AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Same, Albie thought. Same.
And that’s what Albie did. He sat by the bed and watched Percy sleep. He had no more bouts of vomiting and he did seem to rest more peaceful in the early hours, and sometime around three o’clock in the morning, Albie must have nodded off and almost fell off the chair. He climbed into the other side of the bed, just to rest his eyes for a moment...
And woke up when daylight was peeking through the blinds and there were pots and pans clanging from the kitchen. And Percy was tucked into his side, his head on his shoulder.
Albie rubbed Percy’s arm, his back, and kissed the top of his head. He was still asleep, but he had moved during the night, to curl into Albie’s side, and he took that as a good sign.
He was loath to wake him up but he needed to pull his arm free.
“Morning,” Percy mumbled.
Albie’s heart sang, his whole body flooded with relief. “Oh, good morning. How are you feeling?”
“Head hurts a bit, but I think I’m hungry.”
Albie gave him a squeeze, kissing his head once more with smiling lips. “I’ll get you something.”
Percy rolled onto his back. “Why am I undressed?”
“Do you not remember?”
He was quiet a second. “No.” Albie got out of bed and Percy looked at him. “Why are you fully dressed?”
“Because I spent most of the night in the chair beside you, fearing you’d be sick again in your sleep.”
His eyes narrowed in confusion and he tried to sit up, but he sagged back down, his hand to his head. “Ow.”
“Okay, stay right there,” Albie said. “I’ll bring you breakfast.”
He rushed out to where Clara and Elsie were in the kitchen, standing a little too close together. Elsie was fixing a whisp of Clara’s hair and Albie cleared his throat, smiling. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Clara ducked away, hiding behind Elsie, but Elsie simply smiled right back at him. “You don’t look too sorry, Albie.”
He chuckled. “Percy’s awake, and he’s hungry. I was hoping to fetch him some porridge and tea.”
“Ah, a good sign,” Elsie said. “Yes, I’ll bring it in for him if you like?”
“I can take it,” Albie said. “He’s still not dressed, so he might be embarrassed, that’s all. And his head still hurts. He can’t sit up just yet.”
Elsie smirked as she dished up some oats. “Then you best spoon-feed him, given he’s near naked, huh?”
Clara’s eyes went wide and she nudged Elsie. “Elsie, shush with that.”
Albie smiled despite the heat in his cheeks. “Well yes, I best feed him.” He cleared his throat, his mouth dry. “The man needs his strength.”
Elsie put the plate of porridge on a tray and set a teacup beside it. Then she gave Albie a wink. “I bet he does.”
Clara gasped and swatted Elsie with her kitchen towel, and Albie’s face burned red. But this was an acknowledgement out loud of what they’d both assumed before now.
That Elsie could take a private moment to fix Clara’s hair any time she wanted, and yes, Albie would look after, feed, and sleep next to a near-naked Percy.
With a smile and a nod to Elsie, Albie took the tray into his room. Percy was dozing again but he woke at the sound of the door snicking closed. Albie set the tray on the foot of the bed and helped Percy sit up, slowly and gently, with a pillow at his back.
“How do you feel now?” Albie asked. “Do you need a moment for your head to feel right?”
Percy sighed and blinked slowly. “I’m fine.”
Albie wasn’t so sure of that. He pulled the tray closer, scooped up a spoonful of porridge from the side of the plate, and lifted to Percy’s mouth.
