Page 168 of Unspoken Words
He wiped his nose and turned toward the kettle, flicking it on. “She’s gonna be fine,” he said, his voice low, his knuckles white as his hands gripped the benchtop.
“I … I know. But … help me give her this. It’s what she wants.”
He opened the cupboard, grabbed three mugs and the coffee jar, and then paused, his shoulders lifting. “Let’s give my sister the best fucking hospital wedding there ever was.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Ellie
“Why do I have todress up?” I complained.
“Because you’ve been couped up in this hospital room for too long.” Mum fanned my hair over my shoulders and put my hairbrush down. “And sometimes it’s nice to put a little makeup on and a nice clean dress and have lunch in the garden with your mother.”
“But a bow in my hair? Really?” I pulled it out and huffed.
“Fine.” Mum picked up my lip gloss and pumped the wand into the tube with more vigour than was necessary. “Don’t wear the bow. I just thought it would be nice.” She slapped a layer of gloss onto my lips, and I flinched, annoyed.
“I’m not a child anymore,” I said, pressing my lips together, blotting my gloss.
She stood back and looked me over, a tear falling to her cheek. “No, you’re not. You’re a grown woman about to have her own child.”
Rubbing my hand over my belly, I realised this lunch date was something Mum needed as well, maybe even more than me, and now I felt bad for whinging. She was just trying to do something nice despite an awful situation.
“This dress is pretty,” I offered; a small truce. “Thank you. Where’d you get it?” I ran my fingers over the pale pink and mint green embroidered flowers sprinkling the ankle-length, white chiffon skirt. The sleeves sat off the shoulder and the bodice was tight over my full breasts. It wasn’t a dress I’d normally wear, but it was rather lovely, and it made me feel pretty, something I hadn’t felt in such a long time.
“Same place I got this.” Mum pointed her toe and modelled her mint green, knee-length sheath, her matching eyes sparkling with pride. And so they should; she looked stunning.
Slowly standing up from the edge of my bed, I braced myself on her arm and blew out a breath. Moving about was becoming so much more exhausting.
“Maybe you should use the wheelchair today, sweetheart.”
I glanced over at the stupid thing, sitting in the corner, taunting me, and I resented it even more. But it had made my life a little easier the past couple of days, and I kept telling myself my use of it was only temporary.
“Okay. But only just to get down to the garden. Once I’m there, I want to waddle about and enjoy the fresh air, andfreedom.”
With Mum’s help, I lowered myself into the seat and sat, useless, while she wheeled me along the corridor past the nurse’s station. The usual hustle and bustle was absent along with most of the nurses except for Nurse Tracy who paused and smiled before placing her hand over her heart.
“You look absolutely beautiful, Ellie,” she said, her head tilted, her lips pouting.
I rolled my eyes then blushed and covered my face with my hand. It was just a pretty dress, some makeup, and a blow wave. “Thank you. We’re heading to the garden for a picnic lunch. You should come down and join us. I’ll save you a sandwich.”
“Maybe I will.” She winked at mum.
As we entered the elevator, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. “Where is everyone?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe having lunch.” Her voice was suddenly singsong.
I looked up at her as the elevator doors opened and she pushed me out. “What are you up to?”
“I’m not up to anything, darling.” She stopped the chair and nodded toward the garden, her smile the biggest I’d seen in a long time. “But you may want to ask your fiancé the same thing.”
Furrowing my brow, I turned forward and froze, my jaw dropping, my eyes wide and fast filling with tears. A wash of emotion flowed through my body, from my head to my toes, and a heavy sob of joy and love tore from my chest.
“Oh my God!” I whispered, covering my mouth with my hands.
Wearing a grey suit and standing next to a celebrant at the end of the garden path was Connor, his hands clasped in front of him, a sexy as hell, dimpled grin lighting his face. Chris and Max were standing beside him, also in suits, and Curtis and Raelene were seated on chairs decorated with white, pink, and mint green ribbons tied in bows. Dr Webb, Dr Goodman, some of my nurses, and the four paramedics that saved my life the day of the concert, were also seated on chairs.
I let out a laugh and stood slowly as Dad stepped forward and helped me out of the chair. “Just a nice lunch?” I asked Mum.
