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Claudia walked into the hospital room. Adeline sat upright on the bed with pillows stuffed behind her back. She was awake and her face perked up upon seeing her daughter.
“Hey baby,” Adeline said reaching out for a hug.
“Claudia flew into her arms squeezing her snugly.
“I’m so sorry, mama. I should’ve been there. I don’t have an excuse.”
“Calm down, calm down,” she soothed. “Everything’s alright, I just had a little slip and fall.”
“A little slip and fall? Mama, you were unconscious on the floor when we found you.”
“I’m sorry. I know that scared you to death, but I’m glad you weren’t alone.” Adeline peered over at Jaden who stood firmly next to Claudia with an affectionate hand on her back.
“Mom this is Jaden, Jaden this is my mother, Adeline.”
“It’s nice to meet you; not necessarily under these circumstances but nevertheless.” Jaden shook her hand.
“Are you the one that keeps my daughter out after hours?”
“Ma!”
“What, I mean after 8 o’clock when I say after hours,” Adeline chuckled. “You know for us old folks when the street lights come on, you’re late.”
Jaden chuckled and Claudia slapped a hand against her head.
“You know it’s true,” Adeline said to Claudia.
“Ma, if he wasn’t the guy, then what? You would’ve embarrassed me.”
“But he is the guy, isn’t he?”
A small smile surfaced and Claudia shook her head. “Yes, ma,” Claudia gazed back at him, “he is the guy.”
Jaden was still stuck on the words Claudia had used. What if he wasn’t the guy? Who else is there? Jaden made a mental note to ask her this later. He was suddenly feeling possessive and the thought of Claudia spending time with another man didn’t sit well with him.
Adeline glanced back to Claudia. “How did you get me off the floor? I know I weigh a ton.”
“You most certainly do not,” Jaden spoke up.
Adeline arched an inquisitive brow. “And you would know this because?”
“He’s the one that got you to the hospital, ma. We’d still be in the bathroom waiting for an ambulance if I had to bring you myself.”
Adeline’s eyes roamed over Jaden’s muscular physique. The white t-shirt and blue denim jeans he wore sat comfortably against his toned waist. Claudia watched as her mom’s eyes rode up and down him again before her cheeks reddened.
“Mom,” she whispered.
“What?”
“You’re staring.”
“Well excuse me, but it’s not every day an old lady like me gets swept up in arms like those.”
Claudia was horrified, and her eyes popped as her mouth dropped. Jaden chuckled.
“If I need to pass out more often to be in those arms again I just might.” Adeline fell against her sheets pretending to fall out. Jaden’s chuckle turned into an all-out roar, and Claudia gasped covering her mouth. She couldn’t help it though. After several seconds of her mother continuing to lay there, Claudia found her laughter. She shook her head.
“Oh my goodness, I can’t even believe you right now.”