14
A sound from the baby monitor wakes Alex the next morning. He glances at his watch. Six thirty.
“Alex?” Allie’s voice trails into a moan.
“I’ll be right there,” he tells her and swings his legs out of bed, pulling his tee-shirt on as he hurries down the stairs.
He can hear her crying as he approaches the bedroom and flicks the light on. The smell hits him first and he knows already what has happened
“I’m so sorry to wake you, honey.” Allie's voice breaks. She’s trying to get out of bed without success and doubles over, clutching her stomach, her face crumpling in pain.
“It’s okay,” he says and catches her before she falls forward on to the floor. The combination of the laxative and the fruit from last night have worked; the bed and her nightgown are a mess. Alex gathers her up in his arms and carries her to the bathroom.
“Do you still need the toilet?” he asks gently.
“No, the cramps are just bad. ” She's panting and beads of sweat dot her forehead.
He grabs a towel from the rail and puts it on the chair next to the bath, sit her down, and when he’s sure she’s stable, runs the shower. Rinses his arms clean, peels off his tee-shirt.
“I’m so sorry.” Tears drip off the end of her nose as she leans forward, arms wrapped around herself. “I tried to get up but the pain was so bad, I couldn’t and before I could call you, it just…”
“It’s okay,” he tells her again and tests the water with his hand. Satisfied with the temperature, he turns back to her. “I’m going to take your nightgown off okay? Then we can get you cleaned up and warm.”
Sniffling, she closes her eyes and raises her arms like a child and waits. Murmuring reassurances to her, Alex removes the soiled garment and drops it on the floor with his tee-shirt. Thanks God Ben’s not here; her ribs, hip bones, and vertebrae are all visible and he takes care when he lifts her in his arms and swings her into the shower. Pours shower gel on a sponge and offers it to her.
“Can you wash yourself or do you need me to help?”
Still leaning against him, she takes the sponge in one trembling hand, and begins to rub it over her skin, while he follows behind her with the shower head, rinsing the soap away. She groans again and holds her stomach, head dropping against Alex’s shoulder.
“Okay?”
“Yes, just hurts.”
“Soon as we get you back in some warm clothes, I’ll get you something for that, I promise.”
He shuts off the water and reaches for a towel to wrap her in, then wets a face cloth and washes her face and scalp, wiping away tears and sweat. Back in the bedroom, he finds her some underwear, a pair of clean cotton sweat pants, a tee-shirt, and an old hoodie. Helps her dress, then takes her to the living room, and wraps one of the blankets from behind the couch around her.
“I’m going to grab the bedsheets and put the kettle on, I’ll be right back, okay? Just call if you need me.”
He goes back to the bathroom and collects their discarded clothes and towels, then opens the windows and gathers up the stained bedlinen, takes it all to the laundry and dumps it on the floor. Washes his hands and arms and returns to the kitchen to put the kettle on. Makes a cup of weak tea, selects a bottle of pain pills, and goes to her.
“Here you go,” he sits on the edge of the couch and wraps her hands around the cup. Keeps his hand there as she drinks. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you.” She raises humiliated eyes to his. He shakes his head and takes her hand.
“Allie, don’t be embarrassed, it’s not your fault,” he says. “Will you be okay if I run upstairs quickly and get dressed?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine.”
“That’s my girl,” Alex says and takes the stairs two at a time.
Bart meets him at the door, tail wagging. Alex scratches his ears and pulls on jeans, a tee-shirt, and one of his old tunics. Hangs his pajama pants over the shower rail to dry. Picks up his phone. Damn. There are two missed calls from Ben. He hits call back and goes back to the stairs holding Bart by the collar, not wanting him to jump on Allie.
“Is everything okay?” Ben’s voice is breathless and panicky when he answers. “I tried calling …”
“I was in the shower.” Alex hopes he sounds convincing miling as he shoves Bart out into the courtyard and goes back to sit next to Allie.
“Jesus, baby,” Ben says, “you scared the shit out of me.”
Alex bites his lip and wills himself not to laugh.
“Sorry but you’re the one who has always has a thing about me showering. Figured I better not let standards drop while I’m down here.”
“You’re sure everything’s okay?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Why are you ringing me at six thirty anyway?” Though it occurs to him he knows why and is glad he doesn’t have the speaker-phone on.
“Well I missed you and I thought we could at least cheer each other up before the day started but then I got worried because you weren’t answering and now I’m dressed.”
His voice trails off in disappointment and Alex can’t help smiling.
“Poor baby. I’m sorry. It’ll be Friday soon."
“I may as well go to work,” Ben says and sighs. “Guess you’ll go for a run.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“You know, you could go back to bed and think of me –”
“Go to work, idiot.”
When he hangs up, he shakes his head and throws the phone on the table. Goes to Allie and folds his fingers around her bony wrist, counting her pulse.
“Did he phone while you were with me and panic?”
Alex nods. Allie rubs her eyes with a shaking hand.
“What did you tell him?”
“That I was in the shower.” He remembers what Ben said and his mouth twitches.
“Not entirely a lie,” Allie replies. She smiles, it’s small and weak but still a smile. “What’s so funny?”
He hesitates then decides what the hell.
“He says I scared the shit out of him.”
They look at each other for a moment then begin to laugh, stopping only when Allie grimaces at another cramp.
“Oh dear,” she says, gasping for breath. “He was phoning awfully early. Was he hoping for phone sex?”
Alex scratches his head and tries to not look as awkward as he feels.
“Um,yeah, something like that.”
“Well, I’m sorry you started your day in a much less pleasant manner,” she pats his knee, “but I suppose it can only go up from here.”
“Allie, that could happen again,” he takes her hand, “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I know that’s easy for me to say but honestly, that’s why I’m here. To help with things like that.”
Allie is quiet for a few moments.
“Somehow it would have been worse if it had been a stranger in the house,” she says and bright spots of color stain her cheeks. “I’m not thrilled that I just had my son-in-law clean up my shit, quite literally, and shower me but I’m glad it's someone I could laugh with after. Does that make sense?’
“Perfect sense,” he says. “Drink your tea.”
They sit until Bart comes inside dragging an old bone he’s found under the hedge and Alex has to take it off him. Allie has fallen asleep.
◆◆◆