“I know, honey,” Zachariah said. “Let me take care of you, okay.”
“No more meds,” I said, giving him the best of a glare as I could as his soft look.
“At least not those,” he compromised. “I’ll have Violet get you something a bit weaker. I only have the strong stuff here.”
“Get hurt a lot?” I asked as he gently lifted me into his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder, too weak to fight him. Truthfully, I don’t think I would have fought him anyway. I liked being in his arms.
“You could say that,” he said, standing easily with me and walking to the bathroom. There, he helped me to stand, using the counter for support. He didn’t expand on why he was hurt, which might have been a good thing at the moment. My mind was fuzzy, and thinking of what he had to go through wouldn’t help me any. One day soon, I’d bug him about it.
“Do you want a bath?” he asked after I used the toilet. He did turn his back to me, but I didn’t really care at the moment.
“No,” I answered. I did, God did I, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to take one on my own at the moment with being so weak. Maybe after a short nap.
“Okay,” he said as though he could read my mind. “Let me wash your face before we go downstairs.”
With a warm wash cloth, he gently wiped my face off, clearing away the sweat that had collected. Once done, he handed me some mouthwash so I could get the bad taste out of my mouth. When I finished, he shot me a small smile before picking me up as he had before. I wrapped my arms around his neck, letting my eyes drift closed. At least the nausea had passed quickly but left me feeling dazed and tired.
“What did you give her?” a female voice screeched as Zachariah stepped off the stairs onto the landing.
“Dextromethorphan,” he answered grouchily.
“Seriously! You idiot!” she yelled, following Zachariah toward the living room. Her screeching made me clench my eyes shut tight as her voice rang in my ears.
“Would you keep it down?” he seethed, setting me down on the couch and wrapping a blanket around my body. I opened my eyes lazily, seeing a woman that I had seen at the church more often than I could remember.
Her light brown hair was in soft wide ringlets over her shoulders, slightly pinned back from her heart shaped face. Her dull blue eyes were filled with disbelief as she looked at me as I lounged on the couch in a home that was not mine.
“Avidya Ray,” she said in awe before shooting Zachariah a look filled with questions and anger.
“Violet,” I muttered in greeting as a wave of dizziness washed over me once more.
“You two know one another?” Zachariah asked, shocked.
“Yes,” Violet answered, softer now. “I go to her father’s church. But that doesn’t explain why she is here, on your couch, about to pass out with drugs in her system.”
“I’m here willingly,” I slurred, keeping my eyes closed. It helped to not let the dizziness take so much control.
“That’s a relief,” she said, generally relieved. “That still doesn’t answer my questions.”
“I have a bunch of them myself,” I muttered, my thoughts turning into words without my say. “Sorry, just ignore me over here.”
“No wonder why mom called me to come by,” Violet said. I could almost hear her eyes roll. “Now, shoo.”
“What? No!” Zachariah said, shocked.
“He stays,” I muttered, opening my eyes to look at her. I trusted her more than her parents, as we have talked a few times in a friendly manner, but I didn’t want Zachariah to leave me alone. He’d already seen me at my worst. I had nothing left to hide.
“Fine, suit yourself,” Violet replied hotly. Turning to me, she soothed her voice. “I’m the family doctor. I just want to check you over really quick and get you some better pain meds.”
“No more meds,” I said. I would be fine.
“If you say so,” she said, coming to kneel down beside me on the couch. “I still want to check you over, though. Just to make sure everything is okay.”
“It is,” I said, pleading with Zachariah to do something.
“She’ll be quick,” he said, not stopping her. “I’m sure my father had something to do with her doing a house call here just for you.”
“Why?” I asked tiredly.
