Healing Hearts

Chapter 2 - Getting Settled

March 2nd, 2020 - 7:30 am

''There isn't another bedroom in the house, so you and I will have to share a room, my room,'' she told Raleigh as she helped him up the stairs to her room.

She opened the door and looked around to see that it had been rearranged. Now, there was a second bed shoved into the right corner with hers in the left and her desk between them under the window. The bed was made with fresh linens, and a small pile of clothes was neatly folded at the end of the bed. She had never seen the clothes before, but after a moment or two of thought, she realized they had belonged to George's oldest son who had perished in the first wave.

''It isn't much but its home. We'll have to go into town to get you new clothes, but these will work for now I hope.'' She told him as she guided him over to the bed, so he could sit.

Though she did most of the work in getting him up the stairs the small exertion of energy had tired him out greatly. He held his left arm close to his chest to protect it and he was still pale from the blood loss.

''Thank you for allowing me to stay here,'' Raleigh said. She took a seat on her bed, crossing her legs.

''Of course,'' she replied.

''Why didn't you take me to the hospital?'' he inquired. He watched her carefully, wanting to know if she would be honest with him. He didn't have a clue who this woman was, and he still had yet to determine if she was trustworthy.

''My cabin was closer than the hospital. You needed immediate treatment, and I wasn't sure you would get it. I knew I could patch you up in no time with my nursing skills, so I just brought you here.'' she looked at him dead in the eyes as she spoke. She could see the hesitation to trust her in his eyes.

''Make sense,'' he needed his head. He shivered suddenly, and it made her realize he was still in only his briefs.

'' I should probably let you get dressed.'' she stood from her bed and made her way to the door.

''I may need help. Considering I can't exactly stand on my own just yet,'' Raleigh said, stopping her in her tracks. She took a deep breath and turned back around, trying to control her blush. She walked back over to him, grabbed the jeans off the bed, and with careful fingers she undid the button at the top and pulled the zipper down. She knelt next to the bed and placed the waistline in front of his feet. With his good arm, he placed a hand on her shoulder to balance himself as he carefully placed each foot into the jeans. Once both feet were in the jeans, she helped him stand so she could pull them up. This wasn't the first time she had to help dress a patient, but it was the first time it had happened in her own home. At the hospital, the environment was professional but in her own home, the action felt very intimate.

Once she had the jeans up all the way, she was quick to button and zip them. The next part was getting the shirt on. The long-sleeved thermal shirt would keep him warm enough in the cold Alaskan air. The only issue she had with getting the shirt on was with the stitches. The material of the shirt would catch on the stitches, but she did what she could to keep from hurting him. The last step was finding him a sweater big enough to keep him warm. The only thing she could come up with was her father's sweater. It was the last thing she had of his.

''I'm not sure that's...'' he began to protest, but she interrupted.

''This was my fathers before he died during the second wave. You may barrow it until I go out and buy you some clothes,'' she told him as she unfolded it so he could see its' size.

''I can't,'' he protested again, but when she gave him a particularly stern look, he closed his mouth and allowed her to help him into the sweater. The minute he had his head through the hole in the sweatshirt he saw a fond smile on her face, but only momentarily before it was replaced with a frown. She turned away and headed for the door.

''Are you hungry?'' she asked him.

''A little,'' he responded.

''Good cause I think the boys just came back from the town. I'll bring some up for you,'' she told him, before quickly leaving the room. Once the door was closed, she rested her head up against it.

''Get a grip woman.'' she chastised herself.

Downstairs, Billy and George had brought back bread, eggs, cheese, and a couple of cans of tomato soup. This shocked her. It had been a while since she had seen cheese, considering they were on rations.

''George you are a miracle worker.'' she gushed picking up the bread and the cheese.

''I try,'' the man replied. ''How's our guest?''

"He is awake and in my room. He seems fine for now, but I know he's going to fall into a phase of depression soon.'' She informed the older man.

''And it'll be your job to make sure he stays on the bright side,'' George asked.

''Exactly.''

''Just remember to take care of yourself to Analia,'' George said, giving her a pointed look.

''I'll do my best,'' she told him. She got to work with cooking. She couldn't remember the last time she had cooked a good meal, and her intention was to make grilled cheese and tomato soup. By the time she finished, the house smelled amazing and her stomach was growling terribly. She dished the sandwiches on a plate and the soup in coffee mugs.

''I'm going to take this up to him.''

Up in her room, Raleigh had fallen asleep on his back, his good arm over his face. She felt bad, having to wake him, but he needed fluids and food. As soon as her hand touched his shoulder, he jerked awake.

''Sorry,'' she said giving him an apologetic look. ''You need to eat before you sleep.'' he nodded, and she set the tray down to help him sit up straight enough to eat. They went for an hour without talking. He slowly picked away at his food while she sat on her bed, reading a rather fat book.

''What are you reading?'' Raleigh asked her suddenly. Startled by his sudden sound, she stared at him blankly for a moment before turning her book over.

''The Three Musketeers,'' she told him.

''I've never read it before,'' he told her setting himself back down.

''Would you like me to read it to you?'' she asked knowing very well he would fall asleep.

''Sure,'' he replied.

''Alright, I shall start from the Author's Preface.'' She told him flipping to the front of the book. With a dramatic clearing of her throat, she began to read. ''A short time ago, while making researches in the Royal Library for my history of Louis XIV,...'' she read well into the night and when she finally remembered that Raleigh had been ready to sleep, it was well past 11 p.m. However, she couldn't complain. She had always loved reading out loud. She sighed and set the book down on her desk. She stripped off her clothes and into a pair of flannel PJs. As she laid there, she thought to herself. If the Kaiju's hadn't attacked none of the messed up stuff would have happened to her but then again, she knew she wouldn't be where she was without their appearance. Sometimes she couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing.