by K. T Fisher
Her ribs are better, and the bruising on her face has nearly disappeared, but she’s still in bad shape. We still don’t know if her legs are fully healed because she hasn’t tried to walk yet. That day is a couple of weeks away, and I can see that she fears it.
Today, I’ve actually gone out of the hospital after Maisy demanded I stay the night away from the there. I really didn’t want to, but she was cranky as hell and kept getting at me, so the thought of a comfortable bed started to get better and better. I didn’t go home, though, instead I went to Maisy’s place and slept the night in her bed. I still felt like I was with her all night because her perfumed scent was all over her bed covers. We need to talk real soon about what we are right now because I know for sure I want her to be mine, but there’s still shit we need to talk over. I know she’s been in the hospital for so long that I could have spoken to her, but she’s had so many visitors, we’ve hardly had time to ourselves. If it isn’t our friends, it’s the nurses or doctors checking up on her. So by the time we are alone, Maisy’s too tired or worried to talk about us.
I walk back into the hospital doors with a bag full of goodies for Maisy when I spot none other than Lauren at the reception desk.
“Yes, she’s my sister. I’d like to see her.”
“No,” I answer as I walk past her and nod to the receptionist. “She’s not allowed up.”
“Yes, Mr. Lawson,” she replies, and types away on her computer. Probably noting down that Lauren isn’t allowed in Maisy’s room.
Lauren quickly spins to face me with shock written over her face. “What? Why not?”
I almost laugh. “You really need me to answer that right now?”
“You can’t stop me from seeing her, Max.”
“No, but right now I can and I don’t want her anywhere near you. She doesn’t want to see you, Lauren, so go home.”
“She’s my sister. She will want to see me,” she whines.
I do laugh this time. “Oh, now you remember she’s your sister. I think this time you have gone too far.”
I don’t want to talk to her any longer, so I leave her standing at the reception.
Chapter Twenty Five
Maisy
During this past month, Max has not left my side. All of my friends have been so caring, and they have made sure I haven’t wanted for anything. Sometimes, the girls have been a little overbearing, but I love them. They’re just worried, and I would be exactly the same if it was one of them. Max has been with me every single day and slept over nearly every night. He would have stayed every night if I didn’t order him away ever so often. I don’t do this to be nasty but because I hate being trapped in this place, and at least Max has the chance to escape!
We haven’t really spoken about what happened when I found him with Lauren, but I can tell he’s being eaten up by his guilt. It shows in the way he cares for me, and I see it in the way he looks at me sometimes. I don’t know what’s going to happen once we get out of this room and go back in the real world, but I’m both nervous and excited to find out.
Today, I’m having one of my “downer” days. I haven’t walked since the day I ran into my car and away from Max. My body aches, and I am fed up with looking at these same four walls! I need to get out!
Max walks out from the bathroom with wet hair. I bet it’s nice to have a shower all by yourself, but I have to either have the help of my girlfriends or the nursing staff. Max has offered but there’s no way of that happening!
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the bathroom? This hospital room has it all, it really does.
Max takes one look at me and sits by me on my bed. “What’s up, Maisy Moo?”
I roll my eyes. “Why do you always call me that?”
Max reaches out to touch my face and I’m glad that it’s no longer hurting me. The bruising to my face has now finally healed, so when Max rubs his hand across my cheek, I close my eyes and relax into his touch.
“Because it’s cute, and so are you. So you’re my Maisy Moo.”
This makes me giggle. “You’re rhyming.”
“I know, I should have been the songwriter,” he says with a stupid smile on his face that makes him look cute as hell.
“No, you really shouldn’t.” I continue to laugh.
“I love seeing you smile. You haven’t done a lot of that lately.”
“That’s because I’m never going to walk again, and I don’t know when I will be able to go home. I’m sick of staying in this room!”
“Babe, you will walk again. That’s why I’m paying for, you will be happy again.”
“Max,” I laugh. “If I’m not able to walk again...You can’t fix everything with money.”
Max is now the one to frown, and I reach out to run my hand through his wet hair. “Stop frowning.”
“But I want you to be happy,” he sulks.
“As long as I have my friends, I will always be happy.”
Max looks up at me with a fierce look. “You’ll always have me, Mase.”
This warms my heart and does funny things to my insides. “I know I will.”
Max leans forward and starts to kiss me. This isn’t the first time that we’ve kissed while we’ve been cooped up together in this hospital room. Things start to heat up real fast, and Max comes closer, pulling me to him. My arms wrap around his neck, and I deepen the kiss as hard as I can. However, when I go to move my legs so Max can settle himself in between, they don’t respond and instead pain shoots through me. I gasp, and Max quickly pulls away with wide eyes, searching my body. I start to cry, and it’s not pretty.
“Maisy? What’s the matter?”
“Leave me please,” I beg, because I don’t want him to see me like this.
“No, I’m not going to do that, now tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m a cripple! I can’t fucking move my legs! You’re not going to want me anymore, when I can’t walk around, and there’re groupie whores begging for you!” The tears come out faster, and Max wraps me in his arms as I crumble.
When my tears calm, Max holds up my face. “Now you listen to me: you’re not a cripple so don’t let me hear you say that again! You hear me?” I nod. “You will walk again, Maisy, but if you don’t, I will still love the bones off you. Even if you never walk another day of your life, I will still want you as my woman. You’re the only woman I love and want to commit to. I never thought I’d be that guy, the one who wants one girl and only that girl, to have her all to myself, and that girl is you, Mase. Ever since I met you, I knew I had met the girl that changed me from a boy into a man.”
I stare into his face and begin crying all over again. Whatever have I done in my life to deserve a man like Max?
“What’s the matter?” he asks me.
“I love you,” I manage to say despite my crying. “I’ve been trying to tell you for so long, and then Lauren came along. I thought you wanted her.”
He shakes his head. “I never wanted her, Mase.”
“Then why, at your gig, were you together?”
“We weren’t. She came out of nowhere just before you showed up. You’ve gotta believe me, Maisy, I wouldn’t go there because you’re what I want, and I didn’t want to risk losing you for anything.”
As soon as the words are out of his mouth, I know he’s speaking the truth.
***
An hour and a half after our heart-to-heart talk, I wake up from my nap and see that the room is empty. Stretching out as best as I can, I start to think about the future Max and I could have, but when I look down at my broken legs, my happiness fades. Stupid legs.
I gently lift my blanket and my long nightie to take a look at the legs that I hate. They need a shave, but, apart from that, they look normal. I sit and stare at my toes, willing to make them move just a little bit. However, nothing happens, not even the tiniest of movements.
Max appears after the nurse has seen to me, and he looks to be in a really good mood.
“How about we
ditch this joint?” He asks.
I almost laugh. “Erm, excuse me?” I answer back, incredulous.
“You know...Let’s get out of here.”
“Then why didn’t you just say that?”
“Maisy, you’re ruining the mood.” Max protests.
“The only mood in here is you being a dork,” I laugh.
“Okay, then.” Max turns around and walks right out the door, leaving me shocked.
What the hell?
Suddenly, the door opens, and Max walks right back in, with that same smile on his face. “Maisy! How about we get out of here for a while?”
I start to laugh, so hard that tears leak from my eyes. “And how are we supposed to do that?”
He opens the door again, and in walks the nurse, but this time she has a wheelchair with her.
“Oh no, I’m not getting in that.” I look at it with horror.
“Mase, stop being a diva, because you are getting in that wheelchair. I need to get out of this room, but I’m not going without you.”
He stares at me, and I stare back, hard. That is, until I cave about twenty seconds later.
I look at the nurse. “Is this okay?”
“Yes, as long as you’re in the chair, then you are free to go outside. We were going to let you know next week, but Max said you need to get some fresh air today.”
I look at Max, and he’s smiling, looking very pleased with himself.
With I realize that Max won’t let this go, I nod and the nurse leaves us to it. Right away, Max is by my side with my jacket, helping me up. It takes a lot of work just to get my legs over the side of the bed, and I hate how weird my legs feel as they dangle. Max brings my brush and gently brushes my hair until it’s smooth as silk. I love how much he cares and looks after me. Then he reaches down to the edge of my nightie and starts to lift it up.
“Max!” I protest.
“What?” He immediately backs away.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, I thought I’d get you changed.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re going outside and you’re in your sexy nightgown,” he says simply.
Well, when he puts it like that. “Okay.” I give in to him.
It’s deadly quiet as he helps me change into my baggy sports lounge trousers and vest top. I try my best not to get embarrassed, but it’s hard not to. He then lifts my arms and helps me into my jacket which makes me laugh.
“Max, what are you doing?”
He looks shocked. “What?”
“I can get my own jacket on.” I can’t help but giggle.
“I just enjoy helping you.” He gives me a tender smile.
I stop laughing at him, because now he’s just made me feel bad. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Max laughs, and I hold my arm out for him to help me put it on, and he shakes his head. “Oh no, princess, you’re on your own.”
“Oh, how charming!” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
I get my jacket on, and then Max suddenly picks me up in his arms. We look into each other’s eyes, and a moment passes between us. He’s never held me this intimately before. I think he’s going to kiss me again, but instead he gives me a quick peck on the nose and then carefully sits me down in the wheelchair.
“How’s that?” he asks.
I’m not impressed, and my face shows it, because Max sighs and kneels down in front of me. “Look, just enjoy it, okay? You’ve wanted to go outside, and now you can. I know you wanted to walk out there, but, unfortunately, you can’t right now. But until you can walk, you have to use the chair.”
I know he’s right, but it’s just hard to accept. Instead of looking ungrateful, I put a smile on my face as Max wheels me out. As soon as the fresh air hits my face, it doesn’t matter how I got out here. Max could have been carrying me by himself, and I wouldn’t have cared! The fresh breeze hit me in the face and all I want is to stay out here as long as I can.
Max
I look at Maisy as the wind blows her black hair back, and she closes her eyes. Since the accident, I haven’t seen her look so relaxed.
I hate seeing her go through this, but her inner strength is truly amazing. She may have had some tears, and have her down days, but she hasn’t given up. I’m so fucking glad we talked about the Lauren subject today, and that we can now get on with us. I just hope that the doctors can help Maisy. I stand by everything I said to her: Whatever happens, I’m here for her, but I’m a little scared myself. If Maisy can’t ever walk again, what does that mean for us, and how will we cope? I refuse to leave her, Maisy is my woman now. I just don’t want her to stop enjoying her life and I’m scared that if she can’t walk, she won’t be herself.
Maisy
When I wake up the next morning, I decide to let Max help me get dressed, and I’m surprised at how normal it feels. I’m not embarrassed at all. Well, apart from the horrible scars on my legs.
When I’m finally ready, there’s a little knock on the door, and runs Finley in. He’s all smiles and jumps right onto my bed, shuffling right up to me.
“Hey, rock star.” I ruffle his hair as everyone else walks in, and I do mean everyone else. Apart from Tilly, of course, because she is making sure the business doesn’t suffer from my accident.
“Are your legs okay now?” Finley asks me.
“Nearly,” I answer, and my heart swells when he cuddles me tight.
I love this little boy so much. I look over to Kendal who carefully places the triplets on the bed. Little Noah tries to shuffle up to me, but he hasn’t quite managed to master this or crawl yet. Unlike Grace, because she crawls right up to me and starts pulling on my hair.
“Grace,” Kendal scolds.
“No, it’s fine.” I hold Grace and give her a kiss on the forehead. “I’ve missed these guys.”
“So, how’s it going?” Jax asks in a very manly way. It almost makes me laugh.
“I’m getting there.” I answer reassuringly.
“Hopefully home in no time,” Jessica adds.
I smile back. I can only hope so.
Chapter Twenty Six
Maisy
“You can do this, Maisy!” Max shouts.
“Oh my god, I’m so proud of you,” Tanya sobs.
Jesus, I’m not a child!
“A bit further,” Kendal squeals.
Okay, so maybe I am, because right now I’m walking!
Yes, that’s right, you heard me!
Nearly two months after my car accident, I could finally move my toes. Then I was able to move my foot and my legs around while sitting down, and now I am learning how to walk again! It’s like how a baby first learns how to walk; my legs have been rebuilt from inside, so now I have to start from scratch, and it’s scary as hell. Even baby April is better at walking right now than me!
After my physiotherapy, Max helps me into my wheel chair and drives me home. Technically, it’s our home these days because since I was discharged from the hospital two weeks ago, he’s been staying with me at my house. I pretend that he’s being a pain and annoying me, but I actually love him being here with me. Jessica’s worried we’re moving too fast, but, truthfully, I feel like we’ve been together for a while now. That’s how close our friendship is, and he’s still my best friend.
My physiotherapy tires me out so much that when Max helps me onto the sofa, my eyes are already feeling heavy.
Max
I come back into the living room with a cup of tea for Maisy and see she’s fallen asleep. I just sit down and watch her. It’s nice to see her looking so relaxed and peaceful. This has been a stressful few months for Maisy and everyone around her, but we’re all here for her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I smile at the texts coming through. All of them are from our friends asking how her appointment went. I let them all know that she was amazing as always. Her doctor actually thinks she will be able to work by herself in another months’ time if she carries on the way she is.
Maisy’s strength mixed with her stubbornness is working well for her, because her legs have healed and become strong enough with her physiotherapy, so much so that she’s even shocked the doctors. I’m so proud of her that I can’t stop smiling as I watch her sleep.
“You’re being a creep,” Maisy mumbles.
I’m shocked to fuck! “You were spying on me?”
I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed because I was staring at her with a creepy grin on my face.
Maisy giggles and opens her eyes a little. “I wasn’t spying, you were the one acting weird!”
I move from the chair I am currently say on to go sit beside the sofa she’s lying on and place my hand on the top of her thigh. Maisy looks down to where my hand is and clears her throat. I know she’s affected by my touch, and I am, too. All we’ve done since the car accident is kiss. I’m not complaining, of course. Even though my balls are killing me, I respect Maisy enough to keep waiting and let her tell me when she’s ready. I love her, and I’m prepared to wait to get inside her pants again, because, believe me, she’s worth the wait.
“I wasn’t even asleep.” Maisy’s eyes are still on my hand.
“So you were spying on me.” I insist.
She smiles. “You looked kind of cute.”
I carefully lean forward, closer to her face. God, she’s so beautiful. How in the hell did I manage to control myself around her before this?
“Kind of cute?” I repeat and kiss her neck, and I’m pleased when she exposes more for me, quietly sighing as my tongue licks up to her earlobe. “That offends me, baby.”
I bite softly on her earlobe, making her moan, and my cock jumps to attention. Maisy’s eyes snap open and meet mine. Her cheeky smirk teases me, and I capture her lips against mine. Maisy wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down further. Her legs then ever so slowly open and I look at her with pride, and she smirks in return.
