Chapter 21
Grace
Once the cookies were baked and the kitchen was clean, I made Hazel a healthy snack to balance all the sugar we’d consumed, and we sat down to finish the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon.
I hadn’t seen it before, and the CGI was incredible.
The story premise was good too, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
The day caught up with me, and I crashed out again.
I didn’t wake up until darkness filled the room and I was alone on the couch. Soft voices sounded from somewhere else in the house, so Seb must be home. Why was I so tired all the time? Why didn’t they wake me? How had I not heard him come home?
Rubbing my eyes to clear the sleep from them, I checked the time to see that it was five thirty. I stretched my neck from side to side, it was stiff from the crooked angle I’d fallen asleep at as I wandered through the house to find my niece and Seb.
I found them upstairs in Hazel’s bedroom, reading.
Seb was huge, six-foot-six and back to being heavily muscled after his accident.
He dwarfed my niece, but he watched her as if she hung the moon, and this right here was all my sister ever wanted for Indy.
An equal partner who would love Hazel as his own.
“Hey, sleepyhead. Miss Haze said you slept through the movie.” Seb’s gaze assessed me from head to toe. “You okay?”
“I’m so sorry I fell asleep.” I came over and crouched in front of Hazel. “It was a great movie. You’ll have to show me it again, okay?”
“It’s okay. We did a lot of baking, so I thought you deserved a nap. Papa falls asleep when we watch movies, too.”
“Hey, I do not,” Seb exclaimed as he tickled her sides.
“Mercy, mercy,” Haze squealed as she tried to squirm off his lap. She managed to run behind me to hide. “Protect me, Auntie!” Her laughter was so innocent and infectious that both Seb and I were laughing too.
“I’ll protect you from the big, bad Seb,” I said playfully, holding my arms up ready to fight Seb off.
Seb rose to his feet, cane left behind, and pretended to meet my fighting stance. He’d come a long way since he was first injured, but his leg still wasn’t one hundred percent.
“Careful, your leg,” I warned.
“I’m fine.” Seb waved me off. “Now, I’m gonna get you both.
” He dove for us, but it was just one step for his massive frame.
Hazel squealed as he lifted me up and spun me around to place me down behind him.
I was laughing, but as he spun me around, my gaze fogged, and nausea washed over me in a wave again.
“Whoa.” I reached for Seb’s arm as I gripped his bicep for balance as I squeezed my eyes shut and willed the room to stop spinning.
Seb reacted instantly, turning to face me and holding me upright. “Are you okay? Grace, here sit down.” He lowered me into his vacated lounge chair and crouched in front of me.
I tried to open my eyes, but the room still spun, and my breathing was picking up. Not again.
“Grace, are you okay? You’re awfully pale.” Seb’s voice echoed in my head, and I couldn’t focus as dizziness overtook making my hands shake and my pulse race. “Wait with her, Hazel. I’ll be right back.”
“It’s okay, Auntie,” Hazel’s soft voice and warm hand gripped mine as I breathed through this latest episode. “Papa and I will take care of you.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” I sighed and relaxed back into the chair as I was able to open my eyes without the room spinning.
Seb came back in, with his phone to his ear and a glass of cold water in hand. He passed me the water as he finished his conversation. “Doc’s on his way.”
“No, I’m fine. Doc doesn’t need to go out of his way. I was just a little dizzy. It’s nothing.” I hurried to reassure Seb.
He brought his large hand to my clammy forehead. “You were so pale and said you were feeling off. You looked like you were going to pass out. I think it’s best if Doc looks at you.”
His worried gaze held mine as I nodded, knowing better than to argue when he was in protective mode. “Indy should be home any minute. Do you think you can make it back downstairs, or do you want to wait longer?”
I felt weak and tired but okay. “I think I’ll be okay in a minute. Why don’t you two finish the book you were reading when I interrupted?”
“Good idea.” Seb adjusted himself to sit with his back on the single-seat sofa I was on and gestured for Haze to sit between his legs. He picked up the book, and they continued reading, as I relaxed at the gentle rumble of Seb’s voice.
Moments later the clang of Seb’s old-school ranch-style dinner bell rang out, making us all jump.
“That’ll be Doc,” Seb said as he moved to stand and grabbed his cane.
“Let me help you up. Take it slow.” He held out his large hand to me and gently pulled me to my feet.
My dizziness and nausea had passed, and I felt fine now, but I was still cautious as we slowly made our way downstairs.
“You go wait in the living room and I’ll let Doc in. ”
I shuffled over to the couch, and got comfortable as Doc, Seb and Indy carrying Hazel came back in.
“Grace, Seb said you’re not feeling well. Are you okay?” Indy moved to take a seat beside me.
“I’m fine,” I huffed in exasperation.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Doc’s gruff voice sounded kind as his aged face came into view and he sat on the adjacent single sofa.
He fiddled with his glasses before pulling out a thermometer and getting to work.
“I think this is a record for the most house visits done to the same house in the same year. At least this is a different patient.” His kind blue eyes held humor as he looked around the room.
“I’m collecting the whole family,” he joked with a wink.
The thermometer beeped, and Doc glanced at it. “A little higher than the normal range but not a fever, so that’s good. The flu that’s going around is terrible this season. What other symptoms have you had?”
I rattled off everything I’d experienced today. Had it all been in one day?
“Have you eaten? Do you eat regularly? You still seem to be a little underweight. Have you discussed this further with Levi?” Doc knew all about my past, my issues, my abuse, and conferred with Levi regularly and Ophelia when I first escaped.
“I’m getting better at eating regularly, but I still forget or feel nauseous if I eat too much. I have another appointment with Levi this week.”
“I think I need to do another blood test. Have you been taking those vitamins and the iron supplement I prescribed?” Doc was serious and no-nonsense as he held my gaze.
As I moved my head side to side, my eyes began to water.
“I’ve been trying my best to take the iron, but I can’t stomach the vitamins.
” Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I continued.
“Every time I go to take them, it feels like my throat is closing up and I can’t breathe.
It’s too much like what he did. I’m sorry. ”
Doc grasped my hand in his. “It’s okay. You should have told me straight away, and we could have figured something else out. We’ll definitely need a blood test. Are you okay to get it now, or can you come by in the morning to the clinic?”
I glanced at Indy, who held my other hand. “What do you need?”
Indy and I had gotten close since I’d escaped and come to stay with them. He knew about my fear of needles and would be there for me if I needed him.
“Can we do it now? I don’t think I could follow through in the morning,” I told Doc.
“Sure. Let’s head to the clinic and get it all done. If we hurry, I can send it off tonight for processing.” Doc was already packing up his medical bag and standing. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I’ll walk him out,” Seb offered and followed Doc from the room.
Hazel was watching me, her mouth turned down at the corners and her eyes worried.
“Come here, Haze honey.” I hugged her to my chest. “I’m fine, I promise. Probably just a little bug like you and Daddy got last year.”
“So, Doc will give you medicine and you’ll be all better?” she asked as she picked at the end of her braid.
“Something like that.” I smiled as I tried to reassure her.
After losing her mother suddenly and everything that she and Indy had gone through last year, I understood her worry.
“I’ll be fine.” I squeezed her to me again, breathing in every moment I could with her before turning to Indy.
“Would you mind coming with me? I don’t think I could do it alone.
” Biting my bottom lip, the idea of the needle already had my skin crawling.
“Of course. We should go before Doc thinks we’ve chickened out.” Indy rose from the couch and moved to hug Seb before grabbing his keys and waiting for me to follow. “Come on.”
“Okay, okay. Bossy, isn’t he?” I said to Hazel, who giggled. “Thanks for everything earlier,” I added to Seb as I passed him and grabbed my coat and scarf as we left the house.
The blood test was fine with Indy by my side, and Doc said he’d call me with the results as soon as he had them.
He wanted me to keep up with the iron but not to stress about the vitamins until the tests came back.
I was thankful I wouldn’t have to face the idea of those every day for a little while.
After the blood test, Indy dropped me home.
I was exhausted and thankful for the lift, so I didn’t have to walk.
I missed not being able to stay for dinner, but after the day I’d had, I was ready to forget everything and sleep some more.
My body was telling me it was tired, and I was going to listen.
I also had work tomorrow and needed to be back on point as I needed my job and the tips it provided to pay Kath the rent this week.
I made myself a sandwich for dinner and forced it down before taking my time in the shower and then headed to bed. Sleep came within seconds, and I slept through until my alarm woke me at ten the next morning. Back to my usual routine, working from four to two am for the rest of the week.
Checking my phone after silencing my alarm, I noticed a text from Kai.
Kai
I’m still planning our date. I think we should do it this weekend. Are you free on Sunday?
I was about to respond when another text from an unknown number popped up.
Unknown
Sins, even hidden, will not go unnoticed. Judgement day is coming.
This was getting ridiculous. I quickly blocked the number and deleted the text history. I would not let something stupid like cryptic texts ruin my day.
Flicking back to Kai’s text chain, I quickly responded.
Me
I’m free. Are you going to give me any hints?
Kai
Where would the fun be in that? ?? So you’re not working on Sunday? Perfect! Although I’m not sure I can wait that long to see you again. <3
Me
No fair! Not even a little hint so I know what to wear.
Kai
Nope! But dress warm. :-P
Me
You’re so mean!
Kai
The meanest ??
Kai
So, when can I see you before Sunday? Are you coming to class today?
Me
I almost forgot. Yes, I’ll be there, but I’m working every night till Sunday :(
Kai
So, I’ve been wondering…Do you enjoy your job at the bar?
That was random. It was a job, and I was thankful Avery had been willing to give me a chance. I enjoyed it fine, I guess, but I wasn’t sure where he was going with this.
Me
Yeah, I like it, especially the people I work with. Avery’s been great and so supportive. Why? What’s wrong with it?
My hackles were up and I hated that I second guessed everything. Something about his phrasing had set off my instincts to deflect, defend, argue. I had a job, so I could pay my bills, and I liked the people I worked with. What more could you want?
Kai
Nothing’s wrong with it. I just remember the girl who dreamed big. Who wanted to go on adventures, travel the world, and was going to go to college and I was wondering if that was something you still dream of?
My stomach fell. I’d been a dreamer all right. When I was with Kai, I often felt like I could achieve anything and that those dreams were more than just dreams. But reality was cruel, and I didn’t dream anymore.
Me
That’s all they were: dreams. Wishes of a fake reality I could never have. You know that better than anyone. I need to get ready if I’m going to make it to class on time. I’ll see you there.
Locking my phone, I got out of bed and got ready for the first self-defense class I would take part in.