Chapter 23: Chapter 23
The two started to eat their dinner, but their teasing and lighthearted banter did not stop. Nick occasionally would invite Kelly to join their conversation as if Kelly was awake and just lying down on the bed next to them.
"Mom, please tell me, what did she say to you?" Nick asked with his spoon lightly pointing towards Kate.
Kate just continued munching on her food with smiles. Nick was satisfied to see that his strategy to lighten Kate's mood was working out. She was smiling like she did not beg her mom to wake up as she worried Nick would leave her side.
"Can't I just hear them from you directly?" Nick pried. He was honestly eager to know what Kate said to Kelly earlier.
"I can't," Kate shortly replied.
What Kate whispered to Kelly was a question.
"Mom, what do you think about him as my boyfriend?"
She was hoping it would stimulate and provoke Kelly to wake up.
She was using a different approach. She has tried to express her fear and sadness, but it has not awakened her mom, so this time, Kate was thinking about provoking her to stimulate emotions, even if it might be anger. She was feeling optimistic that her mom may wake up one of these days. But Kate could not bring herself to be bold and let Nick know about her silly thoughts. It might also cause an adverse effect if her mom would feel too disappointed about her being interested in a romantic relationship, most significantly, with Nick!
Nick pouted at Kate's reply. Then he gave up and silently ate his food.
Kate took her turn to strike back at Nick by mentioning something to her mom.
"Mom, Nick is pouting. He really wants to hear what I said to you," Kate's lips stretched to their ends as she smiled widely at Nick's cutely aggrieved expression. "You have to wake up and tell him as soon as possible," Kate suppressed her giggles.
She was feeling so good that she could return teasing for teasing with him without fear of her mom finding out anything. Honestly, she was ready to offend her mom if that would wake her up. She will deal with whatever end results of her actions would bring. The most important thing right now is to stimulate her senses and wake her up from her prolonged coma state.
"Mom, please...?" Nick played along. He was still pulling a face, but he was also enjoying making fun of themselves. "How could I ever wake you up?" Nick frowned. Then a crazy thought crossed his mind.
"Mom, if you don't wake up soon, I might sleep with Kate tonight," Nick winked at Kate as he said so. He made his voice loud enough to reach Kelly's ears but no one else than the mother and daughter next to him.
"Nick!?" Kate slapped Nick's arms when she heard what he had just said.
Kate was scandalized.
The word triggered so much guilt on her part. What happened six months ago, the night before Kelly's accident, did not happen again, but the word sleep with each other had happened a lot of times over the past few months.
Kate was too sad thinking about her mom that she would end up crying all night, so Nick would join her in her bed until she fell asleep, then he would move back to his room. Nick decided to stay with Kate instead of going home to his pad so he could assist her in whatever she would need while Kelly was still in the hospital. They did not cross any lines. Nick respects Kate's emotional state, and Kate is grateful for Nick's presence. During the first nights of Kelly's stay in the hospital, the fear of waking up as an orphan bothered Kate so much. She desperately cried her heart out, and Nick comforted her, assured her everything would be just fine, promised her that he would never leave her side no matter what. Nick reminded Kate to be strong, so when her mom wakes up, she will be proud of how brave her lovely daughter was.
Kate was able to gather herself speedily with Nick's guidance and care. And in return, Kate tried to do the things her mom would usually do for her and Nick. She prepared breakfast every morning, tidied the house on the weekends as the cleaners would come on weekdays. She does the laundry on weekends, too, before she visits and spends the rest of the day with her mom at the hospital. Noticed or not, the two have been living like a harmonious couple while Kelly was recuperating at the city medical.
Nick was like a dutiful husband caring for his wife, financially and emotionally. Kate, in return, was like a wife dutifully serving her husband with meals and doing house chores. All without sexual activities, not even a kiss or a hold of the hand. They were both careful not to step on an invisible line because they were fully aware that they did not get Kelly's consent yet. It wasn't that they were not attracted to each other anymore. It was that they respected Kelly so much, they could not find lust ruling over their sanity. They did not initiate any form of skinship, no flirting or sensual provocations. They can stay with each other in a small space with no desire for physical contact that is driven by lust because they are content with having each other side by side, supporting one another emotionally. Sometimes, through being a shoulder to cry or lean on. Other times, to grab a hold when one cannot stand on its own. Such circumstances happen to Kate most of the time.
On the other hand, Nick became so busy that he had to study and work overtime between caring for Kelly and Kate's needs. Still, as he worried Kate would be alone at home, he would bring his things to do into his dad's study at home and deal with things wherever he would be comfortable while still being around and available for Kate. Kate would notice he is too tired that she would offer to cook or prepare him light snacks at night before she goes to sleep. There were times when Nick would end up doing his work at Kate's study desk after he was sure Kate was already asleep.
Kate knew all of Nick's difficulties. That was why she was worried she would tire him out, and Nick would eventually leave her if she gets too much of a baggage for him. But when he said that joke that he might sleep with her, Kate felt assured Nick still fancies her the way he confessed a few months ago.
Nick and Kate were too busy playing around that they did not see when Kelly blinked her eyes. Kelly was trying to say something or move somehow, but her body wouldn't obey no matter how she tried.
The two finished their dinner, cleared the table, and after a while, they had to say goodbye for the night and head back home. They will see Kelly again the next day.
"Mom, I hope to go home with you tomorrow when I come to visit you here," Kate kissed her mom as she held Kelly's right hand tightly. She did not want this part every time she would visit her mom. No matter how Nick entertains her with funny jokes, it still pricks her heart whenever she says goodbye.
"Mom, although I will never leave Kate alone for you not to worry, I still hope the same with Kate, to go home with you on our next visit or you might wake up with a grandchild if you take too long to do so," Nick spoke with a calmness like what words coming out of his mouth was too casual. He was even fixing Kelly's covers, making sure she was warm and comfortable in her bed as she slept for the night, standing across from Kate, who was on Kelly's right side of the bed, and gently combing her mom's hair with her fingers.
"Nicholas Eudovic!?"
Kate called his full name with her jaw clenched, and eyes were bulging in rebuke to his mindless words in front of her mom.
"Kate Taylor, may I remind you, I am trying to help you wake her up," Nick retorted with a snort. "But I am willing to do as much as I dare to say them," then Nick winked at her. "I dare you, mom," then he chuckled a bit louder.
Kate was helpless, but when she realized Nick's strategy was similar to what she did, whispering her answer to Nick's question to her mom instead of letting Nick know about it directly, she decided to ride along.
"I don't know. Mom, what do you think? Can I sleep with this sweet-hearted man who had always been by my side?" Kate winked back at Nick. He was caught off-guard to see Kate play along. She did not say anything before she pulled that counter-attack move, just now.