There’s a sachet of lavender bath salts on the counter. Yes. This isexactlywhat I need.
I luxuriate in the bath for nearly half an hour. Only the promise of food could have gotten me out of the magic that is this tub. I’m standing on the rug drying when there’s a soft knock at the door.
“I smell lavender out here,” Alex says. Just the thought of him on the other side of the door has me smiling, despite the ache still present within my skull. “No rush, but the food’s here.”
“Oh, I’m rushing. I can’t have you eating all the food before I get out there!”
I hear his chuckle through the door.
A moment later, dressed in my flamingo finest, I step out into the red-carpeted bedroom and find Alex standing by the table, which was covered in a truly obnoxious amount of food.
“What did you do? We’ll never be able to eat all this.”
“Darling, you underestimate how hungry I am. And you trusted me to place our order. I wanted to make sure I had some new-to-you things you would love.”
I take a deep inhale. “Judging by the smell, I’m sure I will.”I finish towel-drying my hair and take the towel back to the bathroom.
“Judging by the bite of stew I just had, I’m sure you will.”
I laugh to myself as I come back into the bedroom. They actually have stew for the weary traveler. I approach the table and find a few small pies, a tiny pot pie of some sort, the stew—which appears to have been served over mashed potatoes—a beautiful salad, and … fish and chips!
In the end, we did not finish all the food, but we were close. As I’m eating, my head gets worse, not better, so when we finish, I tell Alex goodnight and send him on his way with the food tray. The smell is getting to me, and I’m regretting eating as much as I did.
I climb in the bed and over the course of the next hour of tossing and turning, my headache deteriorates into a migraine.
31
Alexander
SomethingwasoffwithIvy tonight. I asked her if she was okay, and she said she had a little headache the food should fix, but it seemed like more than that. I hope she isn’t regretting coming. I mean, she didn’t act like she regretted anything. But she didn’t seem at all like herself either. I think perhaps she was lost in her thoughts. I just hope they weren’t sending her in the opposite direction from me.
I showered, and returned a few messages I received during the day, then went to bed. And now, I’ve been lying here for half an hour or so, but something within me will not settle. I turn on my side and try to focus on the good things, instead of worrying about what may be going on with Ivy. I remember the smell of the lavender coming underneath the bathroomdoor, and the feeling of domesticity the whole situation gave me. How real and right it felt, settling into a room with her. To wait as she filled the room with a floral scent as she got ready for bed.
I reach for my phone to check the time and find a message from Ivy sent fifteen minutes ago.
BEAUTIFUL IVY
Need you come help my please
I don’t bother with a shirt; I just grab my key, sprint to the door, and fling it open. When I knock on hers, it's several agonizing moments before the door opens. Ivy must have been leaning on it a bit because she collapses into my arms.
“Alex.” Her voice is so small and so weak; it crushes something within me.
“Shhh,” I soothe, as I pull her up fully into my arms and walk her to the bed. “It’s gonna be alright, darling. I’m here now and I’m gonna do everything I can to make you well again.” I lay her down as gently as I can, then smooth her hair out of her face.
“Alex.” Ivy reaches out her hand and grabs hold of my bare shoulder.
“I’m here, darling.” She drops her arm and I place a soft kisson her forehead. “Can you tell me what’s wrong? What can I do?”
“Migraine.” She takes a deep breath. “I need you to find medicine somewhere.”
“Okay.”
I don’t have anything, but I call down to the front desk and see if they happen to have some or know where I can get some. The inn itself doesn’t, but the woman at the desk has some in her purse and says she’ll bring it right up.
I fill a cup with water and help Ivy sit just enough to be able to take the pill.
“I’m sorry. You should be sleeping right now,” she says. In the darkness I can barely make out the tears rolling down her cheeks.
