“There is no but! What aren’t you getting here?” Jim was beginning to lose his hold on any semblance of control.
“I just—” Bobby began but after just two words found himself cut off again.
“You know what? Don’t. Don’t think, don’t speak, just don’t fucking do anything suggesting I am out of line in my attempts to keep her safe or that she shouldn’t have been safe from these infections because that is guaranteed to piss me off.”
Bobby nodded, his brother had summed up the last eight hours accurately, albeit a little over emotionally but that was completely understandable under the circumstances.
“She’s a fighter,” he said, the only offer of support he could muster now.
“She is, but she has already fought for so much. She has been through enough, hasn’t she? I mean, how much more can she fight for and continue towin?”
“Jimbo—”
Bobby never finished the words of comfort he was going to offer.
Stan appeared looking tired and a little grim but softened it with a thumbs up. “Your lady is one tough cookie. She gave us a couple of scares with her blood pressure, but she is through the surgery and signs are good. I want to keep an eye on her for a while longer but she’ll be back with you soon.”
“I’m banning all visitors,” Jim seemed to announce.
Surprisingly, Stan nodded. “I can’t say that I blame you with all she’s been through, but—”
“No. I need her to be well, to recover without any more problems.”
Stan nodded again. “She’s been unlucky, but I guess I can see why you might react this way. So long as she remains stable, we’ll keep her on IV antibiotics and pain relief for the next few days and then look at letting her home with oral meds, probably in around a week.”
****
It was actually eight days later before Tasha was released from hospital. During the drive home she considered the last week. She’d been out of it for a couple of days following her surgery and had struggled to recover as quickly as she had previously. That frustrated her almost as much as having no visitors other than Jim, but she did understand where he was coming from in terms of trying to protect from further infections and setbacks. There were times when she wanted nothing more than to be locked in a cocoon containing just the two of them but the confines of a hospital room wasn’t really how she’d ever imagined their cocoon. She smiled to herself as the house came into sight. Although she hadn’t been aware of much at all when she was at her worst, there had been days when she’d truly doubted whether she would make it back home, back here with Jim.
The car came to a standstill and while Tasha was struggling with her seat belt and opening the door, Jim had already got out and made his way round to her side. The door swung open and he prepared to help her out.
“If you try and pick me up again I will not be responsible for my actions,” snapped Tasha as she slid from the passenger seat of the car that was parked in front of the house.
“Okay, okay.” Jim held his arms up as if defending himself. “Will you at least take my arm, please,” he said seriously but smiled as Tasha took the arm he offered.
The front door virtually flew open as they got to it and Tasha physically jumped and shrank back at the sight of Lizzie, Juan, Philip, Pippa, Dan and her grandparents standing there to greet her with cries ofwelcome home.
Jim briefly allowed a look of annoyance to sneak across his face. “Can we all get in the house please, Tasha is tired.” With a short smile and the addition of a simplepleaseeveryone stepped back
He ushered her through to the back of the house where an uncomfortable looking Sandra and Mike stood in the kitchen. Sandra was preparing food for everyone.
Mike winked at Tasha then excused himself. “Good to have you back, Tasha, but I'm gonna get off and I’ll catch up with you later in the week.” He quickly exited through the back door.
Tasha silently wished she was back in the two-person cocoon she’d previously been frustrated by. She wished everyone else would do the same as Mike and leave, but they were there for the duration and once she was settled on the sofa, she found herself flanked by Pippa and Lizzie who were already competing for her attention and time.
Sensing her unease, Philip called to them both with some excuse leaving Juan to sit down next to her. He looked concerned as he took the hand of his friend in his. “Too much?”
Tasha smiled at him and nodded as she whispered, “I was hoping the house would be empty and I could just sit down and relax.”
“Jim was hoping for much the same so I think this is a surprise to him, too. Everyone was worried about you and with the visiting ban since your last operation we’ve all missed you.”
Tasha nodded and smiled; her nod understanding her friends and family wanting to see her and her smile for Jim and his desire to take care of her. “Jim did what he thought was best and with my track record with infections it was probably for the best. I did miss you all too, though.”
“I get it, but you know what Lizzie is like when she gets an idea in her head. Fortunately, we talked her out of a big welcome home party.” He smiled, gripping her hand and giving it a squeeze as Paul sat on the other side of her.
“Nat, I was thinking, Jim will have to go back to work at some point so why don't you come home for a while, with us.”
“Gramps, please. We've talked about this already. I'm staying here, this is my home now.” She rested her head on her grandfather's shoulder, wanting to offer comfort but no glimmer of hope that she might go anywhere.
