Consolation (Consolation Duet #1)(36)

“No, I’m just stepping out of the box.”

“Fucking box.”

“Yup, f*cking box.”





I’m dying. There’s no other way to describe the immense pain and discomfort I’m in. I blame the gym. Plus, Aarabelle was sick the last few days and, of course, now I have it. Aches and shivers plague my body and I want to crawl in a hole.

“Aara, please stay in one place,” I plead as she starts to head toward the other end of the room. She’s crawling, which makes this illness a hundred times worse. And she doesn’t nap as often, so I get no time to rest.

Three days of her awake all night was bad enough. Now that I’m thoroughly run down, I get whatever bug she had . . . awesome. Liam is due home today from another work up. I forgot how much I hated the stupid training missions. Gone all the time and then they leave for the deployment. I used to beg Aaron just to go for an extra month so it wasn’t one week here and one week gone. Maddening is how I’d describe it.

When they’re gone, you have your routine. You know what your day will entail. These small training missions screw up your rhythm. Even though Liam and I don’t actually have a rhythm—yet. We speak every night on the phone. He’s trying to let me decide the pace, but for right now, I’m happy with how things are. There’s no real definition. We enjoy each other’s company, he makes me laugh, he’s attentive, and caring. Most of all, he’s good to Aarabelle, which matters more than anything to me.

“Lee? You in there?” I hear a knock on the door, but I must be hallucinating now. Fantastic, the fever has gotten so bad I now hear voices.

I hear the banging again and Aarabelle squeals. “Okay, okay. Shhh,” I beg the door and Aara, since my headache is now full out throbbing.

“Natalie . . . I’m going to use the spare key if you don’t open,” Liam’s voice is warning as I drag my body to the door.

I open it and lean against it. My eyes squint from the bright sun and I moan.

“What the . . . ?” he trails off as he looks at me.

Glancing down at myself I realize what has him mystified. I’m in my grey Navy Wife sweatshirt and orange sweatpants. I lift my hands up to smooth my hair, only to feel that it’s half in a ponytail and half out. Well, no going back now.

“If you’re going to judge, you can leave.” I cough at the end and he steps in the house. “Enter at your own risk. I’m dying.”

Liam chuckles and shuts the door. “You’re not dying.” He steps in and kisses my forehead. “I think you need to take more medicine and go lie down. You’re burning up.”

Sleep.

Sleep sounds good.

Sleep and drugs.

“Okay . . .” I trail off as I drag my feet. “Wait!” I exclaim and then cough.

“What?” he asks, picking up one of the burp clothes with a pencil.

“Aarabelle. I have to watch Aarabelle,” I remind him and start to shuffle back toward the couch.

Liam grabs my shoulders, laughing. “I’ve got her.”

Well, that wakes me up. “Huh?” My eyes are wide as I look at him.

He shrugs and smiles. “I’ve got Aarabelle, you go to bed. Maybe a shower too,” he nags while laughing. Dick.

“Bed. Okay. Are you sure?” I question him one more time. This is his last out. Otherwise, I’m going to bed and taking some heavy medication. I need to kick this virus and fast.

“I’ve fought in wars, survived BUDs, dragged bloody bodies out of firefights, and much worse than a few hours with a kid.” Liam cocks his head and the confidence he has rolls off him in waves.

I half laugh and half cough again at his self-assuredness. He has no idea what watching a mobile child is like. But okay, I’m sick as a dog, and honestly, I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep with her awake, so at this point he’s better than I am. “She just ate, she’ll probably be hungry around five. She woke up from her nap a little while ago, so you’ll have to entertain her,” I say as he scoops her into his arms and she giggles. They grin at each other and Aarabelle slaps her wet hand she had in her mouth on his face.

“Baby slobber,” he says and wipes his cheek. “We’ll be fine. Go.” Liam juts his chin out instructing me to head to bed. “We’ve got this, right, Aarabelle? Uncle Liam and you are going to watch football while Mommy sleeps.” I stand there for a moment and watch the scene before me. The man who I’ve known for years, the one I never could’ve imagined feeling anything for in a romantic sense . . . standing here as my heart swells. Each time I wonder if this is right, he does something that smothers my doubt.

Liam owes me nothing. He’s here, again, because he cares about us. Last we spoke, he wasn’t due home until tomorrow, but he got back and came right here. I lean against the wall as he talks to her and I could cry. Only this time, they’re tears of joy and love.

“Okay, the Packers are on and we want them to annihilate the Bears. Say ‘Go, Pack, Go!’” Liam plays with Aarabelle and lifts her arm toward the sky.

I tiptoe to my room, take the strongest flu medication I have, and pass out in my bed.

Hours pass and I wake feeling rested and slightly disoriented. It’s dark, which means I’ve slept way past the two-hour nap I’d planned. I climb out of bed and clean up, brush my teeth, and try to fix my face. My hair is unsalvageable, so I do the best I can. I look a little better, but the bags under my eyes are not normal.