Page 62 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
“How do I regain your trust?”
“Consistent actions over a long period of time.” He pulls me in tighter to him and I close my eyes, relaxing into the embrace.
“Okay. Try and get some sleep, okay?” I nod and drift in and out of sleep for what feels like either hours or three minutes. I wake up to Liam stroking my hair and whispering to me. I keep my eyes closed and try to hear him.
“…and I just wish you had read that letter that night…and I wish I would have never written it, because I wish I would have never left…”
“I read the letter, Liam,” my voice comes out hoarse and faint, his hand freezing in my hair. “Why do you think I showed up at your house today?” He starts moving his hand, stroking my hair, and I drift off again.
I wake up alone, disoriented, and thirsty. So very thirsty. Sitting up in the hospital bed, I look around for my purse, but it’s nowhere. Probably laying on the ground somewhere at Sandy’s house. Jess and the girls are probably worried sick.Fuck, and Damian.He’s probably freaking out. I send him a cryptic text and then go MIA. He’s going to be losing his mind.Where is…someone? Anyone?As I’m about to press the call button, the nurse walks in.
“Well, if it isn’t the queen of darkness! Back so soon!” The joke seems in poor taste.
“Yes, I just love the vibes and the food so much,” I deadpan.
She laughs. “I hope they admit you, you’re fun. Your husband just popped out for some coffee. He told me if you wake up to let you know he’ll be back in five and that he’s already called the girls.” He’s completely shameless telling these people he’s my husband.
“Oh, okay,” I say.Liam called the girls?I try to imagine the conversation. Jen — at least I think it’s Jen; I don’t have a whiteboard in the makeshift curtain room — takes my vitals while someone else comes in to draw blood. A second after they both leave, the attending physician comes in.
“Alright, so let’s see here. You fainted.” It’s not a question, he’s just reading my chart. He mumbles over a few lines, then looks up at me and smiles. “I’m Dr. Lopez, we’re gonna take a quick look at you, alright?” I just nod. He proceeds to look at my throat, “Oh yeah, we’re red back there, aren’t we?”
“I had a strep test yesterday, it was positive. I just forgot to take my antibiotics this morning.”
“Mmkay, that explains the throat, but what about this fainting? You know, it can be common for hormones to cause you to faint when you’re pregnant.” Liam walks in with a cup of coffee in-hand and an armful of snacks from the vending machine. He sets everything down at the end of the bed and then turns to the doctor to introduce himself. As my husband. I roll my eyes.
“So, I was just explaining to your wife that fainting can be common during pregnancy due to hormones that affect blood pressure. This is the second time in a couple months.” He hems and haws for a moment. “Do you have family or anyone that can be with you during the day? We don’t want what happenedlast time to happen again. I’d say you got lucky this time.”Sure, lucky.
“My daughters live with me…” I trail off. Well, for the next month they will.
Liam interjects, “And obviously me. I’ll be there.” He looks at me sincerely, like he really means it and isn’t just playing the fake husband role to a T.
“I’m gonna put in a call to Dr. Scala, but I’m not too worried about today. I’m going to hit you with some intravenous antibiotics to really kick this infection’s ass, and then you’re good to go. I’ll send the blood results to Silas, alright?” I nod and Liam shakes his hand and says thank you as he leaves.
“We’ve been laying in this bed for six hours, but I knew as soon as I went to get coffee they’d come see you.” He shakes his head, looking disappointed.
He says, “I’m sorry,” at the same time I say, “Well then, thank you,” and he gives me a warm smile.
“You seem a little better after some rest?”
I just nod. “You called the girls?”
“Oh, yeah. I did. Everything’s fine. I told them I’d bring you home tonight, probably.” He looks at the clock that just hit 7:00 P.M. “You hungry? I tried to just grab a little of everything.” I look at the granola bars and bags of chips, none of it very appetizing.
“Hey girl, hey!” Jen pokes her head in through the curtains. “Look what I have for you…” Jen pulls the curtain aside, revealing a tray of assorted ice creams. “I may have stolen these from the break room for you,” she says with a wink.
“Wow, thank you so much.” This time I actually mean it. I look over to Liam’s pile of snacks and Jen does, too.
“Sorry, bud, but ice cream always wins,” she says, patting him on the back, then moves over to add a syringe of antibiotics to my drip.
“That’s alright, as long as she’s happy,” he says with a smile. Once Jen slips back out, Liam sits on the edge of the bed to drink his coffee while I spoon through my assortment of ice creams and Italian ices. He sets the coffee aside a moment later, then starts typing furiously on his phone. When he’s done, he looks up at me.
“So, Sandy and Jim are driving my car here right now. I had them just throw together an overnight bag for me, but I’ll need to go home at some point to get a few more things. Oh, and Sandy made sure to grab your purse for you, too.”Wait, huh?
“I’m not tracking.” I stop eating to stare at him.
“You heard what the doctor said, Britain. I’m not leaving you just to have you faint and get a concussion.”
I shake my head. “That’s super, super unnecessary, Liam. Jess is there, the girls are there. I can always call Alex. Damian’s probably already on his way back. He’s been staying with us, and…and there’s not even enough beds.” Who knew I’d ever be in a scenario to need three guest bedrooms. Unbelievable.
