Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
I’m not hungry, but Ronan needs me strong. I fix myself a sandwich quickly, and then I eat it, although it tastes like sawdust.
Time for bed.
I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep, worrying about Ronan, but surprisingly…
Sleep comes quite quickly.
…
I’m back at the hospital by eight the next morning. Yvette arrives a few minutes afterward.
The doctor brings the lab results. “It is indeed pancreatic cancer,” she says, “but we got amazing margins, and now that we know he has a propensity for pancreatic cancer, he’ll come in for CAT scans every six months, and we’ll be able to find it in plenty of time if it pops back up. But it’s most likely gone forever.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”
“Yes, the universe does work in mysterious ways.” Yvette smiles as she echoes her sentiment from yesterday, shaking the doctor’s hand with both of hers. “Bless you, Doctor. Bless you for being such an amazing healer.”
The doctor’s cheeks redden a bit, but she nods. “Bless you, too, ma’am.”
Yvette and I take turns sitting with Ronan. He’s asleep, but his vitals are good.
It will be a while before he’s released.
Whatever he needs, I will give him. If he wants me to be his part-time submissive? That is what I’ll be.
On the off chance that he wants more, as Yvette feels he does?
I will give him more.
Because I’m in love with him. I will take all of him, or part of him. Whatever I can get.
Around eleven, after I leave Ronan’s side to get Yvette, I find her talking to two people.
Clear as day, I know who they are. The man is tall and broad, like his son, his auburn hair streaked with silver. And the woman is taller than Yvette, but with the same eyes and nose, slightly lighter brown skin.
Ronan’s parents.
“Mary, chérie,” Yvette says. “This is my daughter, Simone, and her husband, Declan.”
“It’s very nice to meet you.” I shake Ronan’s mother’s hand first. “I’m a friend of Ronan’s.”
“Sounds like you may be more than a friend,” Simone says.
My cheeks warm. “I suppose we’ll see. Ronan’s asleep. But he’s doing well.”
“Yes, we just talked to his nurse. I’ve got a call into the doctor,” Declan says.
“You go see him, chérie,” Yvette says to her daughter.
The nurse takes Yvette and Simone back, and Declan, wearing a three-piece suit and carrying a briefcase, looks me over. “Very nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too, sir.”
“Declan.” Then he takes a seat, pulls his phone out of his briefcase, and begins tapping on it.
Always business, just as Yvette said.
Same as Ronan.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
We’ll see.
If this is the life Ronan wants, I will be part of it. I’ll find a way for us both to have what we desire. If he wants a full-time sub, I’ll make it work while I finish my degree and learn Voodoo from Yvette. I’ll make sure he gives all he can to his business if that’s his dream, and I’ll be in his bed every night, obeying all his commands.
That’s how much I love him.
About fifteen minutes later, Simone returns. Declan stands.
Simone shakes her head at him. “He’s awake now. He wants to see Mary.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” I say. “Go ahead and see him.” I nod to Declan.
Yvette takes my hand. “If it’s Mary he wants, it’s Mary he shall have.” She looks at me. “You go ahead back, dear.”
I bite my lip, but I nod, heading back to Ronan’s room.
I crack the door softly. “Ronan?” I enter.
His eyes are open, and their blueness is so bright.
“Hey, baby,” he says, his voice hoarse.
“Hey yourself. How are you feeling today?”
“I can feel the pain today. The drugs are great, but they’re not infallible.”
“You should be sleeping.”
“I opened my eyes, expecting to see you. Instead I saw my mother.”
“Yes. She and your father came all the way from Glasgow to make sure you’re okay.”
“It reminds me of something. When I broke my leg when I was twelve years old. Bike accident. They had to come home from a business trip in the UK. My father was angry.”
“He’s not angry now.”
“It doesn’t matter if he is. I love my parents, but they weren’t there for me when I was a kid, so why should I care if they’re here now?”
“Because they’re your parents, Ronan. I’d give anything to have my father back.” I absently look down at my right hand. The ruby ring he gave me is gone. But the memory isn’t. I treasured the ring, but it was only a thing. He wasn’t the perfect father, and he was a terrible husband, but part of him lives in me. It always will. I don’t need an object for that.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound callous.” He looks at my hand. “Your ring.”