“Where are you going?” He asked as I went to walk into our bedroom.
“To the place where we keep the bed, so I can you know sleep,” I replied as I started to take my stilettos off, I hated heels with a passion and I wanted to kill the sadistic man who had invented them. The dress I was wearing however called for heels and so I had been in agony all day.
“Well if you wait ten minutes it will be Christmas so you can open one of your presents,” he said leaning against the door frame to the living room. Instantly I was back tracking and walking towards him in excitement.
“Can I choose which one, I want to open the big one, its been staring at me for three days,” I said and he rolled his eyes.
“No I get to choose,” he said opening the door to the living room and I knew that my Mom had been in on this. The tree lights were still on, there were a few candles lit around the room and there were Christmas carols being played softly from the CD player.
“If you think that your getting lucky tonight by giving me a Christmas present think again buddy, my mother is under this roof,” I said as I walked in to the living room further.
“Do you want your present or not?” He said closing the door behind him and then he went to the tree to retrieve a small neatly wrapped box that I hadn’t even seen amongst all the other larger presents.
He handed me the box and sat on the beanbag that was next to the couch. I shook it trying to see if I could guess what it was and he was watching me with a look in his eyes I had never seen before. I was beginning to wonder whether Howie was right, maybe he had changed his mind about marriage, at that thought my insides turned to jelly.
I tore into the package and opened the top of the box, surprised at what I found inside.
.
I had to hold back a laugh when she opened the present and tried to hide her disappointment.
“I love it,” she said holding the bauble up so she could read what was written on it.
“Well I thought being it’s our third Christmas together and with what’s happened this year, we should add another one to the tree,” I said standing up from where I sat.
“I totally agree baby,” She said standing up so she could hang it from the tree. I wrapped my arms around her from behind when she was finished and kissed her neck.
“I told you no nookie,” she said taking my hands in hers. “Oh I love this song, dance with me?” She asked turning around and I pulled her in closer to me so she could rest her head on my chest like she always did when we danced.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight
“You know I love you don’t you?” I asked and she shook her head yes. “You always come first Willow no matter what, I’d give up everything for you. When I thought I was going to loose you I didn’t know what I was going to do, you make me who I am, I’m a better person when I’m around you, I’m happier when I’m around you and I want to keep it that way. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I want you in my life forever, I want to grow old with you,” I said as I pulled away from her.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away
I didn’t even know where the ring came from. One minute we had been slowly dancing and the next minute he was down on one knee holding a ring out to me. I was totally shell shocked, I had thought that the present he had given me earlier was going to be a ring but he totally threw me off the scent. I could feel my eyes misting over and I wanted to wipe them but I was frozen to the spot.
“You know when you asked me what I wanted for Christmas?” He asked and I nodded. “I want to be your husband so I guess I’m asking you to marry me,” he whispered.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
“Your supposed to say something,” I prompted when she didn’t answer me but deep down I knew what her answer would be. I was actually surprised that I wasn’t more nervous, I had been on edge all day, trying to plan the perfect moment to do this. I had planned to take her aside at the reception but it just didn’t feel right so I had called her Mom and asked her to set this up. Asking her now just felt so right that all my nerves had gone.
She knelt down in front of me, but didn’t say anything as she wrapped her arms around me and just held me for a few seconds, shit what if she was going to say no? I hadn’t really planned on that, how would I hide the disappointment?
“With all you’ve put up with this year I think your definitely on Santa’s good list,” she whispered into my ear.
“Is that a yes?” I whispered back. She pulled back to look at me then a small smile crossing her face and I knew her answer before she even said anything.
“It’s a big huge giant yes.”
Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.
Chapter thirty eight
“So have you guys set a date yet?” Ginger asked as we all sat in the living room after we had gorged ourselves on a huge dinner.
“Not yet, I’m still shocked that we’re actually going to do this,” I said making her laugh.
“Guys look what I found,” Nick said as he bought more presents into the room. “I think Santa may have got confused because these say there for Kanden and Taelyn,” he said making them get excited as he handed them a few presents each so they could tear into them.
“He’s so good with kids, he’s going to make a great Dad when you guys decide to have your own,” Ginger said and instantly my good mood was gone. I knew that it wasn’t her fault, I still wasn’t to sure who knew and who didn’t, he had shared it with all of his band mates, my folks were aware and B.J had been told but other than that I was clueless.
The more I watched him the more I understood what she meant, he was so good with them, helping Kanden to get started by tearing a bit of the paper for him, ohhing when Taelyn thrust a Barbie in his face. I had to get out of there and fast. Luckily everyone was focused on watching the kids open their presents and I was able to sneak out.
I opened the door to the balcony and just stood out there and watched the waves crash on the beach, I wasn’t going to cry, I did not want to ruin today and I knew crying would do that. I would stand here for a few minutes compose myself an then head back and hopefully no one would know I had been gone. My plan was foiled when I heard the balcony door open again though.
“What are you escaping out here for?” Bob asked coming to lean against the railing.
“Just a bit warm in there,” I lied as I turned to smile at him.
“Liar. I heard what she said, she didn’t mean anything by it Will, she doesn’t know, I didn’t know whether you guys wanted people to know,” he said.
“It’s not the kind of thing that comes up in general conversation but I don’t care about people knowing.”
“You okay?” He asked.
“I’m…not going to lie. Watching him today, knowing that I can’t give him that hurts,” I admitted.
“He said you guys talked about adopting.”
“Yeah it’s not the same though.”
“Life’s not perfect Willow, you need to be glad that your still here, you do remember how close you came to not being here don’t you?” He asked putting his hand on my arm and I nodded. “I think you’ve had a really shit year, the pair of you have but next year is going to be great for you two. Do you need a hug?” He asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded and he pulled me into his arms. “You hug like Nick,” I said making him laugh.
“He is my son, I think I taught him a thing or two,” he said pulling back so we could both make our way inside.
“There you are,” I said as they both made their way back inside the apartment. “You okay?” I asked Willow when she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.
“I’m fine, what I need an excuse to hug my fiancée?” She said giggling when she called me that.
“No. Please tell me you remembered batteries?” I asked and she just rolled her eyes.
“Yes Nick I remembered, I’ll go and get them,” She replied wondering off in the direction of the bedroom.
“Is she okay?” I asked my Dad as he sat down at the breakfast bar.
“We’ve talked and she’s fine,” he said cryptically.
“You don’t need to talk in code old man,” I said and he hit me in the shoulder as I walked by to get a drink.
“She’s fine Nick, just don’t keep asking her okay? You’ll only make her mad,” he said and I left it at that. “Spoken to your Mom today?” He asked.
“Now your going to make me mad,” I said looking at him.
“Sorry,” He said holding his hands up.
“Come on you can help put together Taelyns Barbie car,” I said walking towards the living room.
“Oh no you bought it you fix it together.”
………………………………...............................................................................................
“What are you thinking about?” I asked her as she sighed while we were curled up on the couch watching a film.
“All the leftover food we have, you do realise your going to be eating Turkey for the next three months don’t you?” she said.
“I thought you gave most of it to mine and your folks?”
“Yeah I did, I think maybe we over did it a bit,” she said.
“Better to have to much then too little. I enjoyed today it was nice to have everyone together.”
“Yeah it was nice but I think we need a bigger place if we’re going to do it again next year, fourteen people here was a bit cramped.”
“I was thinking that we should move anyway, you know a new year, a new house, getting married, I think it would be good.”
“I’m to exhausted to make plans like that now,” she said yawning, “but ask me in January. Hey I know your plan Mate, I’m on to you,” She said quickly jabbing me in the side.
“What?” I asked confused.
“Your going to be touring next year, so that would leave all the planning for the wedding and moving up to me,” she said moving so she could look at me.
“I actually hadn’t thought of that but now that you mention it.”
“NO,” she yelled.
“But baby.”
“NO.”
“Fine we’ll do it together.”
We were quiet then watching the rest of POC3 which he had bought me on DVD for Christmas. I only turned to him when I heard him snore lightly. I laughed at his face, he always looked like a little boy when he slept, he had this innocence about him which I knew was a complete lie there was nothing innocent about him. I switched off the TV when the film ended and just watched him, after all this time I still noticed things about him that I hadn’t before like the small freckle where his ear met his head. Then again it still amazed me how much I did know about him, small things like the way a few strands of his hair would always point in the opposite direction to how he had styled it, no matter how much product he put on it, or how he always got dimples when he was truly smiling or laughing at something. I knew him better then anybody and I knew he knew more about me then anybody.
I glanced down at the ring on my hand, loving how it glistened when it caught the light from the Christmas tree. Bob was right, this year had sucked, but I knew next year was going to be better for us, if this year hadn’t happened I knew that we wouldn’t be engaged, we would still be plodding along as boyfriend and girlfriend and I wondered how long that would of made me happy. Then I wondered whether he was doing this because he wanted to or because it was expected of him.
“Nick,” I said poking him. He moaned lightly, moved a bit then went back to sleep. “Nick,” I poked harder this time.
“What?” He asked not opening his eyes.
“I…You asked me to marry you because you want to get married right?”
“No I asked you to marry me because I want you to run a marathon,” he said sarcastically looking at me perplexed. “Of course I asked you to marry me because I want to get married.”
“Your not doing it because you feel you have to.”
“I do have to marry you,” he said sitting up slightly. “There’s no one else out there who I want to marry baby, your it for me. I asked you to marry me because I love you and I want everyone else to know that.”
“You don’t have to marry me to show people that,” I said.
“What’s this all about? Do you not want to marry me?” He asked.
“No I mean yes I want to marry you I just want to make sure that you asked me for the right reasons and not because of everything that’s happened this year.”
“I want you to be my wife, I want you to marry me because I love you. It definitely is because of this year though and it’s not because of what your thinking. I don’t want to marry you because of what you’ve been through, its not a pity marriage, its because if this year has taught me nothing else it’s taught me how short life is and how quickly you could loose everything. That answer your question?” He said stroking my arm and I nodded. “I love you,” he said kissing the top of my head.
“I love you to,” I said moving so I could kiss him. His hands got tangled in my hair as he deepened the kiss and I ground my hips into his feeling his growing erection through his pants. I pulled back and grinned down at him before I trailed down his body and started to rub him through the fabric.
“Jesus,” he moaned above me as I slowly undid his pants and pulled them down his legs leaving him clad only in boxers, his hard on extremely evident.
“Excited about something baby,” I said as I pushed my hand in through the top and grasped him firmly making him whimper my name. My tongue was on him as soon as I shed his boxers. I ran my hands up and down his thighs as I swirled my tongue around his cock. Keeping him in my mouth I looked up to him when I felt his hands pull my hair to the side, he was looking down at me his eyes filled with lust. With one hand he held on to my hair and the other lightly massaged the back of my neck, he loved to watch me give him head.
“No,” he said firmly when I could tell he was close but I kept going anyway. He pulled at me then and I let him fall out of my mouth. “No I don’t want to come yet,” he said again pulling me up to him. I shed my top as he did so and I felt his hand snake into the back of my pants so he could caress my ass as we made out.
“Nick…More,” I said pulling away from him so I could pull my pants down. Whilst I was doing that he had expertly shed my bra and his thumbs were gently caressing my nipples. He bought me back down to him then, kissing my breasts before he bit down on one making me moan above him.
I could feel my erection between us and I reached down gently tugging at her clit making her cry out. I slipped a finger inside her, there was no resistance because she was so wet.
“Nick,” she pleaded looking at me and I knew what she wanted. I pulled my finger out of her and she pumped me hard a few times before she positioned me at her entrance sliding down on me. She just sat there for a few seconds with her head thrown back but I had to move.
“Fuck,” she said as she felt me move within her. She braced her hands on my chest as we moved towards that earth shattering moment that would leave us both breathless.
It was over all too soon.
“Merry Christmas,” she whispered making me smile.
“Merry Christmas Sexy,” I replied stroking her face.
Chapter Thirty Nine
My first thought was oww when I woke up, and I knew from there it wasn’t going to be a good day. I took a few deep breaths and then opened my eyes thankful that we at least had the sense to shut the blinds before we left last night. I glanced across to him as his eyes fluttered open, his head wasn’t even on the pillow and he was resting in a small pile of his own drool. Then again half of my face was a bit soggy and I realised I had been dribbling too.
He moved slightly and groaned, his head was obviously as bad as mine. I went to speak but my mouth felt like it was full of cotton wool.
“I’m getting up, peeing, taking a pain killer then coming back to bed,” he said softly as he pushed himself up from the bed.
“Bring me a pain killer,” I said as I watched him walk into the bathroom. I heard the knock at the door and groaned a “come in.” Autumn stuck her head round the door, her hair a complete mess, makeup smudged against her face, a pathetic look across her face.
“Owww,” was all she said as she came and laid down next to me on the bed.
“Dito,” I said as I put my head to hers. I didn’t get a chance to warn Nick about Autumn and he walked in stark naked.
“My, My, My Mr Carter,” she chuckled making him blush and quickly move his hands to cover himself up.
“Sorry,” I said throwing him a pillow so he could use that instead.
“Go back to bed,” he whined at her.
“Need something for the pain.” He turned then to get some from the bathroom, forgetting that he was naked making Autumn wolf whistle at his bare ass. He came back in and threw the packet at her. “Much obliged,” she said as she made her way towards the door.
“Tell Chris he knows where the bucket is, the bathroom needs to be clear of his puke before I get up,” Nick moaned to her.
“Yeah I’ll tell him, see you in a few hours,” she said shutting the door as he climbed back into bed handing me a glass of water and two pills. I swallowed them and then cuddled into him.
………………………………....................................................................................
I woke up to the sound of retching and she wasn’t beside me. When I managed to pull myself out of need I staggered towards the bathroom and nearly threw up myself when the smell hit me.
She was on the floor and her head was basically in the bowl of the toilet. I scooted down and started to rub her back as another wave hit her. I heard what was left in her stomach hit the water and winced but she was still after that.
“Finished?” I asked and she nodded her head yes. “Come back to bed,” I said pulling at her arm but she shook her head no. “it’s nicer than falling asleep with your head down the toilet, come on,” I said as I pulled her into my arms so I could carry her.
“Tequila is evil, it was put on this earth to hurt me,” she groaned as her head hit the pillow. I just smiled at her and then walked back into the bathroom, returning a few seconds later with a cool wash cloth. “Thanks baby,” she said as she placed it on her head.
“Happy New Year huh?” I said pulling on a pair of sweat pants, I was a bit cold but I also didn’t want a repeat of earlier and from looking at the clock I knew that Chris and Autumn would be getting up soon.
“Why do I do it? Every year and I never seem to learn.”
“Yeah but we did have fun last night,” I said sitting down next to her.
“Did we? I can’t remember half of it.”
“Trust me baby you were having a blast, dancing on tables, singing karaoke, performing a striptease for me in front of everyone,” I said and she pulled the wash cloth down her face slowly so she could look at me, “It was really sexy.”
“Your either lying or confusing me with a socialite tramp you used to date,” she said.
“I am never going to live that down am I? Your going to be bringing that up when we’re sat in rocking chairs on the porch,” I said and she chuckled.
“Okay now your confusing us with Kevin and Kristin, Rocking chairs? Porch?”
“You need to be careful baby, you seem to forget that I have the remote here and could play some action movie extremely loud,” I threatened.
“If you knew what was good for you, you wouldn’t dare,” she said as she put the washcloth back over her face.
“Engagement off?” I guessed but she shook her head no.
“No I’d still marry you but you would have to suffer a lifetime of celibacy.”
“Like YOU could go without sex, you would so cave,” I said tickling her side.
“No I wouldn’t,” she said squirming.
“Oh really.” It was definitely time to test that theory. I trailed my hand up and down her thigh and she put up resistance, batting at my hands but that was definitely not enough to stop me so I moved my body lower, trailing kisses down her stomach before I came to her throbbing clit, she wanted this.
“Nick,” she groaned throatily when she felt me lick her, her hands were in my hair now, holding me to her so I wouldn’t stop. I kept rubbing my hands up and down her thighs while I was licking, her breathing was becoming more erratic and I knew she was close.
I pushed into her hard and felt her walls contract around me when she had her first orgasm of the new year.
He started pumping in and out of me whilst planting kisses along my shoulder and into the crevice of my neck. I wrapped my legs around his back and felt him slide deeper making him moan and I felt my second orgasm wash over me but he was still going. He strokes were fast, hard and deep and I could hear his balls slapping my ass on every thrust.
I could hear Autumn on the other side of the door something about Chris and a bucket? I couldn’t call out in time and she opened the door.
“…can’t find.. SHIT sorry,” she said spotting what we were doing as she back tracked out of the room. He had stopped and started to giggle making me laugh along with him.
“Shit babe don’t do that,” he said when my giggling made my walls squeeze him.
“Why? You’ve not finished yet have you? Or did I miss it?” He stuck his tongue out at me as he began to move again, slowly this time, one of his hands coming to play with my boob. “Harder Gorgeous,” I said my nails biting in to his ass and he listened speeding up and fine layer of sweat forming in his hair line. He bit into my shoulder as he came taking me right along with him.
“For someone who thinks she could go without sex you can sure come pretty well, I’m sure that was a hat trick,” he said after a few minutes pulling out of me.
“What can I say? I am easily persuaded I mean I’m dating you right?”
“Ha ha you think your so funny,” he said rolling back onto his side of the bed and I moved so I could rest my head on his chest.
………………………………........................................................................................
“Hey who are you?” Autumn asked as Nick walked out the our bedroom fully dressed, then she looked round so she could see his ass, “Oh it’s you Nick, I didn’t recognise you with clothes on.”
“If you had the courtesy to knock then maybe it could have been avoided,” he said pouring himself a cup of coffee.
“Where is the fun in that?” She asked as he sat down at the breakfast bar next to her while I cooked brunch. “I just wish I had my camera then I could definitely write a see and tell all book,” she said ducking when he threw a dish cloth at her. “Willow is right though, you do have a nice ass even if it is a bit hairy.”
“My ass is not hairy. Willow tell her my ass isn’t hairy,” he whined.
“Baby I know your ass isn’t hairy and that’s all that matters,” I said pouring the mix into the waffle maker. “Is waffles going to be enough or should I do eggs as well?” I asked.
“Just waffles? No bacon?” He asked before taking a sip of coffee.
“You want bacon? Really?” I asked and he shook his head, “Fine,” I said walking to the fridge to pull some out.
“Where’s Chris?”
“Dying on your couch, I should actually check that he is still breathing,” Autumn said glancing in the direction of the living room.
“Is he really that bad? I didn’t think he was that tanked last night.”
“It’s Chris he always gets tanked. I think he is just catching up on sleep, he was barfing most of the night.”
“I don’t know why your laughing, if I hadn’t walked in when I did you would have fallen asleep with your head in the toilet,” He said when I started to laugh.
“I would have eventually found my way back to bed,” I said laying the strips of bacon in the frying pan.
“Here he is the man of the moment,” Nick said clapping his hands as Chris walked in.
“Don’t clap man,” he groaned sitting down rubbing his head.
Chapter Forty
“Oh look she’s so cute Nick,” she said pressing her face up against the glass. I knew coming in here for dog food would be a mistake.
“Yeah,” I said trying to sound unenthused but she just ignored me.
“You know maybe she would be good for Layla, I think she gets lonely sometimes,” She said looking to me and I knew that we would be walking out of here with another dog.
“She’s a lab though I don’t know whether they would be compatible,” I said trying to talk her out of it.
“Layla gets on well with any dog, she was fine with Jada, baby girl and Tiki, please Nicky, Dora needs a home,” she whined wrapping her arms around my waist.
“You’ve already named her?”
“Please, please.”
“Fine,” I relented making her squeal in delight.
“Ok we need another lead, dog bowl, bed, puppy food,” she reeled off another list as she made her way around the store throwing items into the basket I was carrying.
“Hey I only said yes to the dog not to this.”
“But she needs all this, puppies don’t come cheap Nicky,” she said throwing a few toys into the basket.
“Tell me about it.”
………………………………...............................................................................................
I heard her screech as I stepped on her tail.
“Layla,” I groaned as I nearly fell over. “Sorry I didn’t mean to step on your tail but if you didn’t get under my feet. You feeling left out huh?” I asked scooting down so I could pet her.
“What did you do?” Willow asked coming into the kitchen.
“Stepped on her tail,” I said still making a fuss over her.
“Poor baby, he’s a meanie huh?” she said lightly brushing Layla’s head with her hand as she walked passed to get a drink and then sat at the table.
“Where’s the pup?” I asked.
“She has a name Nick.”
“I refuse to call her Dora, it just reminds me of “Backpack Backpack yeah,” when I hear it.” I knew when I said that I had revealed too much and she cracked up laughing.
“Do you sneak down to watch it early in the morning when I’m still asleep?” She asked.
“Baylee used to like it,” I said, that was all that was ever on the TV on Brian’s bus during the Never Gone Tour.
“Yeah right, I bet you were begging Baylee to let you watch it,” she said peeling an orange.
“Whatever. So have you decided yet?” I asked as I sat on the counter top.
“Guitar please,” she said stuffing a segment in her mouth.
“Yeah I figured, you’ll be needed in rehearsal on Monday.”
“You guys don’t start till Tuesday,” she said.
“Band rehearse one day before us, you know that.”
“But I already know your songs, that’s just not fair,” she said throwing a piece of orange at me.
“Oh boo hoo, sucks to be you,” I said grinning at her as I put the orange in my mouth.
“Hey just because you’re my boss doesn’t mean you can talk to me like that, I can with hold on the sex you know,” she said raising her eyebrows at me.
“We’ve been through this and you should just admit that you’re a nympho baby, once you admit it you can start the healing process,” I said laughing.
“Healing process? What are you on?”
“So it’s a definite on the guitar?” I asked again.
“Affirmative,” she said saluting me.
“Your weird,” I said jumping off the counter, kneeing Layla in the head as I did
“Nick,” Willow nearly yelled.
“Sorry girl,” I said petting her again.
Chapter Forty One
It all happened in slow motion, one minute he was standing there in the middle of choreography and then I watched as he slipped, smacking his head hard against the corner of one of the speakers. I pulled the guitar strap over my head quickly and ran towards him Brian and Howie were already around him and Alex was on his phone.
“Is he okay?” I asked panicked kneeling down on the floor next to him. He was out cold and blood was pouring from his head. “Oh god Nick.”
“Nick? Nick?” Howie said shaking his shoulders lightly but there was no reply.
“Is he breathing?” I asked panicked my hands shaking.
“Sweetie he’s just knocked himself out that’s all, he’s going to be fine,” Brian said pulling me up from the floor so he could wrap an arm around me. “Alex has called for an ambulance but he’s going to be fine.”
“Your sure?” I asked.
“Nick’s got a hard head, he’ll be fine,” he replied.
“I think he’s coming out of it,” Howie said and I was by his side in a second.
“Baby? It’s me,” I said taking his hand as his eyes fluttered open. He mumbled in coherently bringing his hand up to touch his head, he was obviously in pain. “It’s okay sweetie just stay still the ambulance is on it’s way.”
………………………………...............................................................................................
“Willow?” I called holding out my hand and she took it giving it a squeeze.
“I’m here sweetie, your going to be fine.” I could hear her but I couldn’t see her because my head was strapped down and I had a neck brace on, apparently they were concerned about my neck. My neck wasn’t the problem, the throbbing pain in my head was. I couldn’t even remember what had happened, one minute I was rehearsing the next I was waking up on the floor with Howie looming over me.
“Mr Carter? I’m Doctor Nevins, I hear you’ve had a bit of a knock to the head,” she said leaning over to look at me.
“Just a slight one,” I said making her smile at me.
“Okay what I need to do is just check you over alright and I need to ask you a few questions. First I’m going to check your neck over so we can remove this brace alright. Now I need you to keep absolutely still for me, just let me do all the work and when I ask you a question just answer yes or no, don’t shake your head,” she said as she removed the brace from around my neck. She poked and prodded for a few minutes, asking me if it felt ok which it did. “Okay I think we can take this off then,” she said removing her hands and sitting the gurney up slightly so I wasn’t flat on my back. Although it felt better to sit up, it made the bleeding start again and I could feel it trickling down my neck. She quickly put on some gloves and took of the bandage wrapped around my head.
“That’s definitely going to need some sutures,” she said as she put a fresh bandage on and then sat on a stool beside my bed.
“So can you tell me what happened?” She asked.
“One minute I was standing the next I was waking up on the floor,” I admitted.
“We’re you there m’am?” She asked turning to Willow.
“It’s Willow, I think he just slipped and caught his head on the corner of an amp as he fell,” she said.
“So you slipped, you didn’t pass out?” She asked turning back to me.
“Yeah I think I just lost my footing.”
“And how long was he out for?” She asked turning back to Willow.
“About a minute, maybe a bit less,” she replied.
“Okay, you’ve not been sick?”
“No.”
“No nausea?”
“No.”
“Headache?”
“Yeah a bit of one,” I said sheepishly.
“Well with a gash like that I would be shocked if you didn’t,” she said noting things down on my chart.
“Any double vision?”
“No.”
“Okay follow my finger for me,” she said and I did as I was asked. “Okay how many fingers am I holding up?”
“Three,” I replied.
“Good, what day is it?”
“Thursday.”
“What state are you in?”
“Florida.”
“Last one, who’s this lovely lady sat over here?” she said pointing to Willow.
“Never seen her before in my life,” I joked making both of them laugh.
“I think it’s safe to say that there won’t be any permanent damage,” she said finishing what she was writing, “Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be back to stitch you up,” she said before she left.
“You okay baby?” She asked taking my hand and kissing it.
“Yeah I’m fine, just a klutz that’s all,” I said squeezing her hand.
“You scared me,” she admitted.
“It’s just a bump to the head, not like I overturned my car,” I said and she blushed.
“Yeah but I can’t remember that, you sure your fine?”
“Yes.”
………………………………...............................................................................................
He winced again as she stuck the needle into the wound so she could numb it before she started stitching and I could see it was really hurting him so I squeezed his hand.
“Sorry I know it’s not nice but its better than me trying to stitch without it being numb.”
“It’s okay don’t worry, ow,” he said as she jabbed him again.
“Sorry, all finished okay?” she said taking her gloves off, “That’s going to take about five minutes to work then I can start stitching you back together.”
He just nodded his head and then closed his eyes as he rested his head back, making more blood trickle from his wound.
“You sure your okay?” I asked him.
“Just a bit sleepy,” he said and I looked to the doctor and bit panicked.
“Being sleepy is fine, you’ve got a mild concussion. Are you going to be going home with him?” She asked and I nodded. “You’ll be staying over night?” She asked and I nodded again. “As long as you can wake him it’s fine for him to sleep, just every couple of hours give him a nudge. He might be a bit sleepy for the next couple of days and may have a headache as well, that’s all normal. If it persists for over a week, or you start seeing double, or vomiting then you need to come straight back in,” she said as put on a fresh pair of gloves after washing her hands and went to the task of sewing him up.
“I take it you can’t feel this,” she asked as she pulled the thread threw.
“Feel what?” he asked, his eyes still closed.
“That’s good, lidacane has worked.”
“Will it be okay for me to go back to work tomorrow?” he asked.
“I would leave it for a few days, your not really going to get a lot of sleep tonight what with Willow checking on you. You need a sick note?” She asked.
“No it’s fine.”
“You need to keep the wound clean and dry for five days, after that your free to wash your hair, I think I got most of the blood out of it when I cleaned your wound. The stitches are dissolvable so you don’t need to come back in to get them out. If you find the wound isn’t healing well, or starts to ooze puss or smell then come back and we can take a look.”
“Okay,” he said opening his eyes to smile at me.
“Well that’s stitch number six and I think your all set,” she said pulling of her gloves. “This just reitnetarates what I’ve said,” she said handing me a leaflet, “Any problems don’t hesitate to come back or give us a call,” she said getting up.
“Thanks,” he said to her as he got up from the gurney.
“No problem.”
