Chapter 17: New Lease on Life

ALICE

Gideon and I entered Nico’s room, and immediately my eyes landed on my brother, who was lying flat on the bed, hooked to a couple of machines that were probably monitoring his heart and other vitals.

Relief washed over me like a tidal wave when I saw that my brother was all right and would no longer have any problems with his heart.

Quickly walking the remaining distance, I reached Nico’s bed and immediately took his small hand in mine. Pressing a kiss on the back of his hand, I waited for Nico to wake up.

Gideon, meanwhile, had made himself comfortable on the couch that was situated against one wall. Taking out his cell phone, Gideon began working.

After ten minutes, Nico’s eyelids fluttered, and then his eyes met mine. It was like I had been given a new life when I looked into my brother’s sparkly green eyes.

I felt that now things were starting to look up for me, and I would never be alone in the future because I would always have my brother with me.

“Hey, Nic, how do you feel?” I asked, happiness dripping from my words.

“Can you please give me some water? I feel thirsty,” Nico said.

Nodding my head, I let go of his hand to grab the cup of water, which was placed on a table next to Nico’s bed. Gideon had joined me by the time I had turned back to give Nico the cup of water.

He had helped Nico sit up in a comfortable position. I handed Nico the cup but kept one hand on it so it wouldn’t accidentally fall.

“Don’t drink too much at once, okay? Small sips,” I instructed.

Gideon wrapped his arm around my shoulders as I watched Nico drinking water. Once he finished, Nico gave me the cup, and I placed it back in its original place.

My eyes wouldn’t leave Nico; it was like I was about to burst with happiness as I watched my brother taking deep breaths.

“I’m all better now, right, Alice?” Nico queried with hopeful eyes.

“Yes, your surgery was a success, and in a few days, we’ll go home,” I told him.

Nico fist-pumped the air with the hand that was not pierced with an IV needle. “Yes! Now you’ll take me to the amusement park, right? And when will I go to school?” Nico fired off his questions.

I laughed. “Soon, you’ll go to school very soon, and we’ll go to the amusement park as well,” I promised him.

“Gideon, sir? Will you come with Alice and me to the amusement park?” Nico questioned my husband.

“Of course, if you guys want me to come, then I will,” he replied. I glanced at Gideon to see if he was saying this to appease my brother, but I saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. He was not lying.

“Could you tell me the names of the best schools in London?” Nico enquired. I blinked my eyes in bewilderment. Nico was the first kid who was so excited to go to school; it was crazy.

“The list is kind of long. Do you want to go to a private school or the regular one?” Gideon sat down on the edge of Nico’s bed.

“The regular one. Which school is nearest to your house, Alice?” Nico queried.

I found myself at a loss for words. I had no idea which school was closest to the castle, if there was a school close to it at all. I bit my lip as I contemplated what to tell Nico, but thankfully Gideon came to my rescue.

“Where Alice and I live is kind of a remote, secluded area. There is no school for quite a few miles from there,” Gideon said.

“Alice, will you please buy me a bike then? I’ll use it to go to school,” Nico said to me.

“You don’t need a bike. The driver will drop you off every day. If you don’t want the chauffeur to drop you off, then the school bus will come to pick you up every day. It’s your choice,” Gideon responded with a smile.

“The school bus. I want to go on the school bus like all the other boys and girls,” Nico stated with a grin on his face.

“Okay then, you best get back on your feet as soon as possible, young man, and then we’ll send you to school,” Gideon said, ruffling Nico’s hair in a brotherly manner.

“Yes!” Nico exclaimed.

I glanced to my right to see Dr. Hallaway entering, followed by a couple of nurses. He had the same warm smile on his face, which was becoming one of my favorites.

I smiled when I saw him, grateful that men like Dr. Hallaway existed to help people like my brother.

“Hello, Nico, how are you?” Dr. Hallaway asked my brother while placing the stethoscope against his chest.

“I am all good, Dr. Hallaway. Thank you for fixing me up,” Nico replied.

“You’re welcome. Now you must come every month for your follow-ups, okay? And you have to become a doctor now and help me out with the other patients.”

Nico was just about to answer Dr. Hallaway when Kieran, along with Brenton and Mr. Maslow, entered the room. Kieran was grinning, while Brenton and Mr. Maslow were stoic, their faces blank.

I thanked God once again for sending these people to help me and my brother out.

“Nic, how are you, buddy? I heard the surgery went well,” Kieran said to Nico.

“Yeah, I am going to go to school now, on a bus!” There was no stopping Nico’s excitement.

Dr. Hallaway finished checking Nico’s vitals then ushered Gideon and me out of the room to speak to us privately.

Since Nico was busy talking to the Maslow men, I wasn’t worried about leaving him alone for a few seconds, and the fact that we were in the hospital helped ease my worries further.

“I checked Nico’s heartbeat, and it is strong and steady. It means that the surgery was a hundred percent successful.” Relief shot through me at hearing Dr. Hallaway confirm this.

“We’ll do a follow-up every month for at least a year. Then maybe we’ll reduce the follow-ups to every two months or every three months,” he said.

“Yes, of course, thank you so much, Doctor,” I stated.

“You’re welcome. Now we’ll discharge Nico next week, as his body needs the proper care and time to heal,” Dr. Hallaway informed me.

“Of course, Doctor, we understand that Nico is going to get the best treatment over here,” Gideon responded.

After giving a firm nod, the doctor said, “Yes, I shall go now, but I’ll come again in the morning to check up on Nico.” Shaking Gideon’s hand, Dr. Hallaway walked away, while Gideon and I went back to Nico’s room.

Nico was busy chatting with Kieran while Brenton and Mr. Maslow were busy talking on their phones. Upon seeing Kieran and Nico laughing together, I couldn’t help but notice how close the two had gotten in a month.

They were talking and laughing like two brothers, like friends. It was as if Nico had always been a part of Kieran’s life. It was heartwarming to see.

“Little fairy?” Gideon said.

“Hmm?” I smiled up at him.

“I’m going to go and get you something to eat and drink, okay?” Gideon told me.

“No, no, you don’t have to do that. I’m fine.” I didn’t want Gideon to bother. If I got hungry, I’d get something for myself.

“Don’t argue, little one. You haven’t eaten anything since morning, and that is not good for your health. I am going to bring you something to eat and drink, and you are not going to argue with me on that. And once everybody leaves, you are going to sleep. I know you didn’t sleep last night,” he stated.

Knowing that arguing with him was futile, I merely nodded. Gideon smiled before cupping my cheek and kissing me tenderly.

The kiss sent shivers down my spine and made me feel hot all over. A simple kiss from Gideon was enough to melt me into a puddle of lust and hormones.

However, I pulled away, and by the frown that creased Gideon’s forehead, I knew he didn’t like what I’d just done.

“Not here, Gideon. Nico is here,” I whispered, a blush spreading over my cheeks as I glanced at my brother, who was busy talking to Kieran.

“So? You are my wife. I can kiss you whenever I want, wherever I want, however I want,” he replied.

“Yes, but Nico is a kid,” I argued.

“I don’t care. You’re my wife,” he countered. Then to prove his point, he captured my lips in a bone-melting kiss, and I would’ve fallen if it hadn’t been for Gideon holding me to him.

“My. Wife.” He enunciated each word before kissing my cheek and exiting the room, leaving me a breathless, blushing mess.

***

“Kieran, aren’t you going to leave? It’s almost nine,” I said.

Kieran had stayed, while Brenton and Mr. Maslow had left at six. He and Nico had been conversing non-stop. So much so that I was starting to feel jealous that Nico was talking to Kieran more than he was talking to me.

“No, little mushroom, I am going to stay here for the night, so you and Gideon can go home and get some rest,” he replied.

“No, no, you don’t have to do that. You’ve done so much already—thank you for that, by the way—but really, you don’t have to stay. I’m staying,” I responded.

When Mr. Maslow and Brenton took their leave, I told Gideon that we should go home because he had to go to work in the morning, but he simply told me that he had taken three days off from work and that we would stay with Nico at the hospital.

I was glad that Gideon had decided that we would stay. I didn’t want to leave my brother alone after he’d just had his surgery, but I didn’t tell Gideon that I wanted to stay, because if he had decided to go home, then I wouldn’t have disagreed.

I was going to do my best to be a good wife, and that meant putting my husband’s wishes before mine.

“Relax, little mushroom. I told Gideon that I would stay with Nic. You need your rest,” he responded.

Gideon entered the room and immediately went to sit on the couch. Removing his coat, he draped it over the back of a metal chair, then removed his shoes and socks before lying down on the couch.

“Gideon, tell Kieran to go home. We’re staying here.” I tried my best not to sound too demanding.

“Gideon, you and little mushroom can’t stay here. You’ve never slept on the couch before. How are you going to sleep at night?” Kieran looked at his brother with concern.

“Kieran, Alice and I will stay with Nic tonight, but tomorrow you’ll stay, okay?” Gideon looked exhausted. He was just about to fall into a deep sleep.

“All right, we’ll alternate. But Gideon, if you decide to go home, call me and I’ll come, okay? And if there is any problem, let me know immediately,” Kieran stated.

I nodded my head as Kieran enveloped me in a brotherly hug. All these men were so tall I barely reached their elbows. Next time, I was going to wear high heels when hugging them.

The bathroom door opened, and Nico emerged. Kieran immediately went to him and helped him all the way back to his bed. Once Nico was comfortable, lying flat on the bed ready to sleep, Kieran got ready to leave.

“Okay, buddy, I’m off. I’ll see you in the morning and I will make sure to bring some board games and DVDs with me. We’ll spend the time watching movies and playing games, okay?” Kieran said to my brother.

“Okay, you better not come late. Bye, good night,” Nico mumbled, looking sleepy.

“Good night, buddy.” Giving me a final nod, Kieran strode out of the room.

Deciding not to disturb Gideon, I walked to the chair and sat down.

Pulling my knees up, I rested my head on my arms. I knew there was no way I would be able to fall asleep in such an uncomfortable position, but resting my eyes would suffice.

“Little dove?” Gideon mumbled.

“Yes, Gideon?” I turned to face him.

“Why are you over there? Come here. You need to sleep,” he said.

“Gideon, I’m all right here. You go to sleep,” I responded.

“No, come here. I won’t sleep until you come here,” he stated.

Sighing, I got up and went to the couch and sat down. Gideon immediately pulled me down until I was pressed to his front. Draping a thick arm around me while placing the other under my head, Gideon kissed my forehead.

“Sleep now. You need it,” he mumbled.

“Gideon, I can’t sleep here. There’s no space, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” I whispered.

“I am comfortable, little peach. Now close your eyes and sleep, and don’t worry about occupying any space. You’re too short and too thin to occupy any space, it’s just perfect,” he replied, pulling me close.

If that was supposed to make me angry, it didn’t. I was glad that Gideon wasn’t uncomfortable because of me. Right then, I was glad I was short and thin, because it was giving me an advantage in this small space.

And him saying it was perfect made my heart soar. His words put a fissure in the walls around my heart, making it difficult for me to keep my heart in check.

However, I knew dwelling on the future would do me no good at the moment. I would just have to deal with all of this one step at a time.

So putting a lid on all my worries, I closed my eyes and gave in to sleep. That was the first time I dreamed of Gideon and me with four kids, laughing and enjoying our lives. But I knew what it really was—a dream.