Seven
1791 Words
Elliot relaxed more on a wooden chair out of the pair sitting in the average spaced office trying to ease his tense form.
His eyes rested sternly on the doctor who cleared her throat and peeled her eyes from the file she studied.
Offering him an apologetic look.
"I would like to know what's wrong with my son? Why is he wheezing that way?" He asked, letting his worry show a bit.
She sat up more straight, "How does Ivan sleep at night? I mean, Does he wear thin clothes? Is it too cold?"
"Why all these questions?" He raised his brows.
"Ivan is only one month, right? He would be in his second month a week from now and at this stage young children his age is most susceptible to pneumonia and unfortunately, he is infected. His lungs are under an infection which caused his fever and his wheezing." She paused studying him for a while.
"It is good you brought him here this night, his condition would have been a lot worst. Since he is young, he is supported by breathing machines to enable him to breathe well."
Elliot felt a bit bad he resulted in his son's present predicaments, he would admit Ivan was lightly dressed at night.
And nights at New York are mostly cold.
"How long would his treatment last? And is he getting any better?"
A little smile broached her lips, " He is very strong, and seem to be recovering faster than I expected. He is responding fast to all the medications."
She sat up straighter clearing her throat, he took that as a cue she wanted to say something serious.
"Ivan's medical reports has it he lost his mother just when he was born and I understand how stressful it must have been. Initially, when I haven't studied his file I mistook the woman that took him in her arms and calmed him down when I tried to put his breathing support system as his mother. I truly apologized for that."
He gave a little nod, before rising and leaving her office, pondering over her statement about Abigail.
He can't ignore or deny the signs that his son truly sees the Red hair as his mother and the way she cared for him.
How worried she looked and her efforts to calm Ivan down doesn't look like an act.
It was too real, the emotions and the care too real be an act.
He approached his son ward, peeking through the little glass hole that was cut through the wooden door.
He saw her.
Her Red hair splayed softly on the bed with her eyes closed.
She was sat on a stool but rested her hair just close to Ivan on the bed, both their hands intertwined as they slept together.
He pushed through the door and walked softly so as not to wake any of them up.
Walking over to Ivan's side he caressed him with a kiss on his forehead gently smoothing his silky dark hair for a little while.
He turned on his heels to leave but suddenly halted, craning his head to stare momentarily at the red hair.
He sighted a discarded blanket and a little couch pillow resting on the room couch.
Sighing inwardly at what he was about to do.
He picked up those two items and walked to her placing his fingers underneath her face, raising her head a bit to place the pillow underneath.
Her hair was extremely soft as it breezed on his arm but he ignored it.
Tried to.
Finally, with her head put, he splayed the blanket over her and left the room at once.
It was morning and Abigail is met with a surprise when her eyes flutter open, Ivan was awake, one, and his little hands messed with her hair making it look like a bird's nest.
And two, despite the mild cramp in her neck regions she's shocked to see a pillow underneath her head and a blanket wrapped around her.
Searching her memory on how these two items were placed underneath and around her she found nothing.
Maybe the doctor placed them, that is a safe assumption.
If not the doctor, Ghosts were too far from reality but it was possible.
She turned her focus to Ivan who seemed better already, he smiled when he saw her.
His little green eyes balls of energy.
"Ivan," she cooed in a little whisper, reaching downwards to give him a peck.
He giggled in his mask, a toothless smile marked with a little dimple on his left cheek.
His hands tried to reach for her face going for her hair once more but she withdrew.
"You might be hungry and need a change of clothes, let me ring the nurse to help."
She pressed the help button on the little stand, her other free hand gently caressing him but her attention was cut short when the door came open revealing Mr Elliot.
He looked different from last night, was in a different outfit.
His dark hair look slick and wet like he recently showered, overall he looked fresh.
They stood in silence for a while then she noticed Mr Elliot's little frown and his elevated stare.
Her hair.
She gasped involuntarily and made use of her finger raking through her nest to make it less horrifying.
She is sure she looked like an eyesore but surely it didn't deserve the frown Mr Elliot gave her.
He took a step forward his deep baritone voice cut across the room drawing even Ivan's attention, his adorable eyes resting on his father.
"You should leave, I would care for Ivan."
He walked more into the room.
She seemed dumbfounded for a while before he broke it again, "You have a job? If I am your employer you would have been fired."
She twitched the side of her lips, still smoothing her hair with her fingers before finding her voice, "Well you are not my boss. My boss would understand."
"My driver would drop you at any location you want, he is waiting and I don't appreciate wasting time."
She huffed inwardly rolling her eyes at his annoying controlling attitude.
Leaning slightly over the bed, she bid Ivan a goodbye kiss before walking away from him.
A sad pout formed on his face, "Don't cry Ivan, " she tried to coo but his pout remained.
She walked towards the door regardless feeling quite sad, before she turned the knob she paused, turning her head to face Mr Elliot to do the impossible, "Can I visit Ivan in the evening?"
Who was she kidding? Her request was probably dead on arrival.
He never liked her around Ivan and it won't change either.
After a long silence from his side, she gave up twisting the knob about to leave when his voice broke her strides, "You can."
Elliot somewhat felt gratified as a wide smile grew on her lips, her eyes expressed more but she contained her joy.
"Ivan, don't be sad, your father said I can visit now, " she grinned from ear to ear.
__
When Mrs Vivian heard of what happened in the short period she was gone she left immediately leaving Mr Clement to continue the remainder of whatever activities they had left.
She was worried sick about Ivan and how Elliot might have managed but reaching his home she met a different image that was different from the one her mind conjured.
"Mother," Elliot greeted, hugging her briefly before letting go.
"Is Ivan fine?" She asked her worries spilling.
"Yes, he is doing well," he replied.
"Can I see him?" she asked.
He gave a nod leading her to Ivan's room, twisting the knob open, a loud gasp escaped his mother's lips.
Abigail had Ivan in her arms pestering his face with kisses while singing to him, her face an expression of true happiness.
He was about to get into the room when his mother's hold on his arm halted him.
She drew him away from Abigail's sight.
Her voice indicated surprise, "What's Abigail doing here? I thought you didn't want her near Ivan."
He raised a brow at her, "You should tell me why her mobile number is your number for emergencies ."
A guilty expression etched on her face with a tinge of mischief.
He explained to her what transpired that night and how helpful she was with Ivan.
A frown etched on his mother's face at his last statement, "Why would ever think she is faking the affection she has for Ivan and you think I would let such a woman near my grandson. I thought you were smarter than this, " she huffed.
"Abigail is a pure soul, this is the most real version of her you would ever see."
This is the light pause followed by a lingering stare of care by his mother. He knew she wanted to say something and he might not like it.
"Elliot, won't you agree with me she makes the perfect match to be Ivan's mother, " she started cautiously.
He took a few strides away from her, his back facing her but it didn't derail her.
He wished she wouldn't go there, they've had this discussion countless times.
"I know how hard Audrey's death was on all of us, most especially you. I know just how much she means to you and this might seem all wrong but think of your son. He can't grow up without a mother, I am sure even Audrey would approve of this."
His head craned back to her faster than light, his look extremely pained mixed with fury, "Don't you get it? I can't replace Audrey." He almost yelled.
She came around to face him her hands, dropping soothingly at his shoulder pads, "Elliot, Ivan! He is too young to undergo the distress of not having a mother and your father is on same page with me. If you want to punish yourself separate Ivan from it."
"He needs Abigail."
He looks straight into his mother's eyes still pained but his anger subsided, "I promised Audrey I would make Ivan happy and not to feel her absence."
"But I am not ready for a wife."
"Ivan needs a mother." She started, weighing her words.
"And she doesn't need to be a wife in the real sense before she becomes your son's mother. Abigail can be a mother under a marriage but not a wife."
His eyes narrowed into slits at her words trying to comprehend, "What do you mean?"
A little silence followed from her side before she broke it with a reply, "Abigail would be your wife only on papers if she agrees."
- Writer
