CHAPTER 21

DARCY

 

A churning feeling in my stomach starts as I wake up. I’m sweating again, so I turn over away from Adam. That man is like a human radiator which is good because I’m usually cold... rolling over onto my other side, I push off the duvet but it doesn’t help. The sheen of sweat covers my skin, I take in deep breaths to stop the sick feeling. Sitting up it doesn’t stop.

I look across at Adam, but he’s still sleeping. I have a sip of water from the glass beside me but no sooner has it hit my stomach - I need to run. I push open the door to the bathroom and drop to my knees just making it in time for it to go inside the bowl and not on the floor.

“Darcy?” I hear Adam’s sexy, gruff morning voice which usually does things to me but not today... I don’t answer - I can’t, I just keep heaving into the toilet. A hand touches my head and pulls the hair from my face. He squats down to eye level. “Hey.”

“Morning.” I groan. He passes me some tissue to wipe my mouth then stands and runs the cloth under the cold tap, places it on my forehead and wipes around my face. Once I’m done I stand and flush the toilet but I must stand too quickly I think as the room spins, I hold onto the wall for balance.

Before I can take another step, I’m being lifted into strong arms as Adam carries me back to bed. He lies me down and sits next to me. “I’m going to do you some toast and some juice, stay there. I’ll be back in five.” He kisses my forehead and walks away.

The urge to pee comes on quickly, I stand on shaky legs and make my way back to the bathroom. Once I’ve done my business, I stand at the sink wash my hands and splash some cold water on my face then brush my teeth to get rid of the vile taste in my mouth, then look in the cabinet for some kind of Settler’s for my stomach. All that’s in there are paracetamol, Ibuprofen, toothpaste and sanitary towels… shit! Sanitary towels! Why the fuck didn’t I think about that, but I’ve been taking the pill - oh fuck, fuck, fuck!

I make sure to slip back into bed as I hear Adam padding up the stairs. My teeth bite down on bottom lip as I panic about the ‘what if’s’. How could I be so stupid? But I took the morning after pill too. Oh shit! What if I am pregnant and it’s done some damage.

“Come on baby, sit up.” I pull myself back up into a sitting position and take a sip of cold orange juice. “What’s up?” Adam asks as I shrug. I nibble at my toast, bit by bit so I don’t make myself sick again. The passing out and the sickness now makes sense.

“I want to go to the hospital soon.”

“Yeah ok, as soon as you’re feeling better.”

“I feel better now.”

“Well, you eat your toast and I’ll grab a shower if that’s okay with you?”

I smile. “Yeah of course.” He kisses my cheek and enters the bathroom giving me a wink as he turns to shut the door. As shitty as I feel right now, I’d love to join him in there and run my hands over his wet and muscular body. Shit, what is wrong with me?

I eat the rest of my toast and drink my juice, feeling a little better I omit the chance to shower with Adam and get dressed instead. By the time he walks back in dripping wet, his brown hair mussed up from where he’s rubbed it dry and the towel wrapped around his waist, I’m dressed, no longer feeling sick but maybe a little horny.

I brush through my hair and tie it back.

I’m now physically ready to see my Dad, emotionally... who knows.  

We enter the room where my Dad is. Mum isn’t here though. I walk slowly to the bed and see Dad lying there - lifeless. Machines around him, monitors are bleeping, he has a tube going into mouth and needles going into his hand with an IV connected to it. Tears fill my eyes, before I can stop them they’re spilling over and running down my cheeks. The tears that didn’t want to show an appearance yesterday are definitely making up for it today. I’m pulled back into a hard chest and strong arms wrap around me. I turn in Adam’s arms and bury my face into his chest. “He’s not going to make it, is he?” I sob.

“I don’t know baby, I just don’t know.” His voice is muffled as his lips rest on top of my head.

I look up at Adam and rest my chin on his chest. “Can you fetch me some water please?”

“Yeah, of course, sit down for a bit though, you’re not well.” Adam’s hands brush gently across my cheeks into my hair, he bends slightly before capturing my lips and kissing them softly. He lets me go and turns from me, he walks away and leaves the room, I sit down in the chair at the side of the bed.

I take Dad’s hand in mine and feel the callouses and roughness of his hands from the years of working on cars. “Dad, I miss you.” I say thickly as I sniff back my emotion. “Why didn’t you listen to us when we asked you not to keep taking those tablets, huh? I just want you to come back to me, to us. What am I supposed to do without you? You’re my hero, you always have been ever since I was a little girl.” I wipe away the tears from my face. “I’ve tried so hard to keep everything going and I just don’t know if I can do it anymore if you’re not around. I need you Dad. I love you so much.” I stand and place my cheek against his chest, just like I did when I was little and needed a cuddle. I put my arms either side of him and lay against him bending over the bed.

The monitors suddenly start to beep like mad, I lift my head, scared. The nurses and the doctor from last night burst through the door telling me to stand back. “No! What’s wrong with him? Please don’t let him die!” I walk backwards towards the door until the wall is at my back. “Nooooo.”

Adam pulls me from the room as a nurse shuts the door behind us. “Oh god Adam, I don’t want him to die. I’m not ready to lose him yet!”