Chapter 51
1132 Words
The next morning, Dean woke up with a start, feeling like something was wrong. He stared at the empty bed next to him, then at the bright sun on the bedroom wall. When he glanced at the clock and saw that it was well past ten o’clock, he flung himself out of the bed.
“Emma!” he said, utterly f*****g panicked. “Where are you?”
“In the kitchen,” her voice floated back. “What’s wrong?”
He almost ran down the hall to her and she turned, coffee pot held aloft, a puzzled look on her face. He skidded to a halt and peered at her. He was stunned to see that she looked absolutely gorgeous: well-rested and fresh, with pink in her cheeks. Her beautiful eyes were wide with alarm.
“Dean? What?”
“Oh, God.” He leaned against the wall. “You scared me.”
“I did?”
“Dean, you OK?”
He looked over to see Chris on his feet, a cup of coffee in his hand.
“What are you doing here?” Dean said.
“I called Emma earlier to see if you guys needed anything from the grocery store. I was there anyway, and so I thought I’d do some shopping for her if she wanted. I picked up some stuff and dropped it off and stayed for a coffee.”
Dean turned to Emma. “I woke up and you weren’t there. It scared the life out of me. I thought maybe you’d fallen down or something.”
“I’m OK,” she said. “I’m fine.”
“I can see that,” he said. “But I can’t think the last time that happened – that you woke up before I did.”
“I can.” She poured him a coffee and handed it to him.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “It was the morning after the night we met. I snuck out at four a.m.”
He stared at her. “Are you making a joke?”
“Yep.”
He blinked. “So… you’re feeling good today?”
“I’m feeling great today. I was just about to make Chris some breakfast. What do you want to eat?”
“You – what? No way. Go sit down, right now.” He spun and glared at Chris, who looked taken aback. “And just what the f**k are you doing, asking her to make you breakfast? You should be in here cooking for her.”
“Dean.” Emma lay a hand on his forearm. “It’s fine. I offered.”
“He should have said no!”
“Babe.” She spoke so quietly, Dean paused and looked at her. “When I have good days, you have to let me do stuff. Normal stuff, like cooking and making coffee and doing laundry. I need to do these things. I don’t know when I’m going to feel good again, right? I do know that I start another cycle of chemo tomorrow and so by tomorrow night, I’m going to be back in bed puking my guts up, too weak to move, too sick to even talk.” She smiled. “So, let me be normal, just for one day. OK?”
He stared at her some more, then stepped forward and held her to him. “Oh, honey. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “Just sit down with Chris while I make us all breakfast. Let me do something for you guys, for a change.”
He kissed her gently and pulled her closer, then turned to Chris and spoke over the top of her head. “Sorry, man. I shouldn’t have hollered at you.”
“It’s OK,” Chris said. “I don’t blame you at all. If Emma were my girlfriend? I’d kick all your asses if you made her so much as lift a baby finger for any of you.”
She smiled at Chris. “Oh, you enlightened men. Secret feminists, all of you.”
Dean reeled back in mock horror. “I will not be called that word in my own home.”
“Go sit,” she said. “Let the little woman tend to the big, strong men for once.”
So Dean and Chris sat on the sofa, watching Emma in the kitchen. Neither one of them said anything, but they didn’t have to: they liked having her back. Even if it was just for a little while; even if it was for just one day.
****
After Chris left, Emma looked at Dean sitting on the sofa. He was relaxed and looked better than he had in ages.
He caught her eye. “What’s up, honey?”
“Oh, nothing much. Just thinking about seducing you.”
He blinked. “What?”
“You heard me.”
Dean stared at her. “Really?”
“Um-hmmm.” She walked over to him, sat on his lap. She ran her fingers over his chest slowly. “I want to make love with you, babe.”
“I don’t know… I’m scared that I’ll hurt you.”
She leaned in and kissed him. Despite his reluctance, he responded helplessly, starved for her. She gasped as his tongue probed her mouth, and he held her face in both of his hands, plunging more deeply. He pulled back, placed his large hand on the back of her neck. His forehead touched hers.
“You sure, Emma? Absolutely sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I want to be normal, to forget about it all. To be with you. Just for one day.”
He stood up, cradling her gently. “Then that’s what we’ll do, baby.”
Later, she lay shaking in his arms, sobbing and trying to catch her breath. Dean held her close and tight, glad that he had been able to give her pleasure one more time.
“I love you, angel.” The words tumbled out of him, almost against his will, but he wasn’t sorry that they did. He wouldn’t take them back, not for anything.
Emma raised her head, surprised. “You do?”
“I do.”
She smiled, and it was that beautiful smile that had ensnared him the first night that they had met. “I love you, too.”
“For real?”
“Yeah.” She touched his eyes and felt the tears in them. Her face softened and she kissed him gently.
“I love you so much, Emma. We’re going to get through this, OK? Together.”
She nodded, almost believing it this time. “Together.”
- Writer
