Ruby growled and snuggled deeper into her blankets.
“What else can I do?”
Her eyes opened and fluttered closed. “S’all good.” Then she was asleep.
Simon glanced at the dogs, hanging around the bed with concerned faces. He stood and took them outside. “Well, guys, looks like Mom is going to need looking after. Just as well I can do what I please, isn’t it?” He pulled out his cell and called Tyler, letting him know what he was up to.
“Look after her, man. You have some serious work to do on that girl. Now is your chance to prove how much you still care. And take care of yourself. You don’t need to go getting sick either and sharing it around. We can do without that.”
“I know and I’m not going to let her go. Can you do me a favor? Call Carly and let her know I’m in control here.”
“Why can’t you call her?” Tyler mumbled under his breath.
“Because I have my hands full. Won’t hurt you to talk to her. Break the ice. She can’t bite you over the phone.”
“Stop being an asshat. I said I liked her. I didn’t expect you to start playing cupid.”
Simon laughed. “Someone has to. You’re not exactly Mr. Debonair yourself.”
“Says you. Good example, Simon.” He disconnected the call.
“That went well, puppies.” He sat on the pavement and they all sniffed around him. “Poor lonely boys, eh? Neither of us can get very far with the women we love. Money doesn’t buy everything. It actually makes things so much harder if you want the honest truth.”
He gave them plenty of time to wander in the garden before going back inside and checking on Ruby. She slept deeply, her lips moving as she mumbled in her dreams. Her cheeks were flushed and a small line of sweat beaded on her top lip. Simon made sure she had a full glass of water beside the bed and snuck out of the house to go and pick up her medication.
When he got back, the dogs greeted him as if he’d been gone for days. “Settle down guys. Let’s go check on your mom and give her something for her pain.” He walked into the bedroom just as Ruby opened her eyes. She blinked a couple of times before she looked straight at him through pain wracked eyes.
“Hey, how are you feeling.”
“Crappy.” She licked her lips.
“Let’s sit you up so you can have a drink and some pain pills.” Simon reached for a pillow and lifted her up to sitting, tucking it behind her. “Okay?”
“Yes, no. Gosh, I feel terrible.” Her color changed to deathly pale.
Her eyes were glassy and her cheeks flushed. He couldn’t remember when he’d seen her so sick. Ruby was one of those people who could walk through a room of germs and come out smiling. Usually. “I know. I got you some pain meds and something to soothe your throat if you can stand it.” He popped a couple of tablets into his palm, holding them toward her with the glass of water. “Get these into you. They’ll help.”
“Thanks.” She took them, threw them back and swallowed half the glass of water, grimacing as the tablets went down. He took the glass back and handed her a lozenger to suck on.
“I’m here if you need anything. Okay?”
She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Maybe you shouldn’t do that. Lay back down and go to sleep. Don’t you worry about a thing. If you need me, call out. If I don’t answer, it’s because I’m taking the dogs walking.”
She shuffled down as he removed the pillow from behind her back. “You don’t need to do that.” Ruby closed her eyes and sunk into the blankets.
“I know but I will anyway. You rest up and get better.” He leaned down and kissed her hot brow before leaving her alone. He walked through the kitchen to the back yard and pulled out his cell again.
“Mom, I know you only just got back from holiday but I need to ask you a favor.”
His mom arrived later that afternoon with an insulated container. “Poor thing. I wanted to see her but I wasn’t expecting it to be under these circumstances.” She followed Simon into the kitchen and put the pot on the table. “How’s she doing?”
“Slept the whole day so far. Doc reckons it’s good because it’ll give the body a chance to heal.” He sighed hating how she was ill. “She was always the last one to go down with anything. Claimed she was too busy to get sick but when she does, she goes down hard core.”
He took his mom’s arm and guided her outside where the dogs came running up to sniff the new visitor.
“Just look at you guys.” She leaned down and petted them all, graciously receiving kisses all over her face. “What a gorgeous bundle of doggies you are.”
“They are pretty special.”
His mom stood up. “Have you told her yet, Simon?”
“No, Mom. I’m taking my time. I don’t want to rush her. We haven’t seen each other for five years. I can hardly go spouting off my intentions immediately, can I? It’ll scare her away. Better to ease into it.”
She patted his arm. “I suppose you’re right. I’ve missed her a lot. Let me know when she feels up to coming for dinner and we’ll see her then. Don’t let her overdo things, Simon. And if you need more chicken soup, just let me know.” She leaned down and patted the dogs again. “Such lovely babies. I bet George just loves you.”
“He does. Do you mind keeping him at your place until Ruby’s feeling better? I’ll sleep here on the couch tonight just to make sure she’s okay.”
“Of course, darling. I missed him while we were away. We love having him—you know that.”
After his mom left, Simon put the dogs leads on and went for a long walk
