Chapter 88

The weights clanged to a rest as Jon grunted out the last of his reps. Groping for the towel he had dropped on the floor next to the bench he wiped his face and sat up. It had been a long week. In the ordinary course of things he was not the most patient man, but he had met his match in Cilla. She was bound and determined to do everything herself. He was just as determined to take care of her.

They were butting heads over just about everything. At least he had won the battle of the stairs. She was only supposed to go up and down once a day. She had found out on the first day home that she was told that for a reason. So she was reluctantly letting him run up and down the stairs for her during the day if she needed something.

Sighing he got up and headed out of his home gym and down the hall to his room. His hand hesitated on the door knob. Would she still be sleeping? Would she be up and dressed? Would they be able to have a conversation without it turning into an argument? “Only one way to find out” he muttered and turned the knob.

She was sitting on the bed, her hair a mess, one shoulder peeking from the pale pink robe she wore, her laptop open, her fingers clicking over the keyboard. She didn’t even look up when he walked into the room. She must be doing more research. That’s all she had been doing lately. Every time he looked at her it seemed she had her nose buried in her computer.

“Finding anything new?” He tossed the used towel in the direction of the hamper.

She shook her head, “no, not really.” Looking up she frowned. “You missed.”

He looked over and shrugged. “I’ll get it in a minute.” He went and sat next to her, pulling her hands gently from the computer. “You need to give it a rest babe. You’ve found everything there is to find. What else are you looking for?”

She rubbed her thumb along his, “I just want to be ready when we meet with Dr. Aghajanian later today. If I’m going to win this fight, I need to be prepared.” She finally looked at him, noticing the flush that hadn’t quite left his face and the sweat that drenched his shirt. “You need a shower.”

He couldn’t argue with her reasoning. “I know you want to be prepared, and if you could kill the cancer with information, you would have kicked its ass yesterday, but babe, you need to give it a rest now. Take a break and wait and see what the doctor says.”

“But I-”

He tugged her off the bed, away from the information highway she had been riding. “No, no buts. You’re supposed to be resting not blinding yourself staring at that little screen. Take a break. Come shower with me, then we’ll go down and get some breakfast.”

Unable to fight his steely determination, she followed him into the bathroom. She watched and waited as he adjusted the taps, stripped off his clothes and stepped into the steamy corner. Her hands fingered the tie on her robe. Her scar wasn’t pretty. It was still so red and new. It had only been a little more than a week and he had only seen her naked once since her surgery. He had been too upset with her to notice her scar at the time. She watched him tilt his head back and wet his hair. Would it matter to him? Would she still be as attractive to him as she had been before?

“Are you coming in?” Jon poked his head out to see what was taking her so long.

She nodded, “yeah, just a sec.” She turned, slipping out of her robe and hanging it on the back of the door. Turning back she was surprised to find him watching her. She dropped her arms across her stomach. “What?”

Stepping out of the shower, he crossed to her, heedless of the water he dripped with every step. Gently he pulled her arms from her middle letting his eyes wander over her. Wordlessly he let her hands go and cupped her face, gazing into her wide gray eyes. “You’re beautiful” he murmured as his lips captured hers in a tender kiss.

Easing back he waited for her to open her eyes. “Okay?”

She smiled tremulously and nodded. She could have cried he was being so sweet to her. Her emotions had been all over the place in the last few days. Frustrated and ready to cry one minute, smiling and happy the next. She really hoped the doctor today could help her control that. Then there was the fear of what was coming. A rollercoaster would have been a smoother ride.

Jon tugged her closer and wrapped her in a wet hug. “We’ll get through this Sweets.”

“But I’ve been such a bitch Jonny. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” She rested her head against his chest. “You’re all wet.”

His chuckle got lost as he buried his nose in her hair and dragged her toward the shower. “Let’s get you that way too.”

The steam engulfed them as they stepped in and pulled the door shut. Jon stood her under the spray, letting the water beat down on her shoulders in a gentle massage. He washed her hair for her, enjoying the feel of the thick soapy strands as they slid though his fingers. Would she lose her hair to the chemotherapy she was so sure she needed? He reached for her soap; he frowned at the thought. If she had to lose something he supposed it was better her hair than the fight for her life. He’d buy her a wig, any kind that she wanted, if she wanted one.

“I’ll probably lose my hair.”

Her voice was so quiet it almost got lost in the rush of the water. Almost. His hands paused as they were gliding over her, could she read his mind? “And?”

She stilled his hands, “I’ll be bald, Jon.”

“So I’ll buy you a wig.” He wasn’t going to let her start worrying about it now. She had enough on her plate as it was.

She wrapped her arms around him and practically curled right into him. “I love you so much.”

He rested his cheek on her head and stroked her back, “I love you too, hairy or bald.” He got the laugh he was looking for.

Laughter he thought as he held her, the best medicine in the world.