Defiance (Significance #3)(28)

~~~
When I finally woke up for real, I could tell that I was myself again. I was also going to throw up. I scrambled up from the bed, scaring Caleb because he thought I'd been asleep. I made it to Gran's nice white toilet just in time for the goulash to make a reappearance. And Caleb was standing behind me the whole time with his hand on my back.
"Uuugh," I groaned. "Get out."
"Nope," he answered and squatted to be down with me. "Are you done?" he asked, the concern and sweetness totally all wrong with the situation. Shouldn't he be running and shivering with disgust?
"Yes." I gulped. "No." I threw up some more. I heaved so much that my stomach muscles were sore like I'd had a workout. I eventually stopped long enough to breath. I leaned my head against my arm and felt Caleb leave me. Good, now that it was all over he was leaving.
But, no, he was just bringing me a warm washcloth. I wiped my mouth and face with it. Then he put a glass of water in my hand, making sure I had a good grasp before leaving it. I remembered everything from what had happened. Well, I assumed I did.
"So let me get this straight," I started and coughed before sipping the glass of water he'd handed me. "Marla put something, some kind of alcohol, into my drink at lunch and I acted like a complete fool in front of everyone that I had worked so hard to show that I was a down to earth and sincere person."
"Pretty much," he said and pulled me to stand. "Oh, and you forgot the part where you almost died," he said angrily. "I've never thought about strangling a girl before, but I swear to you if I see her-""You'll do nothing because she keeps her family around her like a bunch of bodyguards," Kyle supplied from the doorway. "I just opened the door," he said, "don't worry. You're little upchucking act was private, I promise."
"Wow," I said in annoyance. "Could you yell a little louder?"
He laughed which pissed me off with the quickness. I glared at him and he actually took a step back.
"You better get out of here before she turns you into toast," Caleb told him and though I heard the humor in his voice, his voice wasn't as annoying. Kyle saluted us and grinned as he made his way back into the room. I stood and used a swish of whoever's mouthwash was on the sink.
I came out of the bathroom and stopped dead. Almost Caleb's whole family was in the room. They had all saw me run for the bathroom and possibly heard me hurl through the door. Could this day get much worse?
Then everyone started to talk at once. Wait…no, they were thinking. I tried to turn it off, tried to focus, but that just made it worse. My mind overloaded and I fell into Caleb's arms as I went down for the count…again.
Seventeen
When I woke this time I was on the floor and everyone was gone, save Caleb, Gran and Peter.
I sighed and covered my face.
Gran spoke first. "You just can't get a break, can you, girl?"
"Why did I do that?" I asked muffled through my hands. "Why would I overload? I know how to handle myself now." Peter answered me.
"Your senses are all messed up because your body is working extra hard to fix the damage the alcohol did."
What could I say to that? But I did remember that Peter had called Uncle Ken. "How's my dad? Did Uncle Ken make it to him on time?"
"First, you need to shut your mind, Maggie." He looked at me closely. "You've got to give yourself time to heal before you do anything else." I nodded. "Alright, I called Ken and he didn't answer, but Caleb had a voicemail from him saying that he went to the house and got your father and Bish. I have no idea where he plans to send them, he didn't say, just that he had them. Alright?"
"Ok," I sighed in relief. "Ok."
"Alright, you two," Gran said and stood, her knees cracking. "We've got to head in to the gold room for the dance. Y'all need to get your butts in that bed and sleep this off. I want my bed back tonight." 
I tried to protest, but Caleb was already lifting me. He carried me back to the bed and we lay on top of the covers. "But I'm not tired," I lied, when in truth, I could see myself sleeping for a day or two. "And I don't want to miss the dance."
I had plans for that dance. I wanted to schmooze and laugh and get to know people.
"That'll have to wait 'til another day," Gran said and stuck her arm through Peter's. "When's the last time you tossed your old Ma on the dance floor?"
"It's been too long, Momma." He smiled as he said it. I'd always heard him call her Gran. "Come on, then."
"You kids rest up. I'll be back for my bed later."
"Gran," Caleb said and cleared his throat. "We could switch rooms, you know. That way we wouldn't have to worry about Maggie being in withdrawal in the morning."
She looked at me and then back to him. "She's not gonna be in any mood or condition to mutualize with you tonight, Mister."
"Gran," he sighed and gave her a look that only a grandson could give an overbearing grandmother. "Come on, that's not what I'm talking about."
"Uhuh," she replied unconvinced. "Regardless, they've already made it clear that we are not to switch rooms. They want to be sure that you don't mutualize and have already stopped by to make sure that I understood the rules. We need to choose our battles. We can't fight them on everything."
"Oh," he said and I heard his disappointment. "Ok, I guess."
"Sorry, honey," she said as she left and shut the door behind her.
He looked down at me. "I was talking about withdrawals not mutualizing. You know that right? I wouldn't try to do that to you when you're…like this."
I nodded and pressed closer. "I know." I was so sleepy, my eyes fought me.
"It's ok. Sleep," he ordered.
"Are you going to sleep?"
"Nah," he said and picked up a remote off the dresser. He pressed a button and the armoire doors opened to reveal a flat screen. "The summer Olympics are on."
"You going to watch the swimmers?" I murmured into his neck.
"Yeah," he said and chuckled as he kissed my forehead. "I'm gonna watch the swimmers."
I drifted off thinking how lucky I was to have such a down to earth guy.
We were woken by Gran later, practically shooing us from the room. Caleb carried me to my bed and this time, he did sleep.
~~~
The next morning was a repeat of the previous morning, minus Caleb in his underwear. We woke, it sucked to be in pain and agony even though we were right next to each other, Caleb dragged me to the hall and we sighed in relief.
I saw that he had slept in his clothes and his scruffy chin was back. I felt bad. He seemed to always be taking care of me and not himself. But I felt tons better, no traces of the alcohol was left in my system, so my mind was clear and it went straight to my father.
Caleb hearing my thoughts said, "Listen, I'm going to go change and then call Uncle Ken again."
"Thank you. Any idea what's planned for today?"
"Nuhuh, I wasn't really paying attention yesterday," he said and smirked."Yeah, I guess not." I wrinkled my nose. "Any chance that everyone is just going to forget what happened yesterday?"
"Nope." He kissed the end of my nose. "But they'll be nice about it or I'll deal with them."
I smiled a little. "Ok, please go call Uncle Ken."
"Done." He left yawning and rubbing his hair back and forth.
I went back inside and took another scalding shower and wrapped myself in a towel, then came out to find Jen and Maria waiting for me. Jen smiled.
"The Jacobson day to cook is today. Mom and Gran have been in the kitchen all morning."
Maria bounced up. "But we didn't have to go because we were going to help you get dressed."
"As much as I appreciate - really appreciate - you guys helping me, I can dress myself."
"They won't have it," Jen said. "They have a need to make you feel important, yet incompetent at the same time."
"Ok," I sighed in defeat. "What am I wearing today?"
Maria squealed and ran to the closet. "Gran's not here so I can dress you today."
I shot a scared look at Jen, but she waved me off and mouthed a 'no way'.
After I was dressed, we met Rodney in the hall and he poured on the sympathy. He was fighting mad at Marla and had no doubt of what had happened. He said he came see us yesterday in Gran's room, but we were asleep for hours. I assured him I was fine and dreaded the reception I was going to receive.
But I remembered something that I needed him to help me with. I pulled his arm to stop him. "Hey, can you do another guard detail for someone else?"
"Who? What?"
"Ruth." He looked puzzled, his mind blaring obscenities at watching a Watson. "Something Marla said to me made me think she might hurt her and I barely see her out of her room. She told me some stuff about the Watsons that'll get her in trouble."
"Ooooh," he said with crescendo. "Ok, sure. I'll try to keep my eye out for her."
"Good. Thank you."
We moseyed down to the ball room and I paused in the doorway. He grinned at my self consciousness and I let him take my hand as he led me to the breakfast table. I waited for the onslaught of negativity, of the people thinking I was silly and immature and chuckling behind my back at the show I'd given them yesterday.
  
But that wasn't what I found.
People were begging to come and find out how I was. They were worried about me. Worried…about me. Rachel found me and pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me. She leaned back and looked me over.