Chapter 19 #3
Until Dr. Lia comes in. "You have had enough visiting time." She looks at me. “I know to rest is difficile, but it is what will heal you most quickly."
I can't stop a yawn. "I hate it, but I know I need it. And I don't think I could stay awake much longer anyway. I glance up at the bags of drugs. "Did you give me knock-out drugs?"
Dr. Lia just laughs. "No, no. Unless you are fighting me to get out of the bed, I do not give you this. Your body will make you sleep. You only must let it."
"Well, I'm about to let it," I say.
"Good—that is good." She checks the IV machine settings, glances at the monitors for vitals, takes our temps, and then smiles at us from the door. "All is look good. Soon, you go home."
"When is soon?" I ask.
"Some days. Due, o tre, maybe four, but I do not think so. I think two. I think you leave on the third day from today."
"We can't thank you enough, Dr. Lia," Story says.
Dr. Lia shakes her head. “No, no. Is why I am here.
You are not the first patient to be seen in secret, hmm?
Not the first to need a hiding place. Giuseppe, he brings me some like you more oftenly than I should like.
But I take the vow, hmm? So, I heal." She shrugs.
"And anyway, I received a notice one hour ago—someone with a lot of money has donated cinque milioni di euros to my…
" She frowns, thinking. "Organizzazione no-profit, which makes run this ospedale. "
I laugh. "Sounds like Uncle Val."
"Who is this?" she asks. "This Uncle Val who sends me so much money?"
Story and I trade glances.
"He's not really either of our uncles,” Story says. "More like a very close family friend. He…he has a bit of money, and he likes to help out."
I snicker. "A bit of money? Like saying the sun is kinda warm."
"Ehi? What means this?"
"I was being circumspect," Story says.
"We're talking about Valentine Roth," I say.
Dr. Lia's eyes widen. "Oh. Oh my. I see." She shrugs. "It is a very large gift. Give him my thanks when you see him." A pause. "Is it a gift with…ehh…condizioni annesse?"
"Conditions?" I guess. "Like, strings attached?" She nods, and I shake my head. "No, god no. Never. That's not how Uncle Val works."
"Knowing him," Story adds, "That's probably just an initial thank you until he decides how to really reward you."
“But I do not ask for a reward."
"I know. But Uncle Val is…" Story shrugs. "He’s Uncle Val. You can't stop him."
Dr. Lia looks to me for help, and I just shrug too. "Don’t look at me. She's right. Uncle Val is gonna do what he's gonna do. Ask for a glass of water and he'll get you a whole-ass bottling facility."
"I do not know what this ‘bottling facility’ is,” she struggles with the phrase, somehow managing to add syllables. "But I understand." She slaps her thigh with her tablet. "Okay. You rest now. I must check on my other patients."
"Riposa," I say. "My favorite Italian word."
She just laughs as she exits the room, and now, finally, Story and I are alone for a moment or two.
"Quite a pair, aren't we?" Story says.
"Certainly are," I say, looking at her.
She smiles. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Me?" I say. "I didn't almost die."
She just tips her head in a shrug-like gesture. "I'm not going back to Minnesota," she says, after a moment or two. "I'm gonna need a few months to recover and regain my strength before I can go back to work."
I lick my lips. "I…I suppose I should admit that I wouldn’t entirely hate it if you never went back. Too damn cold up there for me." I look at her. "I just…I mean—"
She reaches out, moving very carefully, and takes my hand. "I know." She gives me a long, steady look. "We haven't really had a chance to discuss what us actually being together would look like, have we?"
I shake my head, yawning so widely my jaw aches. "No, and we need to. After a nap."
"Too bad we can't do like your mom. Glass of wine, a nap, and an orgasm."
I shake my hands. “Can you not? It's bad enough I know how they sound."
"Don't you find it inspiring how in love with and passionate for each other our parents are, still, after all these years?" she asks.
I nod. "God yes. I just don't need to see, hear, or think about my parents having sex."
She huffs a laugh. "I suppose that's valid."
"So you're heading to Miami from here, I suppose?" I ask.
"That is the plan, as of now, yes." She gives me a long, carefully blank look. "Did you have another idea?"
"I…yeah," I say. "Come to the compound."
"We are both gonna need a lot of support for quite some time,” she says, gazing away thoughtfully.
"I just don't want to waste any more time," I murmur. "I don't want to be away from you."
She gives me a soft smile. "I don't want to be away from you either. We can talk about it more after we wake up."
My eyes won't stay open anymore. "Okay." I sigh. "Wish I could hold you."
"Me too. Soon, though."
"Not soon enough."
"No, not soon enough," she agrees.
Dad pops his head in, then, to let us know that Enzo is alive and well and reunited with his daughter and mother-in-law, and is recuperating in Rome.
Sleep claims me, then. I dream of Story on a beach, wearing nothing but a smile.