Page 70 of The Marriage Deal
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I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN she would not mind the gift. She was even team Levi now. Asking me why I wasn't spending time with him. And why I didn't want to be with him anymore. I wasn't even sure that last part was true. I wanted him now more than ever. But she didn't understand the nature of our relationship. We weren't just boyfriend and girlfriend or husband and wife. I wasn't sure I understood it myself. It was so murky now, I had a tough time describing it.
As we sat down to eat our dinner, takeout from her favorite place, mine too, Dad used to take us there all the time, she said "He's better than Wyatt, that's for sure. And he did all thatbecause he didn't want you to find out." She held her heart to her chest. I rolled my eyes.
"Since when did you become a romantic? Speaking of Wyatt," I jabbed the chopsticks into my noodles, "He is suing me."
Effie dropped her chopsticks. The silver rods clattered onto the wooden table. Mouth agape, she said, "That asshole!"
"You don't even know what he's suing me for!" I chuckled.
"I know that, whatever it is, it must be some bullshit."
I told her about what happened at work. The tea I threw at him, the impromptu hearing, Wyatt demanding I be suspended, but I left out Levi's help. The man didn't need anymore glazing from my sister. And finally ended with the lawsuit he served me with.
"Knew it. Bullshit from the most diseased bull in the herd." She picked up her chopsticks and rolled a string of noodles around them. "So what are you going to do? Will the university help you with a lawyer?"
This part I couldn't leave out if I didn't want her to worry. "Levi promised to get me representation. His brother is a famous lawyer."
Effie slapped the table, food and plates jumping in the air. "That's what I'm talking about."
"I swear you hated him when you first met him."
"He's growing on me. To tell you the truth, I didn't like the idea of you sleeping with your boss. I thought he was taking advantage of you at first, but since we've gotten to talking…"
"Excuse me."
Guilt was written on her face. "Well, I have to speak with my sister's husband. It would be weird if I didn't, now would it?"
My eyes narrowed. "Please don't tell me you gossip about me."
"What else is there to talk about between us? Knights and shit?" she scoffed. When I continued to glare at her, she added."Don't worry, I am not spilling your secrets or anything. He calls like once or twice a week. I gave him my number. And don't look at me like that. He told me you talk to his family all the time!"
I tsked tsked. "A couple of antiques and you're worshipping at the altar of a white man."
"Listen, that white man saved our business. He deserves a tiny shrine."
My phone rang. I almost ignored it until I saw it was the name of a hospital. My heart skipped a beat remembering that this was the same place my father died. But what would they want with me now? I answered before I could give it further thought. "Mrs. Hawthorne?" I wondered if I should answer in the affirmative. They could have gotten the wrong Mrs. Hawthorne. "Elvira Hawthorne?"
"Yes?" My voice was shaking. As though I could sense there was something wrong.
"Your husband, Levi Hawthorne, is in the ICU."
30
Elvira
THE WAIT WAS LONG. The hospital felt cold and eerie. The last place I wanted to visit after my father died. I always make a habit of avoiding this place as best as I can. And now someone else I love was in here too. When I got the call, Effie immediately drove me here. We learned he needed to go in for an emergency procedure, and they needed a next of kin to sign the papers. Levi had made me his next of kin in the stint we've been married. I signed without thinking, and a few hours later I was waiting for him to recover as doctors and nurses tried to resuscitate him. Hoping he makes it out okay. Hoping he does not die.
Effie had gone back to close the shop. We had left in such a rush she hadn't locked it fully or set the alarm. “It would just be my luck to get a treasure trove only for it to get stolen,” she had said.
So now I was alone. Waiting. Playing games on my phone and waiting. Reading a book and waiting. Then, when all else failed, I stared at the white walls until the door opened. The doctor had a smile on her face.
"The procedure was very successful," she said. "You can talk to him now," she said.
My heart leaped with joy. I jumped from my seat and let the doctor lead me to Levi's hospital room, my feet moving too fast. He was in bed, tubes sticking out of his body, monitors beeping,and an oxygen mask on his face. As soon as he saw me, he weakly lowered it and smiled at me.
I went over to hug him. Tears streamed down my cheeks, shaking with relief. He held me weakly. His body felt frail, or was it the hospital gown? When I withdrew and wiped my tears, I said, "You almost died. You know you're not supposed to eat shellfish!"
