I put a hand on her thigh and pressed a little harder on the gas.
Finally home, I wrapped my arm around her waist, led her in, and sat her down on the couch. Juliette leaned into me, not trying at all to hide her exhaustion and relief. I removed her boot, propped her foot up on a pillow, and wrapped a blanket around her. That was the most she had done since the attack. It would be stressful for anyone, and putting as much effort into her speech as she did had taken a toll on her.
“Do you want anything? Tea or coffee?”
“Hot chocolate?”
“Coming right up. Anything to eat?”
“Not yet.”
I went to the kitchen to make her a frothed hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Today’s disagreement aside, it had been nice taking care of Juliette for the past two weeks. I hated that she was hurt, but I loved finding new little things that I could do to make her happy.
I cuddled up next to her, pulling her against my side, careful not to jostle her, and handed her the hot chocolate.
“Thank you. You’re spoiling me.”
“It’s not even close to enough. I wish I could take away all your pain.”
I felt Juliette sigh against me. I bit back more apologies. I had to end this pattern of volleying our guilt and worry back and forth. I hated that she suffered at the hands of my ex, hated how the weak decisions I’d made so long ago were now haunting her as well. She hated that I was carrying this worry and guilt, and the more I showed it, the more she hid her feelings. Worse, she took my worry as a sign that I thought she wasn’t capable.
I’d known it, but now that she actually said it to me, it hit differently. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.
She’d suffered too much already. We were both scared that her speech would be permanently impacted. I’d love her no matter what, but it would devastate her, and me for her.
“You were amazing today, baby. So brave. So good-hearted. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you. I’m just glad it’s over. Thanks for staying with me.”
“Always. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dylan.”
Her touch and her words eased the pressure that had been in my chest since our earlier argument. We needed to talk about it, but first she needed to rest. “Want to watch a nature documentary?”
“Sure.”
I smiled to myself. Juliette pretended to like watching them, but she’d be asleep within minutes. I put her empty mug on the coffee table and caressed her as she snuggled deeper against me. Sure enough, her breath evened out just as the cubs ambled from their cave on the screen.
Her soft weight on me must have lulled me to sleep too because next thing I knew, her ringing phone woke me up. I reached over to silence it as quickly as I could, but Juliette was already up.
“Hi, Mom,” she said into the phone as she slowly sat up.
“Sweetheart, how are you feeling? Are you okay? Are you still hurting?”
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m good, darling. Is Dylan taking good care of you?”
Juliette blushed. Even though the phone wasn’t on speaker, she knew I was close enough to hear every word.
“He’s been amazing, Mom. He’s taking such good care of me, cooking for me, making sure I take the antibiotics and putting ointment on my cuts, always making sure I’m comfortable, keeping me entertained, everything I?—”
“Okay, sweetheart. I can tell I must have woken you up. I can’t understand anything you’re saying, but it doesn’t matter. I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
“End it now,” I growled under my breath.
Juliette nodded without looking at me.