Page 25 of Love Unavoidable
“Where? With whom?”
Good question.
“It’s a . . . um . . . friend.”
“A friend? What kind of friend? Who could you possibly know in this town besideshim?”
“Well . . .”
“Him?” She looks at Ethan, eyes narrowed. “You’d rather stay with a stranger? Over your own family? Don’t be ridiculous, Sadie. You can’t just go staying with strangers on a whim. How will that look? Besides, I have already paid for the hotel room. And I have got someone coming in to help with you already.”
“I thought you would be with me?”
“I will be there. Part of the time, but there is no way that I can do it all on my own. Aaron will help.”
“Mama, I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
“Of course it is. He knows you best, the two of you are practically married. He’s the perfect choice.”
I take a deep breath. “Mama, we aren’t practically married. We aren’t even together. You know this.”
“Oh, for god’s sake, that’s just cold feet, Sadie Ann. You’ll come around.”
“Mama, I wish you would understand, it isn’t cold feet—”
“Fine, it isn’t cold feet. You have no intention of marrying Aaron. I suppose I’ll just have to accept it and move on. This will break your daddy’s heart, you know. But, that’s fine. I’m sure you’ll be happy staying with Edgar, the man-whore.”
“His name is Ethan, Mama—”
“Sadie Ann, I will not argue with you. You know my feelings on this.”
“Mama, you aren’t even going to be there. It’s not fair to Aaron or me.”
“Fair? Do you really want to talk about fair? With all the bills you’ve saddled us with because you can’t commit to anything? Not a man, not a career, not your college education.”
“Mother,” I start. But stop when a stabbing pain shoots through my head. “Oh, god,” I moan. My hands going to my forehead immediately. I push in with my fingertips, trying to stem the pain. It doesn’t help.
“Sadie?” Ethan leans over and looks at me, then the monitor I’m connected to, then me again. “You need to rest,” he mumbles. “You will probably experience headaches like this for a few days. No more talking.” He looks at my mom when he says the last part.
“This is ludicrous,” she says. “You can’t . . .” She pauses, lips pinched, then closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly before continuing. “You . . .” She points her finger at Ethan, and then at me. “You know what, it’s fine. Stay with the stranger, Sadie Ann. Just don’t come crawling when you need a place to stay in two days.”
Why is it always her way or no way? When we were shopping for wedding dresses, she left and drove home, leaving me at the store after I refused to choose the one she wanted. The same dress I left in the back seat of the taxi that dropped us at the airport after Tenley and I escaped the wedding.
“She’ll be okay staying with me,” Ethan says. “I’m a licensed EMT and well versed in head injury recovery and care. And she won’t need a new place in two days.” Ethan interjects with a solution that shocks the shit out of me. I want to believe him when he says it. But my mother is right, this is completely crazy. If he’s even serious. And if I even go along with it.
I look up at Ethan and try to catch his eye, so I can gauge how serious he is. He must be kidding and will let me know as soon as my mother leaves. He’s just helping me get out of the obvious bind that is my mother wanting to keep me captive in her hotel room starting tomorrow.
“I’ll be fine, Mama,” I groan out.
She stiffens visibly, her hand goes to her neck. “Well, I guess there is no reason for me to stay then. Not here at the hospital or in San Soloman. I’ll tell your father you’re too tired for visitors.”
I almost protest when she says that. I mean, why couldn’t he have come in with her? But I just don’t have the energy to form the words. It’s like someone unplugged my only energy source and I’m powering down rapidly.
“If it’s not too much trouble, keep me posted on how you are,” Mama says as she walks toward the door. She says nothing to Ethan, just leaves without another glance. I close my eyes, wanting nothing more than just to sleep. But my head hurts too much. I whimper softly, hoping Ethan doesn’t hear.
“I see what you mean about your mother,” Ethan says.
“I don’t expect to actually stay with you, just so you know. You were just being nice. I appreciate you standing up to my mama for me though.” I smile, but I know it’s weak since it hurts to move my face.
“Just rest. I am going to see if I can get you something more for the pain. And I will let everyone else know how you are. I’ll be right back.” He dims the lights when he leaves.
I want to be the kind of person to tell him he doesn’t need to come back, that I’m fine. But I’m not that kind of person. I would be lying. I don’t feel fine at all. The giddiness is gone and all that’s left is dread. And I really do want him to come back. He makes me feel safe and that everything will be okay. I need that right now. Shit, who am I kidding, I always need that. Without him here, I just want to curl up in a little ball and go back to yesterday.
