“You are doing great miss,” Melissa says with a smile. I look over at her and my mom and at how they look so happy and at the same time, I feel so sad.
I manage to go the bathroom and brush my teeth Melissa helped me change into the new nightdress. She walks me back over to the bed and I climb in.
“Would you like some lunch?” she says as she hands me a menu.
“Yes, that would be great.” I select some food and the nurse heads out of the room leaving me alone again with my mom.
“You did very well today Alanna I am proud of you!” I smile at her.
“Mom how is Dad and Penelope? Have they been here?”
“Yes sweetie, but your dad is away on a business trip and your aunt Melanie has Penelope. They miss you and your father has called every day since he’s been away.” She says proudly.
“Where has Dad gone this time?” My mom pauses before she answers.
“Sweetie he is in London,” I gasp, as perhaps my dad knows where Adrian is.
“Mom how long has he been away?”
“A few days, he won’t be back until Friday.”
“Do you know who his meetings are with?”
“No darling, you know I don’t get into the business side of things.” My mom really is no help and I need my phone. If I cannot get Adrian to talk to me then maybe Michael will.
“Has Michael called lately?”
“No, he hasn’t I have not heard from him since he left this hospital. You know I owe everything to him.”
“Yes mom but do you know anything about where Adrian might be?” She exhales and I can see she is getting a little annoyed.
“Alanna I have already told you I don’t know anything. Anyway, maybe it’s better this way.”
“Excuse me?”
“Maybe you should take this time to break free of him,” I cannot believe what she is saying she has no idea how much I love him.
“Mom I don’t want to break from him I love him and he feels the same way, I can’t be without him!”
“If he cares, then why isn’t he here with you?” She says in a very harsh tone. I am surprised at how she is acting I never thought that she would feel this way about Adrian.
“I can’t think of a reason why he is not here but I now there must be one or he would be.”
“Alanna you can’t base your life around him you need to be who you are and you certainly don’t need him to define you.”
“But I love him you don’t understand!”
“Then tell me how you feel! I know he is a stunning guy but please tell me there is more to him than that!”
“Yes there is more: I am not shallow it’s not just his looks that I see!”
“Then what do you see?”
“I see his kindness and his vulnerability. I see how he loves me and how I am the air that he breathes. He is the first person that I have met that does not care about material things. He is not out to show off he is not that sort of person and I am completely besotted with him!” I fight back a tear as I think of his face, his glowing green eyes, his light chocolate hair, his smirk and the way he raises his thick dark eyebrows when he talks. The way he looks at me and calls me baby. “I don’t know what to say it seems that he wants to distance himself from you. Do you know why he would do that?” Yes, I know why: he feels guilty now that I have been hurt and he tried so hard to protect me but he could not - is what I want to say but instead.
“The only thing I can think of is Michael,” my mom again smiles at sound of Michael’s name and I think that maybe she has a little thing for him!
“Alanna it’s obvious that Michael cares for you, does Adrian know how Michael feels?”
“Yes, he knows I have tried to explain to him that I love him and not Michael. But he always has doubts about everything he does and I feel that could be the only reason he has stayed away.”
“Adrian maybe feels jealous that it was Michael that took the bullet for you and not him.” I sit up further in the bed and my mind dashes full of thoughts about Adrian. What if he thinks that I blame him for what happened? What if he thinks that I don’t want him here with me? I cannot bear this I need to contact him.
“Mom I know you want me to rest but I can assure you that I won’t do that until you give me my phone.” She sighs as she takes the closet key from her pocket. She stands up and walks over to the closet, she opens it and starts to pick through the clutter that is inside. Finally, she comes back over to me and in her hand; she has my iPhone and my white Blackberry. Before she gives me them, she takes my hand.
“Alanna, if he doesn’t come back to you then he is not worth it. Promise me that if he doesn’t respond you will forget him and move on.” I want my phone so desperately that I agree to what she says.