Chapter Fifty Six

Saturday;

Lea and I had just arrived at the hospital, both of us slightly bleary-eyed but eager to begin our volunteer shift. I grabbed a volunteer badge from the front desk and handed it to Lea, who clipped it on with a smirk as we made our way down the bustling corridor toward the nurses' lounge.

"Is Montmushy coming today?" Lea asked, her eyes gleaming mischievously. I whipped my head around to look at her in utter disbelief.

"Excuse me, what did you just call her?" I gaped, struggling to process the nickname.

She just shrugged, a grin spreading across her face. "Since you told me what went down in the park, I've gotta call her something." Ever since that conversation, Lea had been relentless with questions: Are you two dating? How many times have you kissed? When are you going to her place? Her curiosity had no limits, and every time I tried to answer, she only seemed to want to know more.

I chuckled, shaking my head, and decided to indulge her for once. "Yes, Mont—" I winced at the nickname, "Johanna said she'd be here today."

Lea clapped her hands, her enthusiasm impossible to contain. "I cannot wait to see her in action, especially now that I'll be watching her with you around. And...I mean, I'm dying to see how she looks after going up against your dad. Can you believe that?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "She's not some gladiator, you know." But even as I said it, a little thrill ran through me. And I couldn't deny that part of me wanted to see how she'd act around me with Lea there as a witness.

"Let's get to the lounge," I said, suppressing a smile as I led the way.

Inside the bustling nurses' lounge, I spotted Nurse Riley, her head bent over a small notebook as she scribbled away. The overhead lights cast a warm glow on her auburn hair, and she looked up at the sound of my footsteps.

"Morning, Nurse Riley," I greeted, giving her a warm smile. "Do you have any work for us?" Lea chimed in with a cheerful wave.

Nurse Riley looked up, her face lighting up with a friendly smile as she closed her notebook. "Morning, you two. Nothing urgent at the moment, but you might check with Savannah in Room sixty-five."

We both gave her a thumbs-up and headed back into the hallway. No sooner had we left than Lea let out an exaggerated groan. "I'm starving."

I raised an eyebrow. "You literally ate, like, five minutes ago."

She placed a hand on her stomach, sighing dramatically. "Too long. I can feel my stomach walls caving in. They're literally crumbling!"

I laughed and shook my head as we reached Room 65. Inside, we found Nurse Savannah holding a bowl for a young patient who looked pale and miserable. Savannah glanced up as we walked in, giving us a grateful smile.

"Here to help?" she asked, her voice gentle as she continued comforting the patient.

We both nodded, and Nurse Savannah gestured for Lea to take over holding the bowl. Lea shot me a subtle, pleading look, but stepped forward and took the bowl from Savannah, positioning it under the patient with a forced smile as the patient retched.

While Lea held steady, I moved to help Nurse Savannah clean up around the bedside. A sudden gagging sound made me glance up, and I nearly burst out laughing. Lea was holding her free hand over her mouth, eyes wide and watery as she visibly struggled to keep her composure. A bit of the patient's vomit had splattered onto her thumb, and she was doing everything in her power to keep it together, her hand shaking slightly. I hadn't thought to tell her to wear gloves, assuming she'd know.

Finally, as the patient settled down, Lea quickly passed the bowl to Savannah, her face pale. She sniffled as she brushed past me, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

I followed her into the hallway, speeding up to catch up with her frantic pace. "Valentina," she whimpered, her voice thick with barely-suppressed horror. "I am about to pass out."

Lea dashed toward the restroom, practically kicking the door open. I followed her, laughing as she lunged for the sink, frantically washing her hands. She scrubbed and rinsed, then lathered them up with soap again, as if the ordeal with the patient's vomit was seared into her skin.

Leaning against the wall, I watched her in pure amusement. She looked over her shoulder at me, her face twisted in a mix of horror and determination. "I never want to do this again. Ever," she muttered, almost to herself.

I stifled a snort. "That's part of the job, remember?" I teased, holding the door open as she dried her hands and exited, reluctantly following me back down the hall.

We nearly reached the pit, and she seemed to have recovered. In fact, Lea was practically skipping down the hall, her mood shifting as quickly as always. Just as we passed a room, a raspy voice called out, "I need water."

We stopped, sharing a look; we knew exactly who it was. Lea rolled her eyes and sauntered into the room with a dramatic sigh. "And I need a cigarette," she drawled, hands on her hips, "but we can't have it all, can we?"

I raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed in resignation. "Fine, fine, I'll bring you some water," she muttered, rolling her eyes as she left the room and headed to the kitchen. I followed, grinning to myself as I watched her grumble all the way down the hall, clearly debating the merits of volunteer work.

Back in the room, Lea set the bottle of water down on the old man's bedside table, her expression less than pleased. The man cleared his throat loudly, glancing from her to the bottle with a demand that was as clear as it was rude. Lea scoffed, glancing at his chart before looking back at him, her brow raised.

"Dude," she said dryly, folding her arms, "you're here because your liver's failing, not your hands. You can open the bottle yourself."

The man's jaw dropped, his face flushed with indignant outrage. He raised a bony, crooked finger, pointing it right at her. "I'll be reporting you to the chief!" he snapped, his voice quivering with righteous anger.

Lea gasped, clutching her chest in mock horror. "Oh no! Not the chief," she said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Rolling her eyes, she reluctantly reached over, unscrewing the cap with a quick twist. The man snatched the bottle from her, taking a long, self-important sip, not even a hint of gratitude in sight.

Lea looked like she was ready to give him a piece of her mind, but before she could get a word out, I took hold of her elbow, giving her a small tug toward the door. "Alright, let's go," I whispered, dragging her out of the room before she could escalate the situation further.

In the pit, I carefully cleaned a wound while Lea, as usual, found a way to entertain herself, spinning lazily on a nearby chair. Her legs stretched out, her eyes lit up with a playful glint, she looked anything but bored.

"I want in on that date you two have planned," she said, spinning around once more before coming to a stop to look at me. I paused, glancing up at her with a sigh. "Lea, it's a date," I replied, going back to my work, "as in two people. Just two."

"Boooooring," she groaned, draping her arms dramatically over the chair's back before a wicked smile spread across her face. "But what if Regina came along? Double date!" She waggled her eyebrows like she'd just come up with the best idea of the century.

I couldn't help but laugh a little. "I'd need to meet her before any double dates happen."

Lea's eyes lit up. "Fair point," she said, nodding thoughtfully. "You can meet her next weekend."

"Is she finally visiting?" I asked, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. Lea grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. "Yup, but let's be real... I doubt she'll be leaving my room all weekend."

"Lea!" I hissed, eyes widening, "Not in front of the patient!" The young man we were treating chuckled, clearly amused. "Oh, I don't mind," he said with a smirk. "It's kind of hot."

"See!" Lea pointed at him, flashing me a triumphant grin. "He knows what's up."

With a roll of my eyes, I finished cleaning the wound and waved over a nurse to start stitching it up. When we asked around for any extra work, we found the floor unusually calm. With nothing pressing, Lea and I made our way to the nurses' lounge for a break.

Lea wasted no time sprawling out on the couch, her arms spread as if she'd claimed it as her personal throne. Meanwhile, I settled at the table, pulling out my book, hoping for a few quiet moments.

Before long, lunchtime rolled around, so we headed to the kitchen to grab the food carts. Each cart was stacked with warm, savory dishes, and as we went room to room, distributing trays, we were met with the usual silence — not a thank you in sight. Typical.

After finishing the rounds, we saved the last tray for Elizabeth. I snagged an extra pudding cup and gave Lea a stern look as she eyed it with interest. "You're not eating this," I warned, holding the cup just out of her reach.

Lea raised her hands in mock innocence, grinning. "I wouldn't dare," she said, though her eyes still lingered on the pudding like it was a prize she was determined to win.

I knocked softly on Elizabeth's door and pushed it open, spotting her lying back against a stack of pillows, nose buried in a worn paperback. She looked up, eyes crinkling warmly as she saw us enter. "Val! Lea!" she greeted, her voice thin but full of warmth. With a small, effortful movement, she began to sit up. "I've missed you both," she added, her words carrying a tenderness that made my heart ache.

I carefully set her lunch tray on the table beside her bed, then leaned over to help her sit up, readjusting her pillows so she could be comfortable. "I am so glad you made it through the surgery," I whispered, pulling her into a gentle hug. Her thin arms wrapped around me, holding on tightly as if she, too, was glad to be here.

When I finally pulled back, Lea stepped in, grinning as she gave Elizabeth a big, enthusiastic hug. "Elizabeth, I am so glad you're still alive!" she announced, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she added, "If you died, who would be here to share those extra pudding cups with me?"

"Lea!" I gasped, swatting her arm, but Lea just chuckled, backing away with her hands up in defense, as if she hadn't just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. Elizabeth laughed too, a raspy, gentle sound, and shook her head, clearly entertained by our antics.

We settled onto the couch, Lea flopping down on one end while I took my usual spot in the middle. Elizabeth sat up a little straighter, lifting a spoonful of soup to her lips before pausing to glance at us. Her soft, caring eyes traveled between us. "How are you two holding up?" she asked, her tone motherly despite her frail voice.

I couldn't help but smile, touched by her concern. "We should be asking you that question," I replied gently. Elizabeth shrugged, a tired but resilient expression on her face. "As well as anyone can be after heart surgery."

Lea leaned back with a smirk, aiming a pair of playful finger guns at Elizabeth. "Well, you still look as beautiful as ever, Elizabeth." She shot a wink, and Elizabeth chuckled, warmth glowing in her cheeks as she dipped her spoon back into her soup.

Just as Elizabeth raised the spoon to her lips, the door creaked open, and she nearly choked in surprise. "My goodness!" she gasped, her eyes wide as she looked toward the doorway. "Johanna, what on earth happened to you?"

Both Lea and I turned, catching sight of Johanna standing in the doorway, looking still as horrible as ever. Bruises shadowed her cheek and the back of her hands, giving her a slightly roughed-up appearance.

"Brooo," Lea breathed in a low voice, unable to resist a smirk. "Montgomery? More like Bruisedgomery." She folded her arms, clearly amused, even as I elbowed her in the ribs with a pointed look to cut it out.

Johanna rolled her eyes, unfazed, and strode over to Elizabeth's side, bending down with a soft expression to press a gentle kiss to her mother's forehead. "Don't worry about me, Mother," she murmured, her voice low and reassuring.

Johanna's gaze softened as she turned toward us, a tender smile lighting her bruised face. "Hello, sweetheart," she greeted, her eyes locking onto mine with that familiar warmth that always seemed to melt the edges of my nerves. Then, with a slight nod, she acknowledged Lea. "Lea." Her tone was polite but composed, a subtle contrast to her earlier softness.

She crossed the room with an effortless grace, settling herself beside me on the couch. Elizabeth, still visibly shaken by Johanna's battered appearance, leaned forward with concern etched in every line of her face. "Johanna," she gasped, eyes wide, "you must tell me what happened."

Johanna let out a sigh, reaching into her bag as if to downplay her injuries. She handed me a plastic bag and two cups of iced coffee, all without meeting her mother's gaze. "It's nothing, really," she replied, trying to sound casual. "Just a little fight. Nothing serious."

I peeked into the bag, feeling a rush of surprise and affection. Inside was a perfect assortment of treats: a slice of cake, chocolates, donuts—my offhand joke about craving a small bakery hadn't fallen on deaf ears. And she'd brought enough for Lea too.

My heart did a little flip. "Thank you," I murmured, offering her a warm smile as I passed Lea her share of the treats.

"Sweet!" Lea sang, her eyes lighting up as she eagerly opened the container with the slice of cake, practically bouncing in her seat.

Johanna chuckled, a faint smile tugging at her bruised lips. "I couldn't fit an entire bakery in the bag, so that'll have to do," she teased, eyes crinkling with amusement.

I bit my lip, smirking back. "Next time, maybe bring a bigger bag."

She laughed softly, her voice like a warm, low hum that sent a thrill through me. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, her gaze lingering, filled with a promise that left my cheeks feeling flushed.

Elizabeth took a delicate sip of her water, her eyes twinkling with a playful curiosity as she watched the banter unfold between us. "Did you bring something for me too?" she asked, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.

Johanna gave her mother a soft laugh, crossing her arms in mock seriousness. "Mother, my presence and boundless love should be more than enough," she teased. "Besides, we both know you shouldn't be indulging in sweets just yet."

Elizabeth let out a lighthearted scoff, rolling her eyes with a touch of drama. "Fine, fine. I'll just settle for my oh-so-delicious chocolate pudding." She shook her head, grinning as Johanna flashed her a knowing smile.

Then, with that mischievous glint in her eyes, Johanna turned to me, eyeing my cheesecake with clear intent. Before I could protest, she slipped the fork right out of my hand, smoothly carving off a bite and popping it into her mouth.

"Hey!" I objected, though my words were more amused than irritated. She merely raised an eyebrow, looking utterly unapologetic as she chewed. "And who paid for this cheesecake?" she challenged, arching her brow with an air of victory.

I couldn't hold back a grin, shrugging in defeat. "Fair enough," I laughed, taking back the fork she handed to me with a satisfied smirk.

Johanna reached over, her fingers brushing mine as she took my iced coffee and brought it to her lips. The moment she tasted it, her face twisted in sheer distaste. She handed the drink back to me with a barely disguised cringe, her nose scrunching as if she'd swallowed something sour.

"We're definitely going to need to work on your taste buds," she teased, clicking her tongue in feigned disappointment. "Actually, there's a lot we'll need to work on."

Elizabeth, perched up with her bowl in hand, chuckled and pointed her spoon between us. Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as they darted between Johanna and me. "I'm just glad to finally see this happening," she smirked, then gave Johanna a warning look. "But if you break Val's heart, Johanna, I swear, I'll crawl out of this bed and punch you myself."

"Mother!" Johanna groaned, throwing her head back with an exasperated sigh. "You know I had my own heart broken once. Why would I ever put Valentina through that?"

Elizabeth raised her hands with a playful shrug as if to say, don't shoot the messenger. Lea, however, was barely containing her laughter, grinning beside me and clearly savoring every moment.

"Don't worry, Elizabeth," Lea chimed in, leaning forward with a grin. "I'll gladly help with the punching."

Johanna narrowed her eyes at Lea, leaning in just enough to make her point. "In that case, I think I'll need all the treats I bought back." She extended her hand with a ghost of a smirk, fingers wiggling in anticipation as if she expected Lea to hand over her dessert immediately.

Lea wasted no time, shoving the rest of her cake into her mouth and giving Johanna a defiant, mischievous look. "Guess you'll have to take it straight from my mouth," she mumbled through a mouthful of cake, grinning wide with mock innocence.

Johanna's expression curled with slight disgust, her nose wrinkling, but she leaned back with an air of calm, letting her hand fall onto my thigh. The sudden warmth and closeness caught me off guard, and I tensed before her thumb began tracing gentle circles that softened me into the contact.

She leaned in close, her voice a soft whisper against my ear. "Would you like me to stop?" Her tone was gentle yet intent. "Are you uncomfortable with this?"

I stammered, feeling a warmth creep into my cheeks. "No, it's fine," I managed with a small, shaky smile.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying me with an amused intensity. "Are you sure? Because I can stop if you want."

"I'm sure," I nodded, my voice steadier this time, and she rewarded me with a soft squeeze on my thigh, before she turned her attention back to Elizabeth with a casual ease, as if the entire exchange had been nothing.

As Johanna and Elizabeth continued their conversation, Lea caught sight of Johanna's hand resting comfortably on my thigh, a smirk growing on her face. She leaned in close, barely containing her laughter. "This is just too good," she whispered, snorting softly. "Montgomery from months ago? She'd have never."

I gave her a playful look in response, a small smile tugging at my lips, and reached into the bag for a donut. I took a bite, savoring the sweetness before holding it out toward Johanna in silent offer.

Her gaze flickered to the donut, and she gave a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "I'm good, thank you, Valentina," she murmured, her fingers tightening slightly on my thigh, sending a soft warmth through me as she seamlessly returned her focus to her mother. The casual intimacy of her touch, the ease of her presence—it was as if her guard had finally lowered, leaving me both a little dizzy and profoundly grateful.

A soft knock on the door interrupted our quiet moment, and a nurse I didn't recognize peeked in. She offered a warm greeting to Elizabeth, then her gaze shifted to the three of us sitting close on the couch.

"Is one of you Valentina?" she asked, her eyes scanning us with a polite curiosity.

I raised my hand slightly. "That's me," I answered with a small smile.

She stepped further into the room, extending her hand. "I'm Rochelle," she introduced herself, her voice friendly but professional. "I was told I'd find you here." Standing, I shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Rochelle," I said as her eyes flickered over me, sizing me up in a quick, appraising way.

"Your aunt sent me to come and get you," she said, gesturing behind her.

Just as she stepped back to let me pass, Johanna stood abruptly, catching my shoulder and turning me to face her. Without hesitation, she leaned down, her lips finding mine in a possessive, electrifying kiss. The room seemed to hold its breath as she pulled back just slightly, murmuring against my lips, "Just in case she gets any ideas."

She pressed one last, lingering kiss to my lips before stepping back with a satisfied smile. "I'll see you later, sweetheart," she said, her voice low but warm, her eyes briefly flicking to Rochelle with a glint that sent a clear message.

Rochelle blinked, surprised but composed, and gave me a slight nod to follow her out.

As I stepped into the hallway, I released a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, feeling my cheeks warm from Johanna's bold display. The nurse, Rochelle, walked ahead, leading me down the corridor to where my aunt was waiting, but my mind stayed on Johanna. Her jealousy had been clear, that fierce look in her eyes leaving no room for doubt. She didn't need to be, though; no one could compare to her. Sure, Rochelle was attractive, but Johanna's presence was magnetic—there was no contest.

I let my fingers drift to the bracelet on my wrist, the one Johanna had given me, idly fidgeting with it. The bracelet had no clasp, no way to take it off without the small key she still kept. I wondered if she'd ever give me the key herself, letting me decide when—or if—I'd take it off. The bracelet felt heavier suddenly, almost like a promise bound around my wrist.