t trouble you too much. The room looks like a tornado hit it,” Lizzy quipped as she hung onto her friend until she felt the chair behind her knees.
Kassie stepped into the shower as Lizzy began to protest, “You didn’t wear a swimsuit this time.”
She laughed. “I have extra scrubs in my go bag. No way I’m gonna let you do this alone.”
Water rained down on them as Kassie gently washed her hair and her body. She stepped out long enough to give Lizzy some privacy. A few minutes later she opened the door and shut the water off. She wrapped warm towels around Lizzy and bent to dry her. The bathroom filled with steam, yet she still shivered. It felt as if her body hurt everywhere. Lizzy slipped her arms through the clean pajama top Kassie held out. She pulled the vanity stool over for Lizzy to sit and buttoned her up. She leaned down and helped her into underwear and her bottoms before standing her back up.
When she finished, Kassie called for Michael. He promptly opened the door and lifted her into his arms. He headed toward her bed when she stopped him.
“Can I sit in the sunroom? I’m not ready to lie in bed,” she asked as she scanned his face. The tiny lines around his eyes seemed deeper than usual.
Michael carried her through the house while her friend, now dressed in dry scrubs, hastily grabbed blankets and a pillow. She laid her head on Michael’s shoulder; her hand scraped his unshaven jaw as they waited for Kassie to prep the recliner.
“You’re tired,” she whispered. “Why don’t you rest?”
His jaw pulsed at her suggestion, and he didn’t bother to respond.
“I’m tired and won’t go anywhere, I promise,” she told him.
His voice lowered and he turned toward her and whispered furiously, “I’m not leaving you.”
Surprised at the tone of his voice, she kept quiet.
“I’m going home and getting some sleep while Em’s at school. Victoria and Carol will come over if you need any help this afternoon. Do you still want to continue with your meeting?” Kassie placed a blanket over Lizzy and Chase appeared at the door with cups of coffee for them and tea for her and Kassie.
“I hope you don’t mind peppermint; Samantha recommended the blend.” Chase smiled at her as he handed her the drink.
“I’m sure I’ll love it. Thank you, I only remember bits and pieces, and I appreciate you coming during the storm.” She took a small sip of the warm fragrant beverage and waited to see if her stomach rebelled.
“Can I arrange the meeting for fourteen hundred?” Michael asked Kassie. Lizzy watched as they carried on a silent exchange. Why did he ask her friend about his meeting?
“I’m sure it can be rearranged. Carol will sit with Lizzy. Call if you need us.” She made her goodbyes and Chase wrapped his arm around her back as she led the way out. They always seemed to touch each other in some small way. Chase watched his wife as if she held his heart in the palm of her hands.
“Can I get you anything else?” Michael seemed almost distant as he sipped the coffee and sat in the chair beside her. He poured out two tablets from the medication bottle and handed them to her. “This will help with the nerve pain.”
“Maybe another cup of tea in a bit. I want to make sure my stomach settled before I try to eat anything,” she explained. Unable to put her finger on it, as her mind raced, trying to discover why he went from hot to cold.
“We have banana popsicles. Chase kept you medicated through the night, hopefully you won’t suffer another bout. Maybe start out with dry toast and applesauce.”
“I will.” She smiled at him to break the tension between them.
Michael didn’t smile back. “If you don’t need anything, I’ll go get dressed.”
She watched him leave the warm, sunny room and wondered why she still felt the cold.