*Alejandro*
When I returned, Lucas was standing close to Nora’s room. “Sorry I kept you waiting,” I said. He smiled and waved his hand. “It’s fine.” He said.
Though my date with Anna had come to an abrupt end, I was glad I could spend the night with Lucas. Alone.
“Have you had dinner?” I asked.
“No.” He replied, “Perfect. Let’s have dinner together.” I said. “That would be nice. But,” he paused and inhaled. One hand stuck into his pocket.
“I have plans with a friend.” He said. “The doctor said Mom would need company for the night. Could you please stay with her?” He asked.
This was the first time he was asking me anything. He never asked anything from me, and hearing him asked me to stay with his mom, though it is not something I want to do and I wasn’t going to do it, I was glad he was asking me something.
I agreed to stay with Nora and watched him leave.
Williams soon came after some time. “What happened to Nora?” I asked him when he sat close to me. “Well, she collapsed. I didn’t call you because I didn’t want to disturb you or your time with Anna.” He said.
Williams has always been considerate.
“You did well.” I commended him. I would not be here if Lucas hadn’t called me personally.
“How did your day go with Anna?” He asked.
My mind reverted to the time I had spent with Anna today. It was the best time. But I wasn’t going to give him all the details. “It was nice,” I said.
He nodded and began tapping his foot on the floor.
He did this when he had something to say but was holding back from saying it. “What is it you want to say?” I asked him. He turned to meet my eyes. “Well, it’s nothing.” He said, and I nodded.
“If you say so.” I would not force him to say what he is uncomfortable saying. “Alejandro.” He called, and I turned. I knew he had something to say. “You like Anna?” he asked, and I wanted to laugh. As my friend, he knew better.
“What do you think?” I replied to his question with a question. “It’s just a fling, right? She is just someone you want to have fun with before leaving the country, right?” He asked.
“Is that what it seems like?” I asked him. The conversation was getting serious. It is not something I want to have in the hospital hallway or outside Nora’s room. But I couldn’t just cut him short, knowing he always has my best interest at heart.
“I don’t know what it is looking like. That’s why I am concerned.”
We stayed silent as a doctor walked passed.
“I am not a child, Williams.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question.” He said. One thing about Williams is that he is headstrong and would always want to get an answer, always wanting to know, even if I was trying hard to say no.
“I’m serious about her,” I said. I owe him that much information. Not because I had to buy but because he needed to know so he could give her the respect she deserved.
“So what happens when you have to leave?” He asked. I still didn’t understand the reason for this conversation. Did he want to change my mind?
“Who said I was leaving?” I asked.
“You aren’t leaving? Why? You haven’t forgotten the plan, right?” He asked.
“What plan? I am staying here with Anna. She may not want to leave, but if she wants to leave with me when the time comes, we’ll leave together.” I said.
A woman in a wheelchair led by a nurse walked past, and the nurse said a greeting, to which Williams returned with a smile.
“Fine. I get you’re serious with her and all that. What’s next? Are you going to get married to her?”
“Yes,” I replied without giving it a second thought. I want Anna to be the mother of my children. I want her to be the one I come back to meet at home.
I want her to be the last person I set my eyes on before I sleep and the first I set my eyes on when I wake up.
“That’s not possible. Aside from the fact that she is way younger than you, what’s she, nineteen? That’s Lucas’s age; she is also out of your league.” his voice grew lower with each word.
“We aren’t having this conversation,” I said, trying to end the conversation.
“And how about Nora?” He asked, and I furrowed my brows, confused, “what about Nora?” I asked. What does she have to do with this conversation? “And Lucas?” He asked again, and I wondered how that had anything to do with this.
“Lucas is fine with her. He knows I am seeing her. He is the only one I owe anything to. As for Nora? I couldn’t care less about her. I owe her nothing. We are divorced, remember?”
He wanted to speak, but a doctor interrupted us.
He bowed in respect. “What’s wrong with her doctor?” Williams stood immediately and asked. I remained seated. I had no reason to be here. Lucas was the only reason I would have stayed, to bond with him, and now that he wasn’t here, I had to leave.
Williams entered the room with the doctor, leaving me seated outside.
I knew Williams had my best interest at heart. He wanted the best for me, but then I couldn’t just stand and pretend I was okay with him bringing Nora into our conversation.
I felt my anger boil as I thought of the fact that Nora would be staying longer in my house than intended because she had collapsed.
I remained outside for more than thirty minutes.
I turned when the door made a sound; the doctor stepped out. “The patient wants to see you.” He said.
I wanted to say she doesn’t need to. But settled for seeing her. I would not be staying the night. After seeing her, I’ll leave. Williams could stay the night with her. He should do that much for a friend.
I reluctantly stood and walked into the hospital room where she was laid.
“Alejandro, I didn’t think you’d come. Who knew you cared so much about me?” She said, and I didn’t try to correct her. Let her keep feeling her delulu.
“How do you feel?” I asked without acknowledging her earlier statement, “Now that you are here, I feel better.” She said.
“Good.” That was the only word I could say.
I noticed she still has her makeup on. She was seated on the bed. “Lucas said you’ll be staying the night with me.” She said.
“When did he tell you?” I asked. Lucas didn’t enter this room. Again, before he left, I am sure Nora was not allowed to use her phone.
“I told her,” Williams said.
Oh…
“I won’t be spending the night with you either. I have so much work for tomorrow and would love to get as much sleep as possible.” Her face dropped at my statement.
She seems to be anticipating spending the night alone with me. I don’t know what her plan was for coming back to my life, but I knew it would be up to no good. Until she is strong enough to leave my house, I don’t want to have anything to do with her.
“But the doctor said someone has to stay with me.” She said, “That’s why Williams is here.” I said, and a sly smile adorned my lips. “Williams, you’ll be able to stay with her today, right?” I asked, looking straight into his eyes, daring him to say otherwise.
“It would be my pleasure,” he said.
“It’s settled then. Have a good night’s rest, Nora. Williams, we’ll call it a night.” I said and stepped out. I called Sam as I walked down the hallway.
In the next ten minutes, the car was outside. The drive back home was faster than it should have been, or maybe it was because I kept dozing off during the ride.
I took a hot shower and climbed into bed after having dinner.
I brought my phone out and sent a quick text to Anna. “Love, did you miss me?” She has been on my mind since I got back. I missed her and wished we could continue the date. I wanted her here with me.
Now that Williams had said it, I suddenly found myself thinking about taking her as my bride.
I know it had not been up to six months since we knew each other, but the feeling was here. It wasn’t something I could deny. I loved her and wanted her as my woman forever.
Time is never a factor when we are with the right person. So the time we have known doesn’t seem to matter anymore.
My phone beeped, “I missed you so much. Wish you were here with me.” She said, And I hopped out of my bed. This was all I needed. “What if I make you stop missing me?” I typed as I walked to my wardrobe.
I wore joggers and a hoodie. I walked into the underground parking lot and picked a car before zooming off. She sent me a message
I drove as fast as I could to her house.
I pulled over in front of her house and typed back, “It’s solved. You don’t have to miss me anymore.” I sent the message with a smile on my face. I stepped out of the car and rested my back on it as I awaited her text while staring at her window.
“I wish that was possible.” She said.
I smiled when I saw her reply. Instead of sending a reply, I dialed her number. She picked at the second ring.
“Love, look out the window,” I said.
“Wait, don’t tell me you…” she paused. I heard a ruffling sound, and soon, the curtains in the window were pushed to the side, and a frozen Anna came into view.
“What are you doing here?” She said into the phone. “Are you going to stand there and watch me freeze?”
“Well, yes… I mean, no. What are… you…” She couldn’t form a coherent sentence, and I wished I could have seen her face better. I wanted to see the look of confusion.
“You wait there. I’ll be down in two minutes.” She said and hung up.
She soon came down in a short and baggy shirt.
“What’s going on? You didn’t tell me you were coming,” she said when she saw me. I wrapped my hands around her immediately as she stood in front of me. Pushing her closer to myself, I met her lips and kissed her passionately.
“How do you like my surprise?” She gushed.
“I love it.”
“No need to miss me so much,” I said.
“Aren’t we going in?” I asked, “Alison would not have a problem with me being here at this time, or would she?” I asked. As much as I wanted to spend the night with her, I didn’t want to cause any inconvenience to her or Alison.
“She is asleep already. You can spend the night and leave early tomorrow before she wakes up.” She said, and I smiled. I didn’t need to ask.
We walked into her room, careful not to make too much noise so as not to disturb Alison.
Anna’s room was cozy and well-arranged. She had a worn-out poster on the side. On her tables were books, which were neatly arranged, and her makeup stuff.
“The bed is not the biggest, but we can share.” She said.
“Come here,” I said and held her as we both fell into the bed.
Tonight, we weren’t going to make love. We just wanted to be present with each other. It wasn’t the first time I watched her sleep, but today was different; it seemed more intimate.
Slowly, she drifted into sleep, and I did the same.