Chapter 148

Stella

Adrian stayed by my side for the rest of the night. He held my hand and called the nurses over when I needed more pain medication to ease the stinging and burning feeling inside of my body. He helped me adjust my pillows and got me more blankets, bribing the teenage girls next-door to offer up their spare pillow and exchange for a crisp hundred dollar bill.

He truly has proven to me that he has changed. That his left for me is true and not fake, not a desperate attempt to keep me in his life just because having me there felt normal, a part of his routine that he could not get rid of.

Instead, he feels like a husband. He feels like the person who has made those vows to me all of those years ago, the person who promised to be there for me and sickness and in health. Adrian has stepped into the shoes as my protector, the one person in this world who will always be there by my side.

The morning sun breaks through the hospital windows. It lights up the room as the hospital comes back to life after the night, more and more doctors and nurses flooding the hallway then it was in the hours of the night. Adrian helps me with my breakfast, organizing the tray, just as I like and helping spoon the porridge that was made into my mouth.

The porridge is bland, but it does not make my stomach feel uneasy like any other food would. I slowly sip on my ice, cold water, watching as Adrian tries to get the TV to turn to the channel I want. It is amusing to watch him fight with the machine, to watch the silent war between him and the television.

Suddenly, the door to my hospital room opens, and my family walks in. My father and mother are in the front of the pack, holding flowers and a bag of to go food in their arms. My brother's pile in from behind them, a plethora of balloons and other goods from the hospital gift store in their arms. The neck of a plushy giraffe pokes out from behind Luca's shoulder, causing me to smile.

“Stella, we were so worried when Adrian called us,” my mother immediately takes her place at my side. She takes my hands into her own, her eyes scanning my body as I watch Adrian disappear into one of the corners of the room.

“I'm OK mom, I promise,” I weakly smile at her, not wanting her to worry more than she already is.

Turn my attention to the rest of the room and greet them with a warm smile and wave, my IV tubes slowly getting tangled up. My mother is quick to reverse the knots when my eyes land on Sebastian. Sebastian walks to Adrian, the room, falling, silent, intense as they watch the scene unfold in front of them.

“You need to leave,” Sebastian speaks in a low tone, “you’re not welcome here.”

“Sebastian,” my voice cuts through the noise. The men look at me, shocked expressions on their faces. “Adrian was the one who found me. He deserves to stay here as much as anyone else.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Sebastian steps forward.

My cheeks heat from embarrassment, not liking how he decided to say this in front of our family. I turn and look at them an apologetic look spreading across my face, before I move my attention back to Sebastian. Adrian slips away from the man, taking his place at my side, using me as a shield.

“You know why,” I speak, my statement firm.

We’re over.

Sebastian falls silent. He shakes his head and scoffs, jaw clenched, and exits the hospital room. My family watches as he leaves, the tension turning uncomfortable and ugly.

“Give us the room,” my father suddenly speaks up. Everyone nods, leaving their flowers, plushies, and other gifts on the nearby tables and empty spaces in the room.

Adrian looks at me and I shake my head, signaling for him to stay. He silently nods and remains in place, watching as the room is slowly vacated, my father remaining behind. His eyes flicker between us, the way I instinctively reach for Adrian’s hand.

“What is it that you’re doing, Stella?” my father asks, his tone firm and serious. He crosses his arms over his chest while looking at me. “What is your plan with your…boyfriends?”

“Sebastian and I aren’t together anymore,” I respond, swallowing the lump in my throat, unable to contain my anxiety. I weakly squeeze Adrian’s hand for support, feeling him rest his free hand on my shoulder. “I love Adrian and I want to be with him but…I don’t want Sebastian kicked out of the family, either.”

“That was a part of the deal you made with me when you wanted to date him,” my father says.

“I know,” I nod, “I was using him, though. I used him to try and avoid my feelings for Adrian. It’s not fair for him to lose everything because of a mistake that I made. Our family is his as much as it is ours. He can’t lose that because of me.”

My father remains silent. His jaw clenches, eyes moving to Adrian. I do not dare to speak, not wanting to ruin the good will that I hoped I bought with him in this moment. I bite my lip, watching in silence as my father thinks over the words I said to him.

“I agree,” my father speaks, nodding. “Sebastian is too big of an asset to lose for our…business,” my father eyes Adrian when he says this, unsure of how the man will react.

“Thank you, dad,” I nod, feeling my body feel so much relief in this moment.

I turn to look up at Adrian, who wears a small smile on his face down at me. He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. I turn back to my father, sucking in a deep breath.

“I want you to support my relationship with Adrian, too,” I say. He raises an eyebrow at me. “I know that him and I have been through the wringer…we have both said and done things to each other in the past. But we’re past that. We want to live our lives with each other and do things right this time around.”

“Is this what you want?” my father asks, his eyes on Adrian.

“Yes, sir. This is something I want more than anything else in the world. I love your daughter and I want to make her the happiest woman in the world,” Adrian says. My heart skips a beat; the heart monitor catches it, the beat off kilter.

“Fine,” he nods his head, “on one condition.”

“Name it,” I say.

“I want you two to take things slow. Take your time with it,” he turns to look at me again. “Don’t rush into things. Take your time with your relationship and for the love of god: do not get engaged or married in the next couple of months. Your mother can’t handle another divorce if things go wrong.”

I let out a laugh, unable to contain my happiness. I nod and smile up at my dad, biting my lip.

“Of course, dad, “ I say, “we will definitely take things slow. Thank you so much.”

“Of course,” he nods and turns to leave the room.

I turn and look up at Adrian. He is just as excited as I am for out future. He leans down and presses a kiss to my lips.

Everything is falling into place and I have never been happier.