8. A Happy Dream
CHAPTER 8
A Happy Dream
IVY
Ariana refuses to see us, so we agree to leave the hospital for the night and re-group first thing in the morning. It’s been the longest day in history. I slip my hand into Alistair’s. He looks me up and down and I see a flicker of hunger.
“How do you feel about finding that spare room again?” he murmurs.
“You’re incorrigible,” I reply.
“Fine,” he relents, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Have me your way. What would you like to do, and where would you like to do it?”
I smirk. I’ll never get used to being so wholly desired. It made my insides hum. “Mr. Ravenscroft. You’re going to have to feed me before any further action can be taken.”
We are all running on fumes—we’ve not had nearly enough sleep nor wholesome food in the last taxing twenty-four hours. Plus, I could murder a gin and tonic—preferably a double. But first, Jamie.
“Before we go,” I say, “I’d like to pop down to check on Jamie.”
“Of course,” replies Alistair. “I’ll come with you.”
“I know they don’t encourage family hanging around, but I’ll be quick. I feel like I haven’t seen him in ages.”
He rubs the small of my back. “We can stay as long as you like.”
Jamie’s nurse catches me before I reach his room. “Ivy! That was quick!”
I blink at her, not understanding. “Sorry?”
“We only just called your mum. Jamie turned a corner. He’s well enough to come off his ventilator. We’ve stopped administering sedation.”
My heart jumps. “Really?”
She chuckles. “Really.”
A weight lifts from my shoulders. Relief floods through me like warm water. Jamie is going to be okay.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out and see that it’s Mum calling.
Alistair gestures to hand it over. "I'll take it,” he says. "You go and see Jamie."
Jesus, I love this man. I kiss him on the lips and follow the nurse.
Jamie is still asleep when I enter his room, but seeing him off the ventilator is a wonderful sight. In a strange kind of déjà vu of what had just happened with Ariana, I pull the chair to his bed and hold his hand. His skin is cool and soft. Strange times, I think to myself, when your lover’s sibling and your own are in ICU at the same time. Bizarre, but oddly convenient for visiting, I guess.
I probably shouldn't wake him up, but I reason that he's been asleep so long now that it would probably be good for him to have a conversation.
"Jamie?" I venture. I shake his hand a little. “Jamie?”
He stirs, but stays asleep. I pat his hand until he raises his eyebrows and sniffs the air, moving his head from side to side.
“It’s me,” I say. “Ivy.”
Eyes still closed, his lips curve into a smile. “Ivy,” he whispers. “My sister Ivy.”
“That’s me,” I reply. “You’ve been asleep for a long time.”
He swallows, and then frowns. “My throat is sore.”
I consider telling him about the ventilator but decide against it. “There’s water here,” I say. “Or I can fetch you a drink. Hot chocolate?”
“That sounds so good, but I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’ll ask Mum to bring you one. She’s on her way.”
He finally opens his eyes and blinks to adjust to the light. Slowly, Jamie focuses on me. “There you are. I thought I might be dreaming. I’ve had a lot of dreams.”
I smile at him. I hate that he looks so vulnerable. “I hope they’ve been happy dreams.”
“I have an important question, Ivy.”
“Yes?”
“Did Alistair buy me a big squirrel, or was that a dream?”
“He did.”
“Oh, good. I thought that was a dream. A happy dream. But I’m happier that it’s real.”
“Alistair’s been so kind to us.” I squeeze his hand. “He’s taking care of everything.”
“That’s good, Ivy. You deserve someone kind. I thought Jeff was kind, but in the end, he wasn’t.”
“Don’t worry about Jeff,” I tell him. “He’s long gone. We’ll never see him again.”
“Poor Jeff. He just loved you too much, that’s all.”
How Jamie could have empathy for that psychopath after what he had put us through is beyond my grasp, but it highlights what a warm human my brother is. My heart swells.
“When will I be able to go home?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Probably in a few days? You’ll stay with Mum and Dad while we look for a new place for you.”
He looks grief-stricken. “I’ll never see my paintings again.”
“That must hurt,” I say. “But we’re going to buy you brand new canvases and all the paint and brushes you need so that you can start again. A fresh start,” I tell him, tears in my eyes. “Won’t that be wonderful?”
His eyes are still sad, but he says, “Yes, Ivy, that will be wonderful.”
“You okay?” asks Alistair as he clocks my tearful face on the way out of Jamie’s room.
I sniff and nod. “Yeah. It’s been a long day.”
“Shall I go in to say hi?”
“He’s asleep again. Mum will be here soon with hot chocolate for him. Maybe tomorrow.”
“What can I do? Does he need another giant rodent?”
I laugh through my tears. “No. Jamie still loves the rodent. He’s sad about losing his art.”
The guilt is still gut-wrenching. Will it ever dissipate?
Alistair pulls me into a warm hug. “We’re going to set him up with a new home, and the studio of his dreams.”
“You do too much for me. For my family.”
“Nonsense. You deserve it, and I’m happy to deliver.”
My hand travels down to the back of his thigh. “You deliver every time.”
“Ms. Mickelson. If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were flirting.”
“I’m doing nothing of the kind. I’m too hungry and too tired to flirt.”
“What a shame,” says Alistair. “Two weeks into the relationship and the romance is already dead.”
“We had a good run, though,” I say. “It was a good two weeks.”
Alistair pulls a face and shrugs. “I’ve had better.”
I punch his arm, and he grins.