Page 10 of Always There For You

But the pain on Amelia’s face told a story her silence hid.

“I’m taking you home.”

As she expected, Amelia fought back. “I just need -”

“A hot bath and some tea and as much muscle balm as we can slather you in. No arguing.”

“The store. Hadley.” Those big, brown eyes hit her with a wave of sadness that nearly knocked Hadley’s feet out from under her. “I can’t leave it. There’s too much to do.”

“It’ll be there in the morning. We’ll stay late tomorrow, and over the weekend.” Hadley gestured at the stockroom. “Look at this. Look what you’ve built, Ames. It’s incredible.” As she pressed her cheek into Amelia’s temple, she whispered, “You’re incredible And it’s time you understood just how much.”

Upon opening the door to the cottage, Hadley immediately went into caretaker mode. The drive over had been silent other than to ask Amelia if she was all right (and not do it a million times, so she kept it just a few). And now Amelia was cursing under her breath and staggering inside.

“Tell me where.”

“It just hurts. I’ll be all right.”

Hadley wanted to growl or curse. Amelia’s stubbornness wasn’t unearned when it came to her pain. It was her body and she’d been the one living with her condition for many years. But being stubborn was one thing; it was another to not let your best friend take care of you. And it was a battle Amelia wasn’t going to win this time. Hadley had conceded so much ground over the years. Not this time, not now.

“You are going to sit somewhere you’re as comfortable as possible.”

“Hadley -”

“Amelia.” With a deep breath, Hadley stopped in front of Amelia, hands on her shoulders, and said, “Please. I’m going to make you tea or whatever you want. And while you’re drinking that, I’m going to fill up the tub.” She pressed her thumbs into bunched muscles between Amelia’s neck and shoulders and got the exact reaction she was hoping for. A soft groan and Amelia letting her head fall forward to rest against Hadley’s collarbone. She dropped her voice into a whisper, hoping Amelia would hear her. Really hear her. Really hear the love and adoration she held for the one person in the world who made her feel incredible. Not just important or loved — those were needed, yes — but truly incandescent. Every time Hadley was with Amelia, that’s how she felt. And she’d never been able to give voice to it until now. “Let me take care of you. Anything you want, tell me.”

The long silence that followed left Hadley counting their breaths. In and out, in and out; soft and steady save for the occasional hitch in Amelia’s as some unseen pain lanced through her.

“Okay.”

Something in her soul sagged, relieved. But Hadley’s determination kept that feeling from bowling her over. Action always helped. They slowly made their way across the main floor, her arm tight around Amelia’s waist, and to bathroom. There was a smaller one upstairs, but the one on the main floor had the big, slightly crooked countertop and scrollwork mirror and little skylight above a beautiful clawfoot tub. She’d not been in it yet, not having the time or energy after work, but now she could spoil Amelia like she’d been wanting.

“You are going to sit,” Hadley said, pointing to the little chair in the corner; the one with scarred wooden legs and butter-soft velvet. An odd place to have such an elaborate chair, but she was grateful for it now.

Amelia didn’t protest. It was as if all her energy was focused on simply breathing in and out, forcing herself to not shake in pain. Hadley’s heart hurt watching her friend suffer. She helped get off heavy work boots and thick socks, and then with a silent prayer to the many, many gods she’d met in temples on her travels, Hadley pressed her thumbs into Amelia’s ankles.

Amelia froze briefly, then groaned as she sank into the chair. “Hads.”

“I know, babe. One thing at a time.” She squeezed Amelia’s knees before dashing off to her room. “I’ll be right back!”

She ran, her own boots clomping. But there was no time to take them off, not when the thing she needed was so close. Her room was an explosion of color and strangeness - her own things scattered about all the decorating done by the owner. The big bed was like a dream, and the multi-hued blankets, big fluffy pillows, and soft red canopy made her feel like a queen. She knew Amelia’s room housed a similar bed and for one brief moment, she stood near her bags and imagined. Imagined Amelia spread out across soft down pillows and shiny satin, her red hair curling over her shoulders. Shoulders that were bare, leading the gaze down to an artful swoop of collarbones and then lower. Something like desire thundered through her.

Hadley shook herself, sucked in a deep breath, and then dove into the tiny closet, hands seeking. She knew the feel of the robe she sought and when her fingers brushed against it, she grinned in triumph. It was one of her older robes, a powder blue with dancing flowers and hummingbirds arching delicately across its sky. It would look divine on Amelia and all that pale skin.

She dashed back to the bathroom and caught Amelia mid bend over the tub. “Hey, not allowed,” she teased, watching as Amelia turned with guilt all over her features. “Sorry, had to find it.”

She thrust the robe out and motioned Amelia behind the mango wood screen in the corner opposite the chair. “Hads…”

As swift as anything, and as daring as she’d never been before, she reached for the first button on Amelia’s shirt. “Get changed. I brought you this, too.” And she pressed the small flask into Amelia’s other hand. “Or I can go back to tea, if you want.”

Her fingers didn’t shake, but it certainly felt like her soul did as she flicked open that single button and waited for Amelia’s protest.

When her friend stayed silent, Hadley wanted to curse. Where was her friend’s acerbic wit, her well-tuned and gentle deflections? But Amelia stared ahead, her gaze distant. And Hadley was forced to push away her yearning; Amelia’s health came first, always. “You okay there?” she prodded, smoothing her palms over the tight line of Amelia’s shoulders.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. But you should get changed. I’ll fill up the tub. I can see you’re hurting, babe.”

“Uh huh.”

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