“I know, Mom.”
“Better late than never.” She pats my face, and I give her a watery smile.
“I’m glad we talked.”
“Me, too, darling. I’m always here.” She looks at me with nothing but love, and she grins with a hint of glee. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandmother!”
It’s darker. Later. I don’t know what time, and I’m too exhausted to look. Ana lies in her own private world.
“Oh, baby, please come back to me. I’m sorry. Sorry for everything. Just wake up. I miss you. I love you.” I kiss her knuckles and rest my head on my arms, on her bed.
It’s a soft touch, fingers running through my hair, and in this dream, I revel in her touch. Shit. I wake instantly and sit up. Ana is gazing at me with big, beautiful blue eyes. Joy bursts in my heart. I have never been so pleased to see those eyes as I am now.
“Hi,” she croaks, her voice hoarse.
“Oh, Ana.” Oh, thank God, thank God, thank God. I grasp her hand and hold her palm to my face so she’s caressing me.
“I need to use the bathroom,” she whispers.
“Okay.”
Ana tries to sit up.
“Ana, stay still. I’ll call a nurse.” Standing, I reach for the buzzer at her bedside.
“Please,” she whispers. “I need to get up.”
“Will you do as you’re told for once?” I snap.
“I really need to pee,” she rasps.
The nurse arrives, and she’s pleased to see Ana’s finally conscious. “Mrs. Grey, welcome back. I’ll let Dr. Bartley know you’re awake.” She makes her way to Ana’s bedside. “My name is Nora. Do you know where you are?” Her blue eyes twinkle kindly.
“Yes. Hospital. I need to pee.”
“I’ll fetch a bedpan,” Nurse Nora offers
Ana screws up her face in revulsion. “Please. I want to get up.”
“Mrs. Grey—” Nora is not convinced.
“Please.”
“Ana,” I warn as she struggles to sit up.
“Mr. Grey, I am sure Mrs. Grey would like some privacy.” Nora raises an eyebrow, and from her tone I know she’s dismissing me.
In your dreams, sweetheart. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Christian, please—” Ana grasps my hand, and I give hers a squeeze, beyond grateful that she’s back. “Please,” she says once more.
Shit.
“Fine!” I run my hand over my scalp, frustrated that she wants to be rid of me already. “You have two minutes,” I snap at Nurse Nora. I lean down and kiss my wife’s forehead and storm out of the room.
I pace the corridor.
Ana doesn’t want me anywhere near her.
Perhaps she’s can’t stand the sight of me.
I wouldn’t blame her.
Fuck. I can’t bear this.
I storm back into the room as Nora is helping Ana out of bed.
“Let me take her,” I say.
“Mr. Grey, I can manage,” Nurse Nora scolds, giving me an icy look.
“Damn it, she’s my wife. I’ll take her.” I move her IV stand out my way.
“Mr. Grey!” Nora chastises me, but I ignore her and carefully place my arms around and under my wife and lift her.
Ana wraps her arms around my neck, and I carry her into the adjacent bathroom. Nurse Nora follows, pushing the IV stand.
“Mrs. Grey, you’re too light.” I set Ana on her feet, keeping one hand on her so she doesn’t fall. She seems a little unsteady. I flip on the light and Ana staggers.
Hell! “Sit, before you fall.” I don’t let go of her. Gingerly, she does as she’s told, and once she’s seated, I release her.
“Go.” She waves me out.
“No. Just pee, Ana.”
“I can’t, not with you here.” She peers up, beseeching me with wide, dark eyes.
“You might fall.”
“Mr. Grey!” Nora is not happy, but we both ignore her.
“Please,” Ana says.
Fuck. Get a grip, Grey.
“I’ll stand outside, door open.” I step outside with Nora while she glares at me.
“Turn around, please,” Ana says, and I want to smile. We’ve done all manner of things to each other but this is a hard limit for her? I roll my eyes, but do as she asks.
Nora mutters something under her breath and I think I catch the word interfering but I’m too relieved that Ana’s woken up to let it bother me.
After a minute or two, Ana pipes up that she’s done. I scoop her into my arms once more, and I’m thrilled when she curls her arms around me. I bury my nose in her hair, but I’m alarmed to find that she doesn’t smell of Ana—she smells of chemicals and hospitals and fucking trauma. But I don’t care. She’s back. “Oh, I’ve missed you, Mrs. Grey,” I whisper, and I lay her back on her bed, Nurse Nora trailing behind me with the IV, a scowling chaperone.
“If you’ve quite finished, Mr. Grey, I’d like to check over Mrs. Grey now.” Nurse Nora is hatchet-faced when mad.
I stand back and hold up my hands in surrender. “She’s all yours.”
Nora huffs, unimpressed, but she smiles at Ana. “How do you feel?”