chapter Twenty-Six
“If you don’t get a wheelchair and take me to see my daughter right now, I swear I’ll find a sharp object and the first person who touches me gets stabbed through the eye.”
“It’s okay, Ms. Harlow, I’ll take you to see Ari.”
Rafe couldn’t hide his smile of amusement as Ari’s tiny mother threatened the two-hundred pound orderly. What was even more comical was the fact that the large man actually looked intimidated.
“Finally, somebody’s saying what I want to hear,” she snapped as she started shifting her legs over the side of the bed.
“Let me help you so you can save your energy for as much visiting time as possible with Ari. She too has been threatening the hospital staff the last few days. I can see where she gets her temper.”
“I’m very happy that you’re taking me to see my daughter, but don’t push your luck. My body hurts like the dickens, my baby girl has been shot, and these moron doctors keep telling me I need to stay in bed for my own good. I have no room left for anyone humoring me. I want my daughter, and I want her now!” Sandra stated as she held Rafe’s gaze.
He admired Sandra – and that was a problem. She was a lot like his own mother and he had no doubt she’d follow through on her threat if she didn’t get what she wanted, just like he knew that his mom would slice anyone in half who stood between her and her children.
“Do you have some Italian in you, Ms. Harlow?” he asked as he helped her into the wheelchair.
“I have no idea. Why do you ask?” He lifted each of her feet onto the holders, then grabbed a blanket and covered her lap.
“You have a lot of passion inside of you. That speaks of a strong heritage,” he said as he began wheeling her through the hallways. He knew no one would dare stop him. Even if the doctors felt that Sandra should wait another day before getting out of bed; if Rafe said it was fine, then it was fine.
“Ah, Rafe, passion is in all of us, it’s just that few people ever feel the need to express their desires. I’m normally a very happy and quiet person, but the people on staff here should know better than to try to keep a mother and her child separated. I grew her inside of me, protected her fragile body as it formed, and then birthed the perfect baby. I may not always be able to keep her safe in this world, but I dang well won’t lie around when she’s been hurt. Cancer or not, my daughter comes first. A bit of discomfort won’t kill me. Heck, I’m beginning to think nothing will.”
“I agree with you there. You’ve been through more than most people could endure and you’re still fighting strong. Keep up the battle and never lose the fight,” he advised as they reached Ari’s floor.
“You know something, Rafe? I look forward to our little chats. You hide behind that expressionless mask of a face most of the time, but I see fire burning underneath the surface. I don’t know if you know this or not, but you’re a good man.”
Rafe nearly stopped at her words, not because he was surprised to be called a good man. His mother said that to him all the time, but because of the tone of voice she was using, as if she truly cared about him.
If she knew what he had planned for her daughter, he didn’t think she’d feel quite the same way. Mother’s like her tended to steer their daughter’s clear of men like him. For that matter, he never employed women with mothers like Ari’s. He normally went after women who knew the score, who wouldn’t do something foolish like fall in love with him.
An ironic smile fell upon his lips as they entered Ari’s room and she stiffened until she saw her mother. She beamed with the first smile she’d shown since the shooting. He didn’t think he had to worry about Ari falling for him. She was as antagonistic in his company now as she had been from the beginning.
Knowing Ari wasn’t falling in love – that she still was nothing more than a conquest for him to overtake made him feel better. He had nothing to feel guilty over. When she agreed to be his, it would be mutual and she’d have zero illusions on what kind of man he was.
He wheeled Sandra to the bed, then quietly stepped from the room. Mother and daughter needed time alone together. He didn’t want to witness their happy reunion. He needed to harden his heart to prepare for the upcoming battle of wits with Ari.
*****
“I’m glad you’re here, Mom. I’ve been so incredibly worried about you.”
“That goes double for me. How are you feeling?”
“I’m much better. My chest still hurts, but it’s nothing I can’t live with. What’s more important, is how are you feeling? The doctor told me that your surgery was a success, but I want to know how you feel, not the technical stuff he was spouting off to me.”
“There’s not a whole lot to tell. They were able to get control of the infection and they said no new cancer has been spotted. I’m going to be more weak than normal for another month or so, but the staff is sure I’ll be going home before we know it. I can’t tell you how badly I just want to sleep in my own bed again. I’m sure all the plants have died, but planting new ones will give me a project to do until I can get back to the flower shop and begin working again.”
Ari’s heart raced as her mother spoke. She should tell her right now that the house and shop were gone. She’d been protecting her mom since she woke from the coma, but wasn’t it worse to leave her with her hopes up. She opened her mouth to tell her, but no sound came out. She just couldn’t break her heart when she’d already been through so much. There was plenty of time to do that later.
“I’m glad to hear you speaking so positively, Mom,” she finally whispered, tears choking her throat.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Here I am rattling on and on about my big plans and you’re lying here miserable. I’m a terrible mother,” she said as she reached up to brush Ari’s hair back, just like she’d been doing since Ari could remember. The gesture made her tears overflow.
“No, Mom. I love hearing you speak about a future. I was so scared that we wouldn’t have one. It was the worst feeling in the world. I can’t make it through this world without you,” she cried.
“Arianna Lynn Harlow, I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. You’re a precious gift that was entrusted to me to raise. You’re the reason I love life. The rest of the world could crumble around us, even take me with it, and I’d be just fine as long as I knew that you were okay. A parent should never ever outlast their child. It’s just wrong. When my time comes, you have to promise me that you’ll keep on dancing – that you’ll follow your dreams,” Sandra demanded.
“I can’t –”
“Of course you can! I raised you to be strong, and no matter what life throws at us, we can dodge it and then get back on our feet. I’ve never been more frightened in my life than when I found out you’d been shot. I can’t believe anyone would dare hurt you. You are my life. I’ve thanked God for you every single day since the day I found out I was pregnant.”
“Mom, if you keep on saying all that stuff, I’m never going to quit crying. I love you, too, more than you could imagine. It’s been a hard year, but we’re coming up on the other side and I know the sun is shining and it’s bound to hit us soon.”
This would be the perfect moment for Ari to tell her mother about the house and the floral shop. She knew she’d be sad, but she’d understand that Ari had no choice but to do whatever it took to take care of her mom.
She again opened her mouth to tell her, but the words still refused to come. When frustration mounted and she felt like screaming, there was a knock on the door.
“Is this a bad time?”
Ari and Sandra both turned toward the door to find Rosabella, Lia and Rachel standing there with flowers and a giant box of chocolates.
“Anyone bringing chocolate is welcome in my room day or night,” Ari replied with a watery smile.
“A girl after my own heart. How are you feeling today, Ari?” Rosabella asked as she set the chocolates on Ari’s table.
“I’m feeling a lot stronger right now. The doctor said my iron levels are too low, and my blood pressure needs to go up, but I think he’s just trying to torture me. A good dose of chocolate is the cure,” she answered as she opened the box and pulled out a creamy piece, popping it right into her mouth and sighing as the sweet confection melted on her tongue.
“I’m so rude. I apologize. I see chocolate and the rest of the world goes hazy. Mom, this is Rosabella, Rachel and Lia, Rafe’s family. Everyone, this is my mother, Sandra,” Ari said sheepishly as she finished chewing and swallowed her chocolate.
“It’s very nice to meet you all. I appreciate you being so kind to my daughter.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well. You have a beautiful little girl,” Rosabella replied as she shook Sandra’s hand.
After they all said hello and spoke for a moment, Sandra turned to Ari with a grin before leaning toward her table.
“You could be polite and offer to share,” Sandra said as she swatted Ari’s hand away and grabbed her own piece of candy, having an almost identical expression as her daughter when she bit down on the exquisite delicacy.
“We brought a really big box so you’d share with us all,” Rachel said as she sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed a piece.
“Rachel, that’s not for you,” Rosabella scolded her daughter.
“If I eat all of this, they’ll have to find me a bigger bed. Thank you for such a thoughtful gift. Please, share it with me and let’s all enjoy it together.”
“Well, you talked me into it,” Lia said as she sat on the foot of the bed and leaned forward to grab a piece. “Your color looks a lot better today. I bet you can go home soon.”
“I sure hope so. I feel lazy lying around all the time. I think your brother is bribing the staff to keep me here against my will as punishment for not obeying him,” Ari said offhandedly, not thinking about her words.
“Not obeying him? What did he want you to do?” Rachel asked with a smile.
“Ooh, I bet it was something kinky,” Lia joined in with a laugh.
“Girls, you’re terrible,” Rosabella scolded.
Ari’s face flamed crimson as she gazed from her mother to Rafe’s mom, and then his sisters. There was no way she was spilling the beans to them about their relative’s kinky after-hours activities. She’d rather be burned alive at the stake.
“This hospital doesn’t get very many channels, so someone please tell me that you watch supernatural, and fill me in on what Sam and Dean have been up to. I would so totally turn into an evil vampire just so I could get in a tangle with the two of them.”
Ari’s tactic worked. Her words shocked everyone enough that they forgot all about what she’d said about Rafe.
“Well, Dean got into another pinch…”
Ari sat back as Lia caught her up on the adventures of the Winchester boys. The show was her one weakness. She had a thing for the sexy brothers. Who could blame her?