Page 40 of Pretty

My mother believed when she used that voice, it scared her children into obedience, and it did, usually.

I blinked several times against the light that hurt my eyes. My throat felt scratchy, and I coughed to clear it, but it turned into a full choking session.

“She’s awake,” Chloe declared as my mother handed me a cup of water. I sipped it, cleared my throat, and then spoke.

“Maman,” I whispered.

“Pretty!” she exclaimed and placed her hands on either side of my face.

“Call the doctor!” my father demanded, taking charge and moving around my mother so that I could see him clearly.

“Don’t speak, Bulles,” my father commanded.

I nodded and lay there obediently. My loving family circled around my bed, but someone was missing.

Drew.

“You good, baby girl?”

Drew’s voice was soothing, and his hand caressed mine as he stared down into my face. He looked worried.

“Yeah, I’m good, Drew,” I replied.

“Why the tears?”

I smiled as I tried to force them away, but they wouldn’t stop. They were patrolling my face like the police in the streets after a riot.

“It’s just too much. This is crazy. I keep thinking about how you found me and if you hadn’t shown up, I could’ve died, Drew. Like, I really could be out of here right now.”

“But you’re not,” he replied in a soft voice with an endearing smile. “It wasn’t your time, nor God’s will.”

“You’ve gotta stop coming to my rescue, you know? You can’t keep playing my superhero,” I joked.

“That’s exactly who I wanna be for you.”

Drew stood and walked to a corner of the room. When he returned, he held a bouquet of lilacs.

“Oh, Drew, you’re so sweet.” I smiled when he handed them to me.

“No, pretty lady. You’re the sweet one.”

I sniffed the flowers and inhaled their sweet fragrance. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”

“I also got you this.”

He set a basket on the bed with premium chocolate truffles, turtle candies, a bottle of wine, a paperback book by Tracy Gray, Quiet as Kept, scented candles, a teddy bear, and a beautiful hand-painted bracelet.”

“Drewww.” Tears welled in my eyes. “A girl could fall in love with you,” I teased, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“That’s my intention.”

“I’ll have to watch you. You’re a smooth one.”

He sat on the side of my bed and took my hand in his. “I just figured you had enough people around you who were fussing at you about being careful and do this and don’t do that. You needed someone to just make the road a little easier for you, someone to pamper you.”

I reached up and cupped his face. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”