Chapter Thirty-Two
Alyssa
“It’s not a big deal,” I argued with Liam and Holly, who were hovering like crazy.
They were sweet to worry, but they were driving me nuts.
“We just want to help,” Liam said, stroking my hair from my face.
“You have. I didn’t need my appendix anyway. They do these surgeries all day long,” I explained calmly.
“Yes, on other people, not you,” Liam pointed out.
They had been there all night, no one conceding to go home and rest. I slept; after surgery, I was out like a light, and even when I’d wake up, it was only for a few moments.
“Let me help,” Liam insisted, pushing his way through the nurses and standing in front of my wheelchair.
It felt like too much. I was fine. The surgery was simple, and everything went great. I didn’t need this wheelchair, the nurse delivering me to my mom’s car, or Liam trying to help into it. I could get up on my own.
“Owwww,” I cried out as I stubbornly tried to stand on my own.
Liam’s eyes widened, and the fear in his eyes was priceless.
“It’s okay. I’m okay. It’s just sore. I tried to move too fast, that’s all,” I assured him.
I couldn’t even see Holly, but I knew she was behind me, freaking out as badly as her father. I laughed to myself. Her father. It still felt so surreal to say that.
“Liam, let the nurse help,” Maria had had enough of all the fussing.
She ordered Liam out of the way, which, surprisingly, he obliged, and the nurse helped load me into the car.
Aiden had left late the night before, once the surgery was over, and stranded Liam without a truck. I tried to get him to let my mom take him home, but he refused, swearing he’d never leave my side.
Liam climbed into the back seat with Holly, and Mom reached across the console and squeezed my hand.
“At least we know what was making you so sick,” she sighed with relief.
It was a huge relief to me as well, especially after the pregnancy scare. I’d never told anyone about that, except Holly, who’d busted me. But, it wasn’t pregnancy: it was a rupturing appendix. Thank God!
The entire ride home, Liam and Holly were suffocating. They rolled up all the windows and asked me how the temperature was over and over as they continued to adjust the knobs. At one point, I thought my mom would pull over and put them out on the street, but she kept it together until we got home.
Liam helped me inside, which I appreciated. He was strong, which made me feel secure to lean against him. Holly fluffed pillows, spread blankets on the couch, and hurried into the kitchen to get me a glass of water.
“Why don’t you two go get some food for Alyssa? She’s probably starving,” Maria said, I knew partially to get rid of them for a moment.
I was grateful.
“Yes, I’m hungry, and I’m sure there’s nothing I can eat here,” I agreed, knowing I wasn’t really hungry, but a break was well deserved at this point.
“Okay. What do you want?” Liam asked me.
“I don’t care. Mom has a list of what I can eat,” I pointed to her standing in the kitchen doorway.
She pulled a sheet of paper from her purse, shoving it towards Liam.
“Take Holly with you so she can help. I’ll get Alyssa settled in here,” Maria promised.
Liam looked hesitant to leave me, and Holly looked even more hesitant to tag along.
“It’ll be fine,” I promised, shooing them away.
My mom laughed as they closed the door behind them.
“Love hurts,” she chuckled.
“No shit,” I laughed.
Ow, it hurt to laugh.
“At least you’re not pregnant,” Maria smirked.
“You knew about that?” I gasped.
“There’s not much I don’t know,” she warned with a nod and an eerie smile.
“Why didn’t you say something?” I asked.
“Say what?” she laughed.
I leaned back on the couch, positioning the pillow where it propped me up. My mom covered me with the blanket, smiled, and leaned in for a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Get some rest while you can. Before you know it, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will be back,” she laughed.
I closed my eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet. My mom was right. It wasn’t long before they returned, and they carried in so many bags, I thought they bought out the entire grocery store.
“You know I’m only on this diet for a couple days,” I explained.
“I know. We got some other stuff too, for when you’re better,” Liam grinned as he pulled out a container of moose tracks ice cream, my favorite.
“I can have the ice cream now,” I whined.
“No, not until you’ve eaten other foods to make sure you can handle it. You don’t want to get sick with that incision,” Liam warned.
The incision. I didn’t mean to be vain, but it was bothering me that they hacked me open, leaving a nasty scar on my belly.
“You can have applesauce,” Holly smiled, holding up the container of liquid gunk. I hated applesauce.
“Do you need something to drink?” Liam asked.
“No, I’m good,” I responded.
“Do you want something to eat now?” Holly asked.
“No, I can wait,” I replied.
“Is your pillow okay?” Liam asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Are you cold?” Holly asked.
“No, I’m perfect,” I responded.
Oh my God!
“How about a movie?” Liam asked, pulling a DVD from his jacket.
“That would be good. I just want to relax,” I explained.
Liam put in the movie and sat at the end of the couch rubbing my feet, and Holly sat at the top end, stroking my hair gently as I fell asleep.