The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 91

Violet

The battle to keep my eyelids from closing is steep.

These pain meds are good, but boy, do I feel zonked. Gabriel is sitting on the chair in the corner; he hasn't left my side. And as much as I'm telling him to go home, I'm kind of glad he's ignoring me. It's nice to have someone here with me because I'm beginning to realize what a wimp I am. I feel teary, weak, and vulnerable.

"Where are the kids?" I whisper.

"They'll be here this afternoon," he replies softly.

"Poor things, they must be so scared."

He gets up and comes and sits beside me on the bed. "They're okay, Debbie is taking good care of them. You should rest, you need to sleep to be able to heal."

He puts his hand on my shoulder, and the warm contact instantly relaxes me and my heavy eyelids win.

"You like that?" he asks softly.

I nod sleepily.

"I'll sit here while you sleep, my love."

"Mmm."

I turn my face to the side so that it's resting up against his arm.

His presence is comforting; it dulls the pain and calms my nerves. I feel heavy and heavier... Floating... Peaceful.

"Mom!"

"Sshh," Gabriel's hushed voice whispers. "Mommy's sleeping."

"Oh no, look at her face," Debbie whispers. "Poor thing, it looks so sore."

"She's okay," Gabriel's calming voice replies. "She's going to be good as new soon."

It's like my body's asleep but my mind is awake. I can hear what they're saying but am too tired to open my eyes or reply.

"Grandma," I hear Lucia call, a commotion, and hugs.

"Oh, you sneaky devils." Debbie laughs.

"We were on the first flight this morning." Mom and Dad are here. I battle to open my eyes.

"Gabriel," my mother's voice says in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Ahhh. Kids, why don't you go out to the vending machine and grab us all a snack." I hear him handing over coins.

"Yay." The kids run down the corridor.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman," Gabriel says. "It's been years since I saw you both, I believe you visited the office a few times while visiting Violet back in the day."

"Shh, Mommy is sleeping," Debbie says.

"We'll take them down to the playground," Mom says. "Let her sleep." I hear the door close and I battle to open my eyes.

"Why did you tell them that?" Debbie whispers.

"You think Violet wants her parents to know that we had a one-night stand and that she lied to them for all these years?"

"But . . ."

"But nothing, I'll take the blame. I'm used to being the bad guy, it's fine."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because...I love her."

Silence...

They keep talking, but their voices begin to blend into each other.

I struggle with my eyelids, wake up...just open.

The voices slur, the darkness gets darker.

Blah...blah...blah blah blah.