Page 105 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“You promise to hold her hand?” Madi asked in resignation.

Matt felt a smidgen of guilt which he squashed immediately. He didn’t like using that adamant tone with her but she desperately needed sleep.

“Yes,” he agreed.

Reluctantly she took the pills he held out. Matt cracked the bottled water open and handed it over. Once she swallowed the pills he smiled at her.

“Now go recline in that chair over there.” He gestured to the other comfy lounger in the room.

Twenty minutes later, after a few grumbles and her restless movements in an attempt to get comfortable; the sound of her gentle snoring battled with the constant beeps of medical machinery. Matt sighed to himself, satisfied she would get some proper sleep at last. He shifted in the chair, peering at the unconscious woman whose hand he held. No, he certainly wasn’t fond of Cleo Meyers, but he held her hand because he’d made a promise to his dark beauty.

The minutes turned to hours and Matt used the time to check countless emails on his mobile and respond with one-thumbed dexterity borne of practice. Ever so often his gaze landed on Madi. A grin would tickle his mouth at the acrobatic position she was in. How she managed to stay on the recliner without slipping to the ground, he had no idea. She was his perfect ballerina.

Matt resumed typing out the latest email then froze at the slight tension on his left hand. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of his large hand enveloping Cleo’s, before scoffing at himself.

“Fuck.” He jerked in surprise, dropping his mobile in his lap and coming half way off his chair. He was certain he felt - bloody hell! “Cleo?” he called anxiously while gently squeezing her hand. Maybe it was just a reflexive action.

She squeezed back.

“Cleo, can you hear me?” He leaned forward. She groaned around the tube used to intubate her. God! Matt immediately reached over to press the call button as she continued to make choking noises.

“It’s alright,” he said loudly, standing over her while pressing the button frantically. Where in the blasted hell were the nurses? The doctors? What sort of hospital was this? “Cleo? Can you hear me?” Matt called again while squeezing her hand.

Her eyelids fluttered. He kept his finger permanently on the call button. The door swung open right as Cleo opened her eyes to stare up at him.

“She’s waking up.” he notified the nurse rushing over to him.

“Step back please, sir.” the woman barked.

Two more people came in, then three more, one of them was Dr Yanic. Matt stood back, allowing them sufficient room to deal with the waking patient. One of the nurses removed her intubation tube after her vitals were checked. The bodies around the bed meant hecould no longer see Cleo’s face. Matt moved closer to his snoring wife. The pills had done their job, she was dead to the world and the bustling taking place not more than a few feet from her. The doctor and nurses worked like clockwork for the next thirty minutes until they all stood back to observe a conscious, but still groggy, Cleo Meyers.

She looked, and it was completely understandable given the circumstances, but she looked unnerved…scared. Her dry lips trembled as she answered Dr Yanic’s questions to test her mental acumen and assess if there was any cognitive issue. Once he seemed satisfied with her responses, she immediately asked for her family.

“Cleo,” Matt stepped closer and her gaze swung to him, shocked. That shock gave way to a relieved recognition. Matt moved even closer to take her hand. “Hello there, you’ve given us all quite a scare.”

“My family?” she croaked out.

Matt swivelled his head sideways and her eyes followed as he said, “Your niece is here, she sent David home to get some rest. They’ve all been holding vigil at your bedside at one point or another.”

Cleo regarded him for a moment and suspicion clouded her features. Matt hid his grimace, it seemed her dislike for him was ever present.

Dr Yanic beamed. “I’m glad to see the treatment to repair your kidneys worked, Mrs Meyers. We’ll have you up on your feet in no time. Your family will be contacted and notified you’re awake. We’ll need to discuss the next steps but I’ll give you some time to adjust. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to.”

Dr Yanic inclined his head in Matt’s direction before bustling out the room with the nurses on his heels as he issued orders for Cleo’s care. Cleo glanced again at his snoring wife, her expression softened considerably. A few minutes passed before she spoke again.

“She’s home.” Cleo’s voice was quite raspy, the obvious after-effects of having been intubated.

Matt released her hand and quickly went about pouring her a small cup of water. He held the cup to her parched lips, murmuring instructions about small sips. When she’d had enough, he sat back down and they silently assessed each other. Both probably remembering their last meeting. Matt held her clinical stare, secure in the knowledge that whatever she had to say to him would change nothing. Madi washiswife now, and Cleo could either accept that or not, the choice was hers.

She moved her hand onto her lap, breaking their silent look. “You were holding my hand.” she said. There was still a roughness to the edges of her voice, but her words were a shade firmer. “Why?”

Matt shrugged then motioned to Madi. “I promised her I would and I am a man of my word. It was Jenny’s idea actually, ensuring someone always held your hand so you’d somehow know they were with you.”

Cleo fiddled with her hands before leaning further into the pillows. “Jenny told me about your marriage to my niece,” Her mouth twisted into a harsh line. “Read about it on the internet.”

Matt regarded her for a minute, silently reminding himself the woman had recently awoken from a coma. “Well, perhaps if you hadn’t turned your back on her you-”

“She chose you over her family.” Cleo cut him off sharply. Her nostrils flared as she noisily dragged in air.

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