Page 97 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“No to all those questions,” I tried to joke, it fell flat. “The seatbelt light is on. You need to buckle up.”

Matt stretched his arms above his head, flashing me glimpses of his broad chest between the first few undone buttons of his dress shirt. The jacket and bow tie were discarded on the opposite seat.

“How long have you been awake?” he asked, buckling up then grabbing my hand.

“About an hour.” I averted my eyes, not wanting to see the concern on his face. The past hour had been one of self-reflection, no tears, just brutal self-recriminations. A character assassination actually.

“A car will be waiting for us when we touch down,” he informed me.

“Ok.” I turned towards the window, staring out at the dark sky. We would both be jetlagged, me more so than Matt.

He squeezed my hand and continued, “We’ll head straight to the hospital.”

“That would be best, Matt.” What awaited me in the hospital? I frigging hated hospitals. The smells, the sounds, the horriblelighting; but the thing I hated most was the sense of lingering death. I still remember the way if felt all those years ago. The way it clung to me, shadowed me, and people could see it. Their eyes were always full of pity, their mouths garishly twisted in false smiles as they said: ‘you’re going to be fine’.

“I fucking hate hospitals.” I blurted out at my reflection.

Matt winced at the vehemence of my words. Again he squeezed my hand, a silent show of support, a reminder of his presence at my side.

“I’ll understand if you want to go to Hannah’s condo after the-”

Matt cut me off with a firm, “I’m not leaving your side, poppet. End of discussion.”

I snorted, a short-lived second of amusement running through me as I replied, “Bossy.” Then I felt guilty over feeling anything else but despair. My aunt was lying in a coma. I shouldn’t findanything amusing right now.

When we landed, Hulk and another guard were waiting for us. I managed a polite greeting but my nerves were building with each passing second and my skin felt itchy. I sat in the backseat of the Range Rover while Matt spoke to his pilot and Hulk loaded up our luggage. Last time we’d been in New York the bodyguards had driven Escalades. Noticing these minor details kept my mind distracted. Another irrelevant detail was Hulk’s hair, or lack thereof. The skinhead look he sported made his appearance even fiercer than I remembered, and he was scary the first time around.

Matt, having finished his conversation with the pilot, got in the SUV and cleared his throat softly as he buckled up. Oh yeah. I stretched the seat belt over me and continued staring out the window as he covered my hand with his. Moments later we were on our way.

“There’s a lot of traffic tonight, Mr Bradley.” Ryan the Hulk advised from the front seat.

“Just get us to the hospital as fast and as safely possible.” Matt ordered with a gentle squeeze of my hand.

I kept staring out the window. It felt strange being back home. A tired sigh fell from my lips and Matt began to rub his thumb over my knuckles. The soothing touch helped push back some of my anxiousness, not all of it, but just enough to remind me that my knight was at my side. By the time we got to the hospital not even histouch could calm the tension running through me.

“I need a minute,” My voice cracked as we stood right in front the entrance. Hospitals. I stayed away from hospitals. People went in and never came out again…damned hospitals!

“Of course, poppet.” Matt murmured, his arm was around my waist, holding me close to his warmth.

One minute turned to two, then two to five, and still I stood staring at the doors as people came and left as if they weren’t casually walking through the doors of hell. Matt didn’t complain at being stood outside in the cold. It was a little after 2am. If we were back in London, both our work days would be starting right now.

“Ok,” I inhaled deeply, trying not to wring my hands like a child. “I’m ready.”

And I was. This time would be different. I was no longer a six year old girl, I was a twenty seven year old married woman with my supportive husband at my side.

Matt scrutinized my face before nodding then we entered the hospital. The smell was always the first thing to hit you. Thatsmell. My nose flared and I fought the urge to take shallow breaths, no way was I going to risk another panic attack…although I was in the best place for it. Matt, being Matt, immediately took charge; marching up to the main desk and demanding information about the location of my aunt. The women behind the desk directed us to the ICU and my sweat glands woke up. It was busy, distractingly busy as the hospital staff and general public bustled to and fro. Each step I took seemed slower than the last, until Matt’s momentum was the only thing propelling me forward. When we got out the elevators on the ICU floor I needed another minute. Matt gave my hand that he was now holding a gentle squeeze while I took a deep breath. Right. I was here and my aunt was lying in a diabetic coma somewhere down these corridors. Straightening my shoulders I pushed aside my fear and walked towards the waiting room with Matt.

“I’m looking for my Aunt,” I said upon arrival at the desk. “Her name is-”

“Madi!”

Jenny’s shriek had me spinning in my heels. I had forgotten to change them before disembarking Matt’s jet. I dropped Matt’s hand, eyes locked on Jenny who was running towards us, and my feet carried me in a blur over to her. The force of her crashing into mecaused us both to stumble but I righted myself and wrapped my arms tightly around her as she began to cry.

“Shh, I’m here now.” I murmured over her heart-breaking sobs. My gaze searched the space until it rested on Uncle David and Jamal, with tired faces they made their way over.

“You made it, cuz.” Jamal greeted. I nodded and held one hand out to him. He gave me a small smile that trembled around the edges as he took my hand.

“Madison,” Uncle David came up on my left, reaching out to envelop both Jenny and myself in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

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