The Royal Contract

1035 From zero to ten in a split second

Like all the other nights, he could not go home until he had seen her. He could have driven straight to his apartment, which was nearer his office, but he had to turn the other way around.

He drove in the traffic and then into the almost empty street to be with her. No matter how late he got out of work, he went straight to her to check on her. He knew that he would not get any sleep if he could not see her.

Although Roseann told him he should not stay overnight, sleeping on the chair or the couch, he would still have lingered for a few hours before returning to his empty apartment. He needed assurance that she was ok.

“Hi, David. You are late today.” The nurse on duty greeted him. They were getting familiar with him since he was always around.

They even brought him coffee or a sandwich from time to time. But he could guess it could be Roseann who asked them to do so. Still, he appreciated their kindness and concern.

It somehow gave him peace of mind, knowing they would not let anything happen to his beloved while he was not around. At least Rosella was in good hands.

“I had a late meeting.” He explained to the kind nurse who always had her late night shift. “How is she doing? Were there any changes while I was gone.”

He could not help but hope for a positive update about her condition. Any indication that she might be waking up sooner than later. But the woman only made a solemn face, telling him that there was nothing.

“Don’t worry, maybe later or tomorrow.” She tried to encourage him as she walked passed him after her rounds. He would see her again later before he left when she checked on her again.

.....

In the meantime, he walked further into the room to sit beside her. He moved his chair closer to the bed, so he could be comfortable holding her hand. He wanted her to know that he was here. He might have left, but he would always return to her.

“I had been busy today. Work has piled up, but Evan is doing all he can to help. But he also has many things on his mind.” He started talking about his day at the office, telling her what he had done.

The doctors suggested that conversations could stimulate her brain and increase its activities. It could help in her speedy recovery. Maybe she would wake up soon.

He pulled her hand closer to him, warming it up with his hands. Since she did not have movements, her body had turned cold from the air conditioning around her. But the doctors assured him that she was not feeling any of it.

Still, he massaged her hands gently with the tip of his fingers and then covered them with his palms. He tickled her, hoping to get a reaction from her, but the only visible motion he noticed was the air going through her chest as it went up and down.

“I told Evan that if he loves Amelia, he should marry her immediately. He should not postpone their plans because they were waiting for us.” That was a joke between him and his best friend.

He kept talking to her about the meetings he had with some clients. He even discussed a few possible strategies he might use in his next negotiation. But her eyes remained closed.

He remembered that she would allow him to use her as his sounding board whenever he found himself in a bind. She would help him by giving some valuable opinions that sometimes help.

But what mattered most to him was her. The fact that she would give her time to listen to his whining. That was more than enough. He was lucky to find a woman like her to love and who loved him.

“Hey, David. I thought I told you not to stay too late.” Roseann’s voice echoed in the room as she entered to check on her sister. “You should go home and rest.”

He knew she only meant well. As she said before, she did not want him to get sick. He understood her concern and took her advice to heart.

He was not here to argue with her since he agreed with her. He also had to look after himself.

“I just arrived a few minutes ago. I had a late meeting.” He reasoned with her since she was keen on throwing him out the door. “And I brought something with me.”

He momentarily let go of her hand but not before leaving a lingering kiss on her knuckles. Then, he gently returned it to her side. He stood up and walked to the bags he had left behind on the table.

“Fine, you can stay, but stop sleeping here. It is not a hotel room. Besides, you will have a backache and a stiff neck if you keep dozing on that chair. Roseann pointed to the stiff chair used by the visitors.

He could sleep on the couch, but the last time taught him that it was not such a comfortable experience. The furniture was narrow and short. He could not fit his body when he lay down on it.

“I am not staying as long as you keep your promise to update me. But I brought dinner with me. I could not eat earlier, so I thought I might as well eat here.” He dangled the paper bag in his hand in front of his future sister-in-law.

He thought of eating at home, but the idea of silence and emptiness did not appeal to him. Then, he remembered she might be hungry since she worked most nights at the graveyard shift.

He might as well invite her. Then, they could discuss her sister at length during the meal. It could also be his chance to get to know Rosella’s sister and her family through her.

“What do you have in there?” She hesitantly asked, raising her eyebrows, but he could sense her growing interest.

“I have a variety of Mexican dishes.” He placed the bag on the table and opened it up. It was still slightly warm since he asked the chef to heat it before he picked it up from one of Rosella’s favorite restaurants.

He took a chance that her sister would also like it since Rosella loved their cooking. But her eyes dilated in delight when the aroma of the food floated in the room. They could smell its delicious spices as they whiffed in the air.

Without saying a word, she sat on the couch and helped unpack the food from the bag. “Are you eating? Or are you just going to stand there and stare?” She placed two plates on the table while he followed her and sat beside her.

“This is our favorite.” She slightly whispered that he almost did not catch it. But he heard her. “Thanks for this.” She forced a smile on her lips before she shook her head as if expelling a demon in her mind.

“Hey, Rosella, you better get your ass out of that bed, or you will never taste these delicious nachos.” She jokingly said to her sister. He noticed her mood shift from zero to ten in a split second. Was there something wrong, but it could be nothing?