Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

The reality was that I’d carry her anywhere—everywhere. As it was, I was only carrying her down the steps to the first floor. Dr. Rossi had said it was good to get her out of bed. I’d told Lennox that she’d be downstairs.

This morning, after she’d awakened, after we’d talked and kissed, I gave her privacy. It wasn’t that I wasn’t willing to be with her as Dr. Rossi disconnected her from the different tubes and helped her bathe. But I hadn’t earned that right.

Stealing a woman—even one I love—didn’t give me the right to take what she wasn’t willing to give. With her in my arms and the memory of our kiss, I was content to accept anything she offered. Who was I kidding? I’d push for more, as I had the kiss, but not too much. She deserved to make the decisions. After all, she’d been the one to send me away.

While Liz and Dr. Rossi helped her, I’d made my way to another room and showered. Through the night and morning, sleep had only come in small snippets, but I wasn’t complaining. Having Adelaide safe and with me gave me more energy than hours of rest.

After Adelaide was disengaged from her connections and showered, I’d joined her again as she tried to eat. It wasn’t much, just broth and Jell-O, but it was food, it was in her stomach, and thankfully it stayed there.

With each passing moment and instance, I appreciated Eva Rossi’s candor. Subjects I would have preferred to avoid to shelter Adelaide, Eva attacked head-on. She was straightforward about Adelaide’s heart stopping and the CPR. Then as Adelaide nibbled her first meal, Eva explained that the DTs should be done but her body needed help to heal. She recommended daily vitamin shots and lots of rest. She also emphasized that from this point forward, Adelaide would need to consider herself a recovering addict. She didn’t beat around the bush. She said no wine. No alcohol of any kind. Even painkillers were discouraged. The high dosages of alcohol and opioids her body had been forced to metabolize had left her liver enzymes too high. The only way to a full recovery was without further assault.

As the doctor spoke, I noticed Adelaide’s grip of her spoon tighten. In that moment, I vowed to join her on this journey, if she’d have me. I’d give her the encouragement and support she needed.

Though that was my desire, I was a realistic man. I didn’t have the illusion that we were finally a couple or that we could even pick up where we’d left off. Besides, I didn’t want to pick up where we’d left off. I wanted to go back further to before she told me to leave and never contact her again.

Adelaide’s arms tightened around my neck with each step.

“Just down the stairs,” I said. “I’m sorry if this hurts your ribs.”

Her shoulders moved up and down. “It does, but apparently pain medicine is out of the question.”

I brushed my lips over her forehead. “Just squeeze tighter. Give it to me.”

Adelaide’s chin dropped to her chest. “Oren, you don’t need to…”

I stopped with only a few steps to go. “I don’t need to. I want to.”

Her eyes met mine. In that moment I hoped she could see the sincerity in my stare, the same way I saw the wonder in hers. Perhaps the first time I looked into the life of Adelaide Montague was out of a sense of obligation, but that pretense ended once I truly knew her. Obligation was not the reason she held a place in my heart. Having her there, keeping her there, wasn’t something I could control. She was there and always would be, because of the woman she was, because at one time she’d loved me too, a poor boy who’d worked the docks in the city, someone who’d never dared to dream of a lady like Adelaide.

She’d loved me when I’d thought myself unlovable.

Maybe it wasn’t gone?

Adelaide settled her head against my shoulder as I stepped as gingerly as possible. She was light, too light. We were on our way to the dining room so Adelaide could eat whatever it was that Silvia had prepared. Dr. Rossi had said to take eating slowly, but damn, I wanted to find lasagna. I wanted bread. I wanted ten courses of never-ending food. I wanted Silvia’s cooking to return the fullness to Adelaide’s cheeks and pad the bones I was able to feel through the nightgown and robe she wore.

Liz smiled up from the bottom of the stairs with her hands upon the back of a wheelchair.

As I turned, Adelaide saw the chair. “Dr. Rossi said I should walk.”

“Ma’am, we don’t want you to overdo.”

I lowered Adelaide to her feet near the chair. As I did, her hand reached for mine and tightly gripped. Trembling rattled through her as she fought to stand. Though I knew her unused muscles added to her shakiness, I feared it was also the pain of her ribs.

“Maybe you should sit,” I encouraged.

“No. I’m tired of being an invalid.”

My grin broadened, taking in her strength. “You heard the lady. We’re going to walk to the dining room.”

“Yes, sir,” Liz responded, dropping behind, but not going away.