It wasn’t long before the nurse walked back into the room with a silver tray.“Here we go, Mrs.Sovrano.”I spotted small glasses of ice water and orange juice.Stefan met the nurse halfway and thanked her.Then he carried it to me and set it on my lap.
There was a plate with something that looked like an ice pop.I thought it was probably wiser to start with the water.So, I took a few sips to see how that went.
And it was perfect.The cool liquid ran into my dry mouth and down my throat.I put the glass down and picked up the orange juice.The sweetness set my taste buds on high alert, and I winced while they got used to it.
A few sips later, and I felt full.“That ice pop looks so good.”I shook my head.“I just don't think I can eat it right now.But I'd love a shower.”
Stefan pursed his lips together for a moment.“I don't think you can with that in your hand.”He gazed at my IV with concern.
“Maybe the nurse has a waterproof barrier I can use.”
He nodded.“I'll go ask her.”
I watched him stride out of the room, still amazed at how well he was—and how sick I was.The bedroom was worse than I'd initially seen.Now that I looked around, I saw piles of what I guessed were bed sheets and T-shirts strewn all around.
Gosh.
It looked like someone had fought a war in here.
How many of Stefan's T-shirts did I go through?
It wasn't long before Stefan wandered back in.“She said to wait a half hour or so to let your stomach settle.And then she'll come in and cover your hand.”He started picking up the room.Which honestly surprised the heck out of me.
In a place this huge, I'd assume he needed a large staff of people to look after it.But here he was—stuffing dirty laundry into big white bags.I looked back over at the melting ice pop on the plate and decided to give it a go.I picked it up and took a quick lick.“Mm, grape.My favorite,” I muttered before sucking on it.
Stefan glanced briefly at me and grinned.“Taste good?”he asked before pulling the drawstring on the laundry bag.
I nodded and kept working on my ice pop, taking intermittent sips of water and juice, too.Stefan worked on the laundry situation.At one point, he disappeared into the bathroom for a minute and came back with a huge armful of used towels.
Yikes.
“Looks like I'm going to be busy doing laundry today,” I said as I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand.
Stefan turned to me with a smile.“I'm sending it out.I have a service.”He jerked his head toward the door.“Besides, you're in no shape to do anything except rehydrate.”
Oh, of course, he had a laundry service.I didn't even think of that.“You don't have a washing machine or a dryer?”I asked, biting off the last part of the ice pop.
“I'll show you the laundry room once you're back on your feet.”He laughed and picked up two of the overstuffed laundry bags and walked out of the room with them, one in each hand.He didn't seem to have any difficulty at all carrying them.
He came back in and headed to the bathroom for a second.Then came back out with folded sheets in his arms.“Tell me what kind of juices you like, and I'll get them for you.”He grabbed his pillow and pulled off the pillowcase, and tossed it on the floor.Then he grabbed another pillow and did the same thing.
“I'm not picky.I'll take whatever you've got.”I picked up the orange juice and drank half of it.Even though I knew I should take it easy.It just tasted too good, and my body was practically screaming for it.
“That wasn't what I asked.”His eyes landed on mine.“I asked what you liked.”
I shook my head and shrugged.“Really, Stefan.I'm good with anything.You don't need to make a fuss over me.I've been enough of a bother,” I stated the obvious.It looked like he’d done nothing else other than take care of me.
“You've been home for two days and haven't left the house,” I said before remembering how he'd sped off in his car in a fit of anger.I didn't know where he'd disappeared to, but now was not the time to ask.We could go over that later.
Or never.
It didn't really matter to me.Stefan could go anywhere he wanted.Whenever he wanted.He was under no obligation to let me know.
He stared at me for a long moment as if he was thinking the same thing I was.Finally, he said, “I've been home with you since you got sick.”A look of what looked like remorse crossed his face.“Haven't left your side since then.”He swallowed and went back to stripping the bed.Once he'd pulled almost everything off, he moved me—and the tray—onto a chair while he put fresh sheets on.
The nurse walked in just as he was finishing up.“All right, how do you feel?”she asked with a familiar looking patch in her hands.
“Weak,” I answered.“But my stomach is fine.”I held out the hand that had the IV in it for her.
