Page 24 of Hidden Rocco
After a few minutes the spasms didn’t abate. She slowly got to her feet and tested her balance at the edge of her bed.
If she went slow, maybe she’d make it to the kitchen. Or be somewhere Rocco might hear her if he was around, if she collapsed. Just because she was in her room, didn’t mean that he’d gone to his.
Her heart thundered but she took the first step. Then another.
Confidence built in her that if she went slow, she’d make it.
The service elevator was at the end of the hall and she hugged the wall whenever she lost breath, but she never once loosened her grip on Jacob.
He’d need food within minutes.
They both needed to go to the kitchen.
She pressed the button and closed her eyes, leaning against the corner of the elevator that brought them downstairs.
When the elevator doors opened on the main floor, she met Rocco’s gaze.
Pain rocketed through her, but a different pang that was way more pleasant also hit her as he said, “You’re up early.”
She took a deep breath and murmured, “Please come. Help.” He rushed toward her and grabbed her waist before she fell back. She clutched his belt buckle like it might hold her. “I need to get my medicine.”
His other hand helped cradle Jacob. She used his strength to get out of the elevator. “I’ve got you,” he promised. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t let go of him as they made it into the hall. “I’m feeling weak. I need my pills.”
“Sit. I’ll be fast.” He deposited her in a plush white chair meant for hotel guests and tried to pass her Jacob.
She pushed her son back in his arms. “Give me a minute. He’s safe with you.”
He nodded with acceptance and ran toward the kitchen, tightly holding her son.
She watched and clutched the armrest, wishing she’d made better choices, like Rocco, all along.
He raced back, Jacob tucked in the crook of his arm with a bottle, and gave her the orange pill bottle, and a glass of water. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” She took the water to wash down the pill.
He pushed her hair out of her face and knelt in front of her.
Rocco and Jacob looked like they belonged together, comfortable, but her vision was fuzzy.
Within minutes the pain subsided and she could breathe. She pressed her hand to his cheek. “Can you hold Jacob for a while until I get my strength back?”
He moved her baby up to his shoulder. “Of course. He’s a cutie.” Rocco teased, "I’m sure he’ll love helping with the dishes. Why don’t you go back to your room and rest?”
“Sounds great. Thank you.” She tested her strength.
She slowly made her way into the service elevator, to the second floor and down the hall to her suite, gaining strength as the medicine coursed through her body.
Appearing weak wasn’t comfortable for her. Once again, Rocco had jumped in right away. Her doctors had told her these attacks would lessen in time, and honestly they had. She wasn’t being rushed to a hospital. She lay down on her bed, taking stock of her body. No pain, not even a twinge.
Once she was sure she was back to normal, Mica fixed her hair in a loose bun and tossed a pair of jeans on, along with a cashmere sweater.
If this never happened again, she’d be happy but she had no control over them, other than to try and live stress-free. She left her room, and hurried downstairs to the kitchen, where Rocco one-handedly put the plates in the cabinet while Jacob played with his shirt, and stared up in fascination.
They were clearly happy. She leaned against the kitchen door when a knock echoed from the main lobby.
Rocco turned and said, “I’ll get the door for you and finish the dishes later. You’re still pale.”
