Page 13 of The Price They Paid

CHAPTER 5

Justice

SOFT CARESSES TO MY FACE made me snuggle closer. Callused hands soothed my cheeks, and sleep pulled me further into its hold.

“Justice …” That voice. Seuss.

A single kiss to my forehead made me open my sleep heavy eyes. I attempted to raise my head, but it was congested. I laid back onto Seuss chest. He was warm, but he didn’t appear to have moved. The sunlight danced across the room, and I wished that someone would close the blinds. I was exhausted as if I hadn’t had any rest. I pulled the blanket up over my head and went back to sleep.

“Justice!”

My eyes popped open to see a worried Alice staring down at me. Tired … so tired …

“We’ve been looking all over for you.”

I groaned and closed my eyes.

“How long have you been in here?” Alice asked.

“Since last night …” I mumbled.

“It’s late afternoon, Justice! You must get up.”

I groaned again. “Just fifteen minutes. I’m so tired.”

“Justice, can you sit up for me?”

“Mhm …” I moved to sit up, but everything hurt. I laid back down and pulled the blanket up.

“No. No. No!” Alice rushed from the room, and I sighed in content that she was leaving me alone.

“Justice.” A deep baritone voice startled me out of my sleep. I looked into the eyes of Maddox. “I’m going to lift you and take you back into the master bedroom.”

I closed my eyes and went back to sleep. The moment that Maddox touched me I heard a low growl.

“Don’t growl at me,” I mumbled.

“Don’t touch her, Maddox,” I heard Alice say. “Justice, I need you to focus.”

I tried, honestly, but it was difficult. She held a straw to my lips, and I drank the cool liquid. The taste of fresh berries exploded against my tongue, and I greedily consumed the drink. I could feel the energy building from somewhere deep. It was slow, but already I was feeling better.

“More,” I demanded.

“I’ll get you more if you explain to Seuss that Maddox needs to take care of you. You’re sick, and the only way to get you better is to get you away from him. That way you can come back to help him heal some more.” Alice’s voice reminded me of a mother trying to explain the wonders of the world to a four-year-old.

I didn’t know how to get inside of his head the way he did with me, so I communicated verbally. “Seuss, I’m tired and …” My voice faded but I shook myself awake again. “Maddox needs to take me into the other room.”

Seuss grumbled something, but I kissed his shoulder hoping to soothe him. “I’m so tired, Seuss.”

Seuss was tired as well. I could feel it. I struggled to pull the blankets over him as best as I could before Maddox took me into the other room. He laid me on the bed, and I asked for another fleece blanket like he’d given me before. He covered me with two of them and said he’d get more since I liked them so much. Then he left me to sleep.

***

What was that amazing smell? I opened my eyes to see Maddox setting a tray down next to my bed. Alice walked in with a pitcher and a glass. I sat up against the headboard and Maddox helped to put extra pillows behind me. He put the bed tray over my lap, and my mouth watered immediately. There was some sort of hearty soup, fresh bread and butter. He’d poured juice and set the glass on the tray as well.

The first spoonful of soup was amazing, and I wished that I could relive that moment over and over. That’s how delicious it was. The broth was thick and rich with tidbits of meat and potatoes in it. I unwrapped the cloth that kept the bread warm to break off a piece and butter it. The salty sweetness was the best compliment to the soup.

“Who made this sinful meal?” I needed the recipe.

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