Page 36 of Deep Down
“Come in!” Amanda called.
Alex entered, smiling. “And how is my patient doing?”
“Ourpatient,” Amanda corrected with a grin.
“Sorry,ourpatient.” Alex studied Craig. “Everything okay?”
Craig nodded. “Yeah, all good.”
“Fantastic! Let’s go get you some dinner.” Alex helped Craig to rise from the sofa and stumble to the wheelchair before lowering him slowly to a seated position.
“Thank you, Amanda,” Craig repeated as Alex pivoted them to leave.
“See you in three days, Craig.” Amanda smiled.
Alex pushed him down the corridors and around corners, the police officer keeping pace until they arrived back at his room. Helping Craig back into bed, this time with the back of the bed lifted slightly, Alex nodded. “Right, I’ll be back with your dinner in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.”
Craig watched him leave and sighed, rolling his head towards the overcast skies outside the window. Amanda had asked him if all the memories he had were fake. It would need to be Craig who figured it out unless Darren came out and said, “No, it was all a lie.”
Craig and Darren entered the supermarket, laughing about seeing a dog bolting down the street, lead streaming behind it, and its owner sprinting after it, shouting. Craig bent to lift a basket, and Darren caught hold of his hand, linking their fingers and bringing their hands up to Darren’s mouth for a kiss. Craig smiled at him, love pouring through his veins at the amazing man beside him. They wandered around, buying the necessary—and unnecessary—groceries while Craig marvelled at the domesticity of it all. The small touches on his lower back, the caresses of a palm against his cheek, the press of lips against his overwhelmed his senses.
It had been the day Craig had asked Darren to move in. They’d been together for six months. Craig had known he was in love with Darren and wanted to spend his life with him. Recently, things had been different.
Darren gathered his wallet and phone, tucking them into his coat pocket. “I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
Craig stood in the lounge and smiled. “Do you want me to come with you? It might be easier with two of us,” he said.
“No, you need to get dinner started.” Darren stalked over to Craig and kissed his cheek. “Five o’clock, remember.”
“Okay.”
Craig had no idea when things had changed, or how he hadn’t seen the difference in their lives from early in the relationship to now. Obviously, all couples went through the head-over-heels phase and settled into their relationship, but this was more than that. Craig had become the househusband, so to speak, and he hadn’t been aware of it until now. It was evident in the more personal side of their relationship. Kisses in the early part had been on the lips—or other parts—but later had moved to his forehead, cheek or jaw. Sex had been face-to-face for the most part in the first few years, now it was Craig’s back to Darren’s chest, be it on their sides or on hands and knees.
Craig couldn’t pinpoint when the changes had happened.
“Are you okay?”
Hearing Alex’s voice startled Craig, and he whipped his head around to the open doorway. He hadn’t heard it open. Alex stood there, holding a tray, waiting.
“Oh, yeah. Yeah. I’m fine. Worn out.” Craig tried to smile but wasn’t sure he succeeded.
“Understandable. Well, you know where we are if you need anything.”
Craig smiled, more genuinely that time. “I know, thanks. And thanks for the food.”
“You’re welcome.” Alex hesitated. “Well, I best leave you to it.” He placed the remote for the bed and the call button for the nurses’ station next to Craig. “In case you need them.” Alex patted the bed and twisted around to leave.
“Thank you, Alex.”
Alex spun back around and grinned. “You’re welcome. Enjoy.” He closed the door behind him, leaving Craig to his memories.
Craig sighed and picked up his fork. After munching a few bites of chicken and vegetables even though he wasn’t hungry, he replaced the fork on the tray and pushed it away. He pressed the button to lower the back of the bed and attempted to sleep.
