My nursing skills hadn’t really been tested before. When friends had been sick, I’d visited with magazines and fruit. When family members had been ill, they’d had Marie. When Marie had been ill, Dad had stepped up and looked after her, although we all suspected he’d had to read a book on it to know what to do.
I’d spent Monday off work, having already kept my diary clear in anticipation of the aftermath of Claire’s wedding. Rather than hungover, I woke wrapped in the arms of a large and frustrated man, who had things on his mind that didn’t involve working around the boot he had to wear to keep his foot still.
We’d spent the night after we got home from the hospital engrossed in each other as a way to take Eli’s mind off his injury. The messages he received asking after him were ignored as instead we sought to trace our marks on each other’s bodies and erase any doubt that was lingering after the past couple of months.
But now it was Thursday. Eli had seen the surgeon and now had a cast on his foot and ankle, but there was no need for surgery. This had put him in a worse mood than before because he now knew how long he’d be in plaster for –six weeks – and exactly how many games he’d be out for – all of them up until after Christmas. So I met grouchy Elijah, demanding Elijah and needy Elijah within a space of a few hours.
“Would you be able to bring me a beer?” I heard at the same time as there was a knock at the door. “I’d get it myself but…”
“It’ll take you three times as long. I get it,” I said, pulling two beers from the fridge and dropping one into his outstretched hand as I went to open the door.
I’d worked from his apartment for some of the time since Tuesday, basing myself there instead of at my office. This meant I could ferry him through the London traffic into the Callaghan Green offices, work there or meet clients, and then ferry him back.
He’d told me he was frustrated with being dependent on someone and he’d told me he was thankful that it was me he was dependent on. I also knew how I would’ve been in such a situation so I forgave him, although not without some degree of grumbling and arguing. The space in my world had changed and it both delighted and scared me in equal measure.
My life had revolved solely around myself for my twenty-seven years and now it had been put on its head.
And I still hadn’t said the words. Because they were a big deal. They were evidence that not only had my world shifted on its axis, but that I was happy about it.
I opened the door and saw the one and only Marie Callaghan-Green standing there, two bags of food in her hands and sharp smile on her face.
“I’ve come to see the invalid. And I’ve brought supplies.” She entered the apartment without an invite and I braced myself for the inevitable inquisition.
“Hi Marie,” I heard Eli say, before the sounds of him moving echoed through to the hallway.
“Put those in the kitchen while I go and say hello. I don’t want him to be moving too much if he should be resting his leg,” Mum said, passing me the bags.
I took them without saying a word. She had known Eli since he started working at the company and had worked with him fairly closely when Claire was away from work because of Katie’s case against her husband and while she had been on maternity leave. She liked him. So did my dad. So did my siblings.
So did I.
More than like.
“How are you doing?” I heard her say.
“I’m okay,” Eli said. “It aches and it hurts, but I’ve had worse. They said it’s a simple fracture and as long as I keep my weight off it should heal without too many problems. I’ll just need physio and to take the usual precautions.”
“Sounds like you know what you’re doing,” Mum said.
“This isn’t my first rugby injury,” Eli said. “The worst was a broken leg and broken arm. At the same time. That was messy.”
I stayed at the door listening, not ready to go back in yet.
“But you’ve had a nurse this time. How was her bedside manner?”
I cringed.
Eli laughed. “She’s been great. I wouldn’t have managed without her. Well, I would, but it would’ve been harder and she’s kept me smiling.”
“Good,” Mum said. “That’s what it’s all about. I’ve brought you some frozen meals I’ve made. Easy dinners for the pair of you until you’re more mobile.”
I decided it was safe to enter.
“Thanks for the meals, Mum,” I said, sitting next to Eli who was all muscular legs and biceps in the pair of shorts and tight t-shirt he was wearing. He’d managed to go to the gym and work arms, taking Maxwell with him to spot and shift weight plates. I’d gone with them, although it wasn’t my usual gym. I’d done a legs routine, although most of my time had been spent trying not to drool over Eli and the way his biceps bulged.
Max had caught me gawping and shook his head. He’d clearly said something to Eli, because the next time he made eye contact with me he sent me the dirtiest grin. And then we’d eye fucked all over the gym which made my work out a lot less productive and the short ride home seem very long. Thankfully Max either hadn’t noticed or had chosen not to.
Mum looked at me and smiled. “You’re welcome. I wanted to help you out. Give me a shout if you want any more – Grant and I are staying in London for a few days this week.” They had a second home in the city, a four bedroom town house that they used as a getaway from the countryside and when one of them was running a case at the firm.
