Two weeks had pa**ed since Gisele had recovered. She couldnât remember yet, but if she had really fallen in love with Slate, she understood why. He was so sweet and had been really kind and understanding towards her.
Gisele knew his patience had been tried a few times but he didnât show it, or tried to control it.
âWhat are you smiling at, Gigi? Is it my Daddy that made you smile?â, Callie asked, looking thoughtful.
âYes honey, and you tooâ, Gisele answered, smiling at her.
Callie smiled when Gisele said that. Callie was a sweet kid who loved her father â and Gisele â very much. She was so funny and âhad a flair for the dramaticâ
âGigi, will you marry Daddy someday and become my Mommy?â, Callie asked out of the blue.
Gisele was at a loss on how to answer Callie. She didnât want to break her heart, but she also could not say she was going to marry a virtual stranger.
âCallie⦠people donât just get married like that⦠they⦠Callie to marry, you need to love the person you get married to ââ
âBut you told me you loved Daddy! You told me you were never gonna leave me! Youâre a liar! Liar!â, Callie screamed, sobbing, then ran out of the room.
Gisele didnât know what to do. She went up to comfort Callie but when she saw Slate already doing that, she contented herself with standing at the door.
âDonât cry, okay?â, Slate said, wiping Callieâs tears.
âThe new Gisele is not nice at all! Sheâs a liarâ, Callie answered.
Gisele felt hurt even though she knew she was not really at fault. She felt so bad that she had caused Callie to break down.
Slate whispered words to Callie, kissed her forehead then went out of her room and closed the door gently behind him.
As soon as Slate came out, Gisele looked up towards him with a guilty expression on her face.
âSlate Iâm so sorry. She has not had a bad tantrum since the first day of our meeting. I justâ¦â, Gisele said and sighed, not realizing what she had just said.
âYou remember?â, Slate asked, looking hopeful.
Gisele, on her part looked confused.âRemember?â
âYou said she had not had a bad tantrum since the first day. Does that mean you remember?â, he asked again.
ADVERTISEMENT âI⦠I didnât realize I said that⦠I⦠donât remember⦠Iâm really sorryâ¦â, Gisele said haltingly and regretfully.
âDonât be. Itâs not your faultâ, Slate said, then took her in his arms.
***
Two more weeks had pa**ed, and since Callieâs tantrum, no spark had happened in Giseleâs mind.
Everybody was frustrated: Slate, Callie, Lizzie and Gisele herself.
Gisele was sitting and looking at pictures on Slateâs iPhone when she decided to go out.
She went up to Slateâs office and saw he was with someone else, actually two someones.
âUh, Iâm sorryâ, she stammered out when she entered without knocking âThis is that badly behaved babysitter of yours, right Slate? Sheâs so ill mannered, entering her bossâs office without knocking. What a staff you have!â, the elderly woman said, making Gisele feel so embarra**ed.
To add to her embarra**ment, Slate said nothing in her defense. She stammered out another apology and closed the door hastily.
Callie was at school, so Gisele decided to go for a walk. She thought of the embarra**ment she had felt in Slateâs office. She wanted to die.
She was walking when she bumped into someone.
âSorryâ, she said, monotonously.
âGisele, wait!â, the man said.
Gisele frowned in confusion. âIâm sorry sir, but do I know you?â, she asked.
âGisele, I know I made a mistake but let me explain. Donât shun meâ
âLook ââ, Gisele started but memories started coming back in a flash, making her feel dizzy.
âI donât want you⦠in for the moneyâ
Then another.
âGet a job as babysitter⦠did you do the nasty yet?â¦â
ADVERTISEMENT Then the last one before she blacked out was:
âI donât like Ella⦠I love herâ.
***
This was the second time Gisele was in the hospital for the last one month and Slate was feeling frustrated and angry. Angry at himself because he knew it was all his fault.
He shouldâve defended Gisele in front of his mother. He saw the look of embarra**ment she wore when Slate did not say even a word. It was all his fault, always his fault.
He suddenly remembered something. He quickly went to the nurse who took care of Gisele and asked, âExcuse me, please. Do you know who brought the patient here?â
âUh, yes. It was Monsieur Nicolas Durandâ, she answered, giving Slate a big and flirtatious smile.
âThank youâ, Slate said in return, without sparing her a glance. Then he remembered something.
âDo you know where I can find him?â, he asked.
âOh, heâs probably in Ms. Durandâs room. He didnât want to leave her sideâ, the nurse answered, discreetly pulling down her nursing garb so that more of her cleavage could be exposed.
Slate went away, this time without a âthank youâ but with a frustrated sigh. He had been there for over an hour and the staff didnât want to let him in to see Gisele.
âCan I see her now?â, he asked the doctor who had refused him from entering.
âMr. Hendrick, Iâm sorry but only people who have close parental links with her can see herâ, the doctor answered looking at the pad she was holding in her hands.
âIâm her fiance, so I have the right to see herâ, Slate said, impatiently, almost angrily.
The doctor widened her eyes and said apologetically, âIâm so sorry Mr. Hendrick, we were not aware of that. Please, do go inâ
Slate thanked her absently and went into Giseleâs hospital room. Her father was not there, and Slate was happy for the fact because he would surely have lost control and pummeled him for all the hurt he had caused Gisele.
Youâre one to talk. As if youâve never caused Gisele pain, a part of his mind answered him sarcastically.
Slate blocked that part of his mind out and sat next to Gisele on the bed. He was carressing her hand softly while speaking to her.
âI know Iâve caused a lot of hurt and embarra**ment but I do hope you forgive me. Iâd do anything to get you forgive me.â
ADVERTISEMENT Then he sighed. Then he remembered that Lizzie was not aware of all this. He called her but she didnât pick up. He tried again, it rang then it went to voicemail.
He kept his phone and decided to call her later. He continued smoothing the skin of Giseleâs hand, not wanting to lose contact with her.
***
Gisele felt a weight on her left side. She tried to open her eyes to see what it was but she couldnât. She tried again and her attempt this time around was successful.
When she saw it was Slate, she smiled. He looked so adorable in his sleep. But when she saw the position he was in, she cringed and decided to wake him up.
âSlate, wake upâ,she tried. No response.
âSlateâ, she tried again, still no response. She decided to try the method she thought most effective;
she screamed in his ear.
He woke up with a start while Gisele was laughing. He looked too cute for words.
Slate was confused for a while but when he saw Gisele, that confusion disappeared.
âGisele, youâre awakeâ, he shouted.
Gisele smiled and said, âYesâ, while giggling like a fool.
Then it was like all her memories came back to her for she started frowning immediately.
âHey, whatâs wrong?â, Slate asked looking at Gisele questioningly.
âNothingâ, Gisele said, but Slate knew it was untrue but he decided not to push it.
The doctor came into the room and was all smiles when she said, âYouâll be discharged soon, Ms Durand, but first we need to carry out some necessary tests on you in about half an hourâ
Gisele smiled and nodded, then the doctor went out as quietly as she came in.
As Slate opened his mouth to say something, Mr. Durand came in and uttered four words Gisele was dreading, âGisele, can we talk?â