Beth Home

I stood up slowly, hoping the dizziness would abate and leave me be, and allow me to walk into the kitchen. It was much better than last week and for that, I am grateful. I just need a drink, my mouth is dry and parched, no tea ladies trundling her cart to the doorway now, just me and the house, alone and silent.

I stood straight beside the chair fingers grasping the back of the headrest, ok not too bad, now to make the kitchen. I shuffled inside just incase my balance went out from under me and I fell flat on my face.

I opened the fridge and silently cussed, then quickly followed out loud with "Liar, Liar pants on fire" I smiled to myself and tried to lean into the full fridge. It was full to the brim of salads, vegetables, prepacked meals, Christmas goodies and all sorts of drinks. I grabbed a beer from the six pack and sat it on the counter, reaching for my meds and pushing them both towards the stool I would perch on when I eventually rounded the counter, I'll teach those amateurs.

The telephone across by the door started ringing loudly, the pain my head immediately flared. I now stood grasping the sides of my head and face wishing away the migraine that appeared with the ringing. I had had water by the sink and the beer was just to torture the boys but now I needed pain medicine and it was right in front of me, available to wash the pill down, I cracked the bottle open and grabbed two tablets. I had two swigs and the tablets washed away.

Not even two minutes went by and the phone was ringing again, I pushed my fingers in my ears to stop the noise as the boys walked laughing into the living area, heading towards the kitchen 'lugging' two small bags of something unnessessary into the kitchen. As soon as I was seen at the bench they went into action, John scurried for the phone and Alice dumped the bags and held my hands with me pushing against my ears trying to help; then my joke was spotted.

"What the hell, Beth!" Alice held the beer and meds up to John who was busy on the nasty, noisy phone.

"It was a joke" I tried to talk but Alice was jumping up and down checking my meds, counting the inner sleeve to see if I had taken too many "I took the prescribed amount Al"

"And the bloody beer, that's not correct dose now is it"

John was, by now, in the kitchen too, putting the three things away they had purchased. He glanced up at me and smiled happily, ignoring Alice's preformance. Johns reaction was blasé to say the least. Did I want him fussing and pawning all over me? Yes, most definitely yes, but he wasn't. I pouted and Alice smacked my hand when I placed it on the counter top, drawing my attention back to him.

"Alice!! I came in, saw the fridge, overflowing by the way! I had a glass of water..." I pointed to the glass on the sink. "Put the beer here to set you off, I wasn't going to have any at all til that phone started ringing then a migraine appeared. I had two mouthfuls father, just look"

Alice picked up the bottle and eyeballed the contents, nodding that I was telling the truth taking a swig then handing it to John who polished it off. My migraine was ebbing but the drowsiness of the meds was taking hold, making me dozy "Bed for you missy, no fighting. Christmas tomorrow I want you in bed and sleeping peacefully. Santa won't come if you don't!" Alice forgives me so quickly, I love him so.

"That's assuming she is on the nice list" John kissed my cheek and Alice started to lead me to the guest bedroom. "I'll come tuck you in soon Beth" John chortled behind us, I glanced at Al and smiled secretively and Alice shoved me lightly.

"NO funny business, you just got out of hospital" Alice tucked me into bed, I looked at Al all doe eyed, tears about to drop. "Gee you can act the part can't you! You'll have me with none of my famous locks in a week! Bald I say! Hair pulling Alice my new album name"

The guest room was two doors down from John's room and Alice was another two doors down from my room. The room itself was nice and airy, even in the fading afternoon light it was inviting and comfortable, I loved the ambience of the room. Alice left me to brush my teeth and use the loo, it took ages because I would need to slowly lower and rise from the loo, to stop the dizziness. I was brushing some of my hair when John knocked on the door.

"Finished beautiful?" John stood at the end of the bed and realising the bed needed turning down, he got to work. I on the other hand returned my gaze to the mirror, nothing beautiful stared back, nothing had since the attack.

Running a finger along the scar from above my ear down to my jaw, I cringed at the bright red line, stitch holes still clearly seen. My hair was shaved on the underside on the right, that's where the drill went in to release the pressure apparently. A small section was shaved on the other side behind my ear, probably around two inches in length, from my trauma contact with the skip in the alley. "Beth?"

He was looking at my reflection in the mirror as I touched the spikey hair that was already starting to grow back. Moving closer til he was right behind me I leaned back into his body, feeling him press against me was bliss in my otherwise crappy current life. Taking my brush John finished carefully brushing the sections I was avoiding in case I knocked any scars.

I sat on the bed and immediately closed my eyes, smelling the fresh sheets. No hospital disinfectant to overwhelm my nostrils here.

"Ok, sweet cheeks?" Every day was a new nickname and it was nice. "I was kidding before you have been a very good girl for Santa"

"Thank-you for letting me know, I was soooo worried" John helped me lay down, disappearing quickly and returning with medicine and water for later. "Will you stay here"

"Alice won't like it" John smiled and pulled the sheets up to cover me fully, like a child I was tucked into bed. "But if you insist"

John hopped in quickly, taking over the right side of the bed, I felt slight compared to his masculine frame, he kissed the top of my head and I was at peace held safe, the hospital now in the past. We snuggled, cuddled in the sheets, my head pressed on his chest listening to his heartbeat, lulling me, soothing me. I was silent for ages, so long in fact that John checked to see that I was asleep or not.

"Don't call me beautiful for a while please. I don't feel it, my hair, the scars all make me cringe, make me hate the mirror." I brought my head up to meet his eyes, he was gently winding some of  my hair I had left around his fingers. He caught my chin bringing his lips to mine, softly at first then the passion rose til we broke off gasping. I was both, very dizzy and quite aroused, much to Johns amusement.

"I might not say it but I will always think and feel it luv" John kissed my nose, and held me tightly to him. We fell asleep not much after, the silence lulling us to dreams.